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How you can start a career in a different field without “experience” — tips that got me job offers from Google and other tech giants

Last week I talked about how you can land a 6-figure job in tech with no connections by generating referrals from people ... read more

credits to: Austin Belcak

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 08, 2023|475 views

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How you can start a career in a different field without “experience” — tips that got me job offers from Google and other tech giants

written by: richill artloe

created: April 08, 2023 | 11:49 AM

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Blog Content: Last week I talked about <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://medium.freecodecamp.com/how-you-can-land-a-6-figure-job-in-tech-with-no-connections-6eed0de26ea4#.n25pxtah1">how you can land a 6-figure job in tech with no connections</a> by generating referrals from people inside those companies.The article found its way in front of a lot of people, and they had a lot of questions. The most common questions focused on one thing: experience.Many people find that their current career isn’t living up to their expectations. They want to change paths, but they don’t have any experience in another field, and no idea where to start.In this post I’ll show you how to quickly gain experience in any field, as well as how you can leverage that new experience to land job offers in that field.I personally used this strategy to transition from the medical field — where I was working in hospital operating rooms — to the tech industry, where I received offers from Google and other tech companies (along with a 200% raise).<h1 id="7f60" data-selectable-paragraph="">Myths about things you DON’T need when switching fields</h1>Before we dive in, I think it’s important to address a few “myths” about changing industries:<ul><li id="1332" data-selectable-paragraph="">You don’t need an extensive network of contacts. In fact, you don’t need any contacts at all — you can make them all on your own.</li><li id="0aa0" data-selectable-paragraph="">You don’t need a degree in the field you want to switch to. Perception is reality, and results speak volumes when it comes to perception. They are worth more than any degree or previous job title. More on that later.</li><li id="cf7e" data-selectable-paragraph="">You don’t need money. Everything you need to know can be learned for free. In fact, I’m going to show you how this process can actually help you generate a second stream of income.</li></ul><figure><img alt="" width="700" height="297" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*wGDpl3aoMSUBmcfQ.jpg" /><figcaption data-selectable-paragraph="">Courtesy of <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://starecat.com/">StareCat.com</a></figcaption></figure>Next, I’m going to outline the exact steps I used to land a job in a totally different industry so you can make it happen for yourself.<h1 id="f8a9" data-selectable-paragraph="">Part 1: Painting a picture of the perfect candidate</h1>The good news about entering a completely different field is that you are a blank canvas. You can choose your skills and mold yourself into the perfect candidate.<h2 id="0f3d" data-selectable-paragraph="">What does perfection look like?</h2>In order to become the ideal candidate, we must first understand what “ideal” looks like in the eyes of the people who will be hiring you. There are two ways to accomplish this:<h2 id="e7ac" data-selectable-paragraph="">Job descriptions</h2>Job descriptions are essentially resumes in reverse. They spell out the exact skills you need in order to be successful in that particular role. That sounds obvious, but we are going to be looking at this from an atypical lens.Let’s take a look at this Growth Marketing Analyst role that I grabbed from Facebook’s site:<blockquote>Responsibilities- Leverage data to understand our products in depth, identify areas of opportunity, and execute projects to drive growth and engagement of Facebook users.- Drive projects focusing on new user growth, mobile usage, and revenue — working closely with design, product, engineering, and data teams.- Work both on core Facebook products like news feed, notifications, and mobile, and offsite marketing channels like SEO, SEM, and email.- Use tools like Hadoop/Hive, Oracle, ETL, R, PHP, Python, Excel, MicroStrategy, and many other internal tools to work efficiently at scale.Minimum Qualifications- BS or MS in Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Physics, Statistics.- 1+ years experience with SQL.- 2+ years of quantitative or statistical analysis experience.- 1+ years of experience managing a project.- 1+ years of experience in marketing, advertising or growth.- Ability to process and analyze data sets, and interpret them to make business decisions.- Communication skills and ability to manage a project or product.Preferred Qualifications- Software development experience.- Internet Marketing experience.</blockquote>What do you see here? What does the ideal candidate look like? What do they need to get hired?My guess is that you’re thinking, “Ok, they need a degree in computers or math. Then they need at least two years of experience coding and managing projects at a company.”Well, here’s what I see:Facebook is looking for someone who understands how to identify trends/patterns within big data that will have a direct impact on revenue. That person also has enough knowledge of programming to efficiently make those discoveries and present them in a simple, concise fashion.The main issue a lot of people have is that they think the only way to get “experience” is to work at company or have fancy degrees. This is one of the biggest myths when it comes to job searching.In order to understand it, let’s take a step back and think about why companies hire.They want someone who will come in and have a large, positive impact on their bottom line.Someone could have a PhD in Computer Science and be fluent in all of the programming languages mentioned above, but if they lack the ability to clearly convey results, the company isn’t going to benefit.On the other hand, someone who may not have a degree or total fluency but understands how to find impactful insights and presents them in a concise, actionable manner is extremely valuable.Your goal is to become that second person.<h2 id="faee" data-selectable-paragraph="">Informational interviews</h2>In addition to combing through job descriptions, it’s equally important to get in touch with people who work in the industry.They will be able to help you prioritize the skills you found in those job applications, as well as give you some inside info on the intangibles (nuances of the hiring process, putting you in touch with their contacts, etc.).I’ve found that the best way to make this happen is by leveraging LinkedIn’s advanced search filters.You can search for people at specific companies, with specific titles. If you have LinkedIn Premium, you can even search for people who used to work in your industry and now work in your target industry — or even at your target company.Then you can use this email script to reach out:Subject: Quick QuestionHi [Name],My name is Austin and I currently work at Cultivated Culture. I was browsing through LinkedIn and came across your information — I hope you don’t mind me reaching out of the blue here.I saw that you have extensive experience in Facebook’s Growth Analytics vertical and I’m very interested in learning more about that space. I would love to have the opportunity to run some questions by you, as well as tap into any advice you may have given your knowledge of the industry.I know that your time is extremely valuable so please don’t feel to need to respond in depth. If you do have 5 minutes to chat, I would really appreciate it.Best,AustinWhen they agree to a meeting, you’ll want to prepare some questions. They should focus on:<ul><li id="a896" data-selectable-paragraph="">Identifying which skills are the most crucial for performing daily activities (this will allow you to prioritize)</li><li id="003e" data-selectable-paragraph="">Providing some background on how that person got to where they are (you’d be surprised at how many people came from other industries)</li><li id="d198" data-selectable-paragraph="">What they would do if they were in your shoes — trying to get this job with little to no experience in the field</li></ul>Here are those bullets in question form to help get you started:<ol><li id="8dc2" data-selectable-paragraph="">I’ve been doing some research and it seems like [Skill 1] — [Skill 3] are common in the space. Which of these do you think is the most crucial to success?</li><li id="0746" data-selectable-paragraph="">I was looking through your LinkedIn and saw that you came from [Previous Role/Company]. How did you initially get involved in this industry and how did you end up at [Current Role]?</li><li id="792e" data-selectable-paragraph="">Let’s say you were in my shoes — you’re new to the industry and don’t have too much experience. How would you go about getting your current job? What specific steps would you take?</li></ol><h2 id="16ed" data-selectable-paragraph="">Bringing It All Together</h2>Now you have an understanding of the skills that you need, where they stand in terms of priority, and a roadmap from someone who has/had the role you want.Next, you need to build a foundation with those skills and use them to generate results that directly align with the company’s goals for that role.<h1 id="8ba0" data-selectable-paragraph="">Part 2: Nailing The Basics (On The Cheap)</h1>Over the next month or two we’re going to focus on building a rock solid understanding of the basics needed for the skills you identified above.For now, the best ways to do this are by reading books, taking courses, and creating a sandbox you can use to test your knew knowledge.<h2 id="a5d0" data-selectable-paragraph="">Reading Up (For Free)</h2>Books are a fantastic way to understand the basic concepts of a specific subject. They also happen to be very easy to get for free.Remember that public library your parents wanted you to check out when you were a kid? It’s actually still there! Amazing, right?The good news for you is that even public libraries have caught up with the times and now carry ebooks. You can borrow them for free like any other book, but they will be sent directly to your phone so you can read them anywhere, anytime. All you need to do is install the Kindle app (which you can get for free for <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle-read-books-ebooks-magazines/id302584613?mt=8">iOS</a> and <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.kindle&hl=en&gl=us">Android</a>).In order figure out which books to read, I would Google “best books on [subject]” or <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.quora.com/">go ask some folks on Quora</a>.<h2 id="2290" data-selectable-paragraph="">Taking Courses (For Free-ish)</h2>While books are giving you the 30,000 foot view of your topics, courses will help you figure out the nitty gritty. They are a better way to learn the actual skills because they tend to be interactive and are updated regularly.One of the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.coursera.org/">best resources for our purposes is Coursera</a>. Coursera aggregates courses from the best professors at the best schools in the country (I’m talking Princeton, Stanford, Harvard — they don’t mess around).These courses are fantastic because they are structured like an actual course you would take in college. They have videos, but they also have tests, projects, and forums where students can collaborate. This is key because it helps make the course “sticky” due to the fact that you are committing to all the above rather than just watching a few videos.Best of all, at the end of the course, you can receive a certificate stating that you passed the course. It will even have the seal from that university on it! It does cost ~$49 but it’s well worth it because you can put that right on your resume:<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="542" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*p78QkLkxwA5C7v-w.png" /><figcaption data-selectable-paragraph="">Oh this? Just some cred from a top 10 biz school (Courtesy of Coursera)</figcaption></figure><h2 id="562f" data-selectable-paragraph="">Subscribing To Industry Blogs & Newsletters</h2>Next, you’re going to want to sign up for some newsletters.Blogs stay in business by having the highest quality, most up-to-date information and getting it out there as quickly as possible. This is the easiest way for you to stay on top of current events in the industry while picking up tons of knowledge along the way.You can find them using the same method you used to find the books — Googling and hitting up Quora.

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57 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview in 2023

You’re sitting under the florescent lights of an unfamiliar conference room across from the person who may decide the fate of your job search, trying desperately to remember that perfect story you prepared and wondering if the AC is always set to “arctic blast.” Or maybe you’re at home in front of the most pr... read more

credits to: TheMuse

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 04, 2023|658 views

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57 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview in 2023

written by: richill artloe

created: March 04, 2023 | 01:58 PM

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Blog Content: You’re sitting under the florescent lights of an unfamiliar conference room across from the person who may decide the fate of your job search, trying desperately to remember that perfect story you prepared and wondering if the AC is always set to “arctic blast.” Or maybe you’re at home in front of the most professional wall in your apartment, looking at your interviewer on a computer screen and hoping your camera won’t shift and reveal the stack of empty La Croix cans you forgot to move before the Zoom call started. <aside>Then, the hiring manager asks the interview question you know is a signal that things are about to wrap up: “Do you have any questions for me?”</aside>No matter how much power you might feel like employers hold in the situation, a job interview isn’t just a chance for the hiring manager to grill you—it’s your opportunity to sniff out whether a position would be as great for you as you would be for the position. So it’s vital to ask some questions of your own. What do you want to know about the role? The company? The department? The team? The person interviewing you who may be your future boss, coworker, or mid-afternoon coffee buddy?To get you thinking, we’ve put together a list of the best questions to ask in an interview. We definitely don’t suggest asking all of them rapid-fire—some of this stuff will be covered during the course of your discussion, and you’ll have specific questions about any given job or workplace. So this list isn’t the be-all and end-all—it’s your jumping off point.Top tips for asking an employer questions in a job interviewBefore we get to the list, here are a few pointers to keep in mind:<ul><li>Don’t say you have no questions. You probably already know that whether you’re stressed or relaxed, whether you think you’ve fumbled the conversation badly or you’ve got this job in the bag, the worst thing you could say is, “Nope, I’m good.”</li><li>Be flexible. It’s OK (and encouraged) to jot down a few questions ahead of your interview, but don’t be afraid to deviate from the list if your questions have already been answered and/or if your discussion prompts a few more questions you’d like answered. Plus, you don’t want to sound like you’re reading the questions off some sort of internet list rather than having a real conversation.</li><li>Ask at least a few specific questions. Show you’re invested and you’ve been paying attention throughout the interview process by customizing your questions to the specific position and company—and reminding your interviewers of the background knowledge and experience you bring to the role.</li><li>Don’t just ask questions at the end. Interviews work best when they’re a conversation, so don’t be afraid to pose questions when it makes sense throughout the conversation.</li><li>Ask questions you really want to know the answers to. Don’t only ask questions you think will impress your interviewer. With a few exceptions (which we’ll cover) this is your chance to ask about the topics you’re really curious about—and will affect whether you even want the job. Maybe a project that really excited you when you read the job description hasn’t come up during the interview. Perhaps it’s not clear to you what the job actually entails, and you want to ask what a typical day looks like.</li></ul><h2> </h2>Best questions to ask about the jobMake sure you have a handle on exactly what the day-to-day responsibilities of the job will be—both now and in the future. This will help you make an informed decision if and when that job offer comes and avoid Shift Shock or a toxic workplace.<ul><li>What does a typical day or week look like in this role? (Or one of these alternatives.)</li><li>What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed?</li><li>Can you show me examples of projects I’d be working on?</li><li>What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?</li><li>What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?</li><li>What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?</li><li>What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?</li><li>What sort of budget would I be working with?</li><li>Is this a new role or will I be taking over for an employee who’s leaving?</li><li>How does this position contribute to the company overall?</li><li>Do you expect the main responsibilities for this position to change in the next six months to a year?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Top questions to ask about training and professional developmentThink of each new opportunity not just as a job, but as the next step on your path to career success. Will this position help you get there?<ul><li>What does your onboarding process look like?</li><li>What learning and professional development opportunities are available to your employees?</li><li>Will there be opportunities for stretch assignments where I can learn and use new skills?</li><li>Are there opportunities for advancement within the company?</li><li>Would I be able to represent the company at industry conferences?</li><li>Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Common questions to ask about how your success will be evaluatedUnderstanding how your potential new manager will measure your success is key to understanding their managerial style as well as company or team priorities.<ul><li>What are the most important things you’d like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job?</li><li>What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?</li><li>What is the performance review process like here? How often would I be formally reviewed?</li><li>What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Smart questions to ask about the interviewerAsking these questions shows that you’re interested in your interviewer as a person—and that’s a great way to build rapport with a future colleague.<ul><li>How long have you been with the company?</li><li>Has your role changed since you’ve been here?</li><li>What did you do before this?</li><li>Why did you come to this company?</li><li>What’s your favorite part about working here?</li><li>What’s one challenge you occasionally or regularly face in your job?</li><li>What part of your job are you most excited about over the next few months?</li><li>Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re especially interested in?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Best questions to ask about the companyWhy not learn a little bit about where you might work? A job isn’t just about your day-to-day to-do list. You’ll likely be happier with an employer that shares similar values to yours and is headed in a direction you’re on board with.<ul><li>I’ve read about the company’s founding, but can you tell me more about [another significant company development] ?</li><li>What direction do you see this company heading in over the next few years?</li><li>What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?</li><li>What are the current goals that the company is focused on, and how does this team work to support hitting those goals?</li><li>What gets you most excited about the company’s future?</li><li>What are the company’s most important values? (Note: Make sure this isn’t easily Google-able!)</li><li>How does the company ensure it’s upholding its values?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Smart questions to ask about the teamThe people you work with day in and day out can really make or break your work life. Ask some questions to uncover whether it’s the right team for you.<ul><li>Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?</li><li>Who will I work with most closely?</li><li>Who will I report to directly?</li><li>Can you tell me about my direct reports?</li><li>What are the team’s biggest strengths and challenges?</li><li>Do you expect to hire more people in this department in the next six months?</li><li>Which other departments work most closely with this one and how?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Creative questions to ask about the cultureYou don’t want to end up at a workplace where all socialization happens at happy hour if you don’t drink or you need to get home to your kids, or where everyone is focused solely on their own work if you thrive in a collaborative environment, for example. So make sure you ask about what’s important to you when it comes to company culture.<ul><li>How would you describe the work environment here—is the work typically more collaborative or more independent?</li><li>How does the team form and maintain strong bonds?</li><li>Can you tell me about the last company event you did together?</li><li>What’s your favorite office tradition?</li><li>What do you and the team usually do for lunch?</li><li>Does anyone at the company or on this team hang out outside the office?</li><li>Do you ever do joint events with other companies or departments?</li><li>What’s different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked?</li><li>How has the company changed since you joined?</li><li>How has the organization overcome challenges with remote work?</li><li>How does the company make sure that remote and hybrid employees are given the same opportunities and standards as in-office employees?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Best questions to ask about next stepsBefore you leave, make sure the interviewer has all the information they need and that you’re clear on what you can expect going forward. (Just don’t make this the very first thing you ask when they kick it to you!)<ul><li>What are the next steps in the interview process?</li><li>Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?</li><li>Can I answer any final questions for you?</li></ul><h2> </h2>Questions to avoid asking in your job interviewWhile you want to make sure you have all the info you’d need before taking a job, some questions are better asked after you’ve gotten an offer, once you’ve started working, or never.<ul><li>What does [Company] do exactly? (Or anything that shows you haven’t done your research.)</li><li>When does my PTO kick in?</li><li>Can I take every Monday off during football season?</li><li>Just how much is the monthly childcare allowance?</li><li>How “sensitive” are the people working here? Can they take a joke?</li><li>When do I start? (Or anything that comes across as presumptuous or cocky.)</li></ul>

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Why finding a hobby you love could save your career

Increased focus and function. Better sleep. Brighter mood. Quicker learning. Deeper creativity and a sharper memory.
These aren’t the effects of a wonder drug. They’re the natural results of a week spent picking olives with my family in Turkey.
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credits to: Aytekin Tank

category: Career Advise

published: Feb 11, 2023|663 views

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Why finding a hobby you love could save your career

written by: richill artloe

created: February 11, 2023 | 11:49 AM

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Blog Content: Increased focus and function. Better sleep. Brighter mood. Quicker learning. Deeper creativity and a sharper memory.These aren’t the effects of a wonder drug. They’re the natural results of a week spent picking olives with my family in Turkey.It’s a commitment I never miss — where I trade in targets for tarps, and productivity for brining pans. I count vats of oil, instead of KPIs. I look at trees, instead of spreadsheets. I chase my children, instead of timelines.At first glance, olive picking has nothing to do with my online form startup. But, studies show that taking time for a hobby may actually be the key to increased creativity, productivity, memory, focus, and mood.Doing something purposeful that we love, outside, with people we love, are all triggers for the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130110094415.htm">release of dopamine</a> — an organic chemical that travels along the mesocortical pathway. This is the pathway responsible for planning, responsibility, prioritizing, motivation, and more.But dopamine is just the beginning.Unfortunately, experiences like these are becoming increasingly rare in today’s <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.jotform.com/blog/hustle-culture/">winner-takes-all work environment</a>.We’re losing the art of hobbies, one of the greatest ways to spend leisure time. This loss may be behind an increase in <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.jotform.com/blog/build-a-productive-organization/">burnout</a>, and a decrease in creative talent, unlike our industries have ever seen before.<h1 id="9e0b" data-selectable-paragraph="">How we lost the love of leisure</h1>To truly understand the art of leisure, and how we lost it, we need to go back in time, to when work was a necessity: something we did to survive.In his book, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1138702617/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1138702617&linkCode=as2&tag=bigthink00-20&linkId=ddefeb53b9e4c6a69ac0abb6b746ed7a">Stone Age Economics</a>, Marshall Sahlins writes that, prior to Western influence, the Kung people — part of the Sung tribes living on the western edge of the Kalahari desert, Ovamboland, and Botswana — averaged a hunting and gathering workweek of 15 hours.By the time long hours became the norm in Western society, the idea of “work” had switched from a necessity to something one could avoid through wealth. Free time continued to be valued as a desirable part of day-to-day-life until the Great Depression, when it became <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://bigthink.com/big-think-books/vicki-robin-joe-dominguez-your-money-or-your-life">something to be feared.</a>Perhaps that sounds familiar.Inthe years since, “work has morphed into a religious identity — promising identity, transcendence, and community, but failing to deliver,” says <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/02/religion-workism-making-americans-miserable/583441/">Derek Thompson</a>, a staff writer at The Atlantic, and author of <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Hit-Makers-Science-Popularity-Distraction/dp/110198032X/">Hit Makers</a>: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction.For the first time in history, for the wealthy and successful, “there is no such thing as ‘leisure’; in the classic sense,” the economist Robert Frank <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2007/03/21/the-workaholic-rich/">writes</a> in The Wall Street Journal.<blockquote>“Building wealth to them is a creative process, and the closest thing they have to fun.”</blockquote><h1 id="35e1" data-selectable-paragraph="">Is the love of work actually working?</h1>According to recent Pew Research report, 95 percent of teens <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/02/20/most-u-s-teens-see-anxiety-and-depression-as-a-major-problem-among-their-peers/">said</a> that “having a job or career they enjoy” ranked higher than any other priority in their life, including helping others, or getting married.At first glance, this would seem to be a perfect match with today’s work environment, as <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://hbr.org/2019/02/why-you-should-work-less-and-spend-more-time-on-hobbies?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits">organizations have a growing need</a> for new, innovative ideas to rise above the noise.Instead, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.kronos.com/resource/download/23811">95 percent of HR leaders agree</a> that burnout is sabotaging workforce retention. Workplace stress costs <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/national-health-costs-could-decrease-if-managers-reduce-work-stress">$125 to $190 billion annually</a>. And even highly engaged employees are starting to show signs of depleted productivity, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://hbr.org/2018/02/1-in-5-highly-engaged-employees-is-at-risk-of-burnout">putting companies at risk</a> of losing some of their most motivated and hard-working staff.Nowhere is this more evident than Silicon Valley, where my startup <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.jotform.com/">JotForm</a> is based. Here, a <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/57-percent-of-tech-workers-are-suffering-from-job-burnout/">recent survey revealed</a> that over 57 percent of tech employees — including many employees of Silicon Valley’s elite tech companies — are suffering from job burnout.Instead of living in fear of free time, perhaps we should examine what research says about engaging in activities we love.<h1 id="03a4" data-selectable-paragraph="">What the numbers tell us</h1>Companies considered to be desirable employers have stock prices that are eight percent higher than their competitors, according to a decade of research <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://hbr.org/2011/06/the-happiness-dividend">compiled by Shawn Achor</a>, author of <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Advantage-Principles-Psychology-Performance/dp/0307591549">The Happiness Advantage</a>. The same data shows that happy employees are 20 percent more productive. Happier salespeople, in particular, increase <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://hbr.org/2011/06/the-happiness-dividend">sales by 37 percent</a>.We’ve also learned that doodling can <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/srini-pillay-power-unfocused-mind-episode-643/">improve memory</a> by 29 percent.Cardiovascular exercise <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-business/wp/2017/02/17/career-coach-smart-hobbies-can-boost-career-success/?utm_term=.f4506cc75578">improves cognition and mental performance</a>.People who read books <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/14-reasons-why-reading-is-good-for-your-health-2016-12">have more activity</a> in the part of the brain associated with language and intelligence.And, one <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/joop.12064">study</a> from San Francisco State University found that people who often engaged in a creative activity scored 15–30 percent higher on performance rankings, and were more likely to come up with creative solutions to on-the-job problems.Creating time for hobbies and play isn’t just important for individuals anymore, but an intrinsic part of maintaining a competitive company. We must undo the fear-based idea that hobbies aren’t “responsible” or “productive.”<blockquote>“But I don’t have the time,” you might say.</blockquote>While we all feel that way sometimes, it may be helpful to hear that, according to some of the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w12082.pdf">best time diary research</a> in the United States, our free time is increasing.Men’s leisure time has increased by six to nine hours a week over the past 50 years. Women’s leisure time has risen four to eight hours a week.So, exactly, why are hobbies so good for us?<h1 id="d05f" data-selectable-paragraph="">Why non-competitive play makes us more competitive</h1>According to <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/why-we-stop-playing-science-behind-moving-playing-toys-collecting-them">a growing body of research</a> on play, the unstructured activities we engage in as children facilitate a kind of learning and thinking that environments like school simply can’t.School itself, however, is where most of us first learn to see learning as “work,” and play as a reward for work, according to <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3KZG">developmental psychologist Peter Gray</a>. By the time we’re adults, says <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.bowenwhite.com/">Bowen F. White</a>, a medical doctor, and author of Why Normal Isn’t Healthy, “the only kind [of play] we honor is competitive play.”But non-competitive play may actually make us more competitive.Between 1958 and 1978, a physiology professor named Robert Root-Bernstein <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/debunking-myths-the-mind/201706/how-hobbies-impact-your-head-and-your-heart">studied</a> the effects of enjoyable hobbies on the lives of 40 different male scientists.His results showed that when scientists engaged in hobbies involving imagination, hands-on activities, art, and music, they published more research citations.<blockquote>“It’s the possibility of creating new ideas,” <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/why-we-stop-playing-science-behind-moving-playing-toys-collecting-them?page=2">says</a> Hilary Conklin, a professor of education at DePaul University who researches the effects of play. “If you think about how innovation happens, it’s through the merging of worlds and experimentation.”</blockquote>These new ideas often come from activating the 90–98 percent of mental energy normally dedicated to the unconscious, says Harvard-trained psychiatrist Srini Pillay.<blockquote>“Having a strategy is really important. Focusing is really important,” he <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/srini-pillay-power-unfocused-mind-episode-643/">writes</a>. “But if you’re really looking to make a major change in your life, potentially in an exponential way, then learning how to till the soil of the unconscious is where I think the action is.”</blockquote><a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://carleton.ca/thrive/2016/benefits-of-play/">According to</a> author and psychiatrist Stuart Brown, play is a catalyst — a small investment that exponentially improves our productivity and happiness.With all this talk of increased productivity, you might be tempted to seek a hobby that somehow adds to your work. But that’s not the true purpose of leisure time. Here are some ideas to pursue instead.<h1 id="7a20" data-selectable-paragraph="">Finding the right hobby for you</h1><h2 id="ca4b" data-selectable-paragraph="">1. Remember, and repeat</h2>Olive picking was one of my favorite childhood activities. It brought together my family and friends in a common task that created joy and belonging. When I do it today, I experience those same feelings.This experience isn’t unique to me. According to <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/jobs/02career.html">Dr. S. Ausim Azizi</a>, chairman of the department of neurology at Temple University’s School of Medicine in Philadelphia, engaging in childhood hobbies has the power to trigger our pleasure centers.<blockquote>“When people do things that make them feel good, like a hobby, it activates an area of the brain called the nucleus accumbens that controls how we feel about life,” <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/jobs/02career.html">he writes</a>.</blockquote><h2 id="33ab" data-selectable-paragraph="">2. Strengthen a new part of your mind</h2>Next time you want to try something new, consider an activity that flexes parts of your brain you don’t typically use.Playing a musical instrument, for example, strengthens the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.upworthy.com/heres-why-musicians-have-better-brains-and-its-pretty-incredible">corpus callosum</a> — an area of your brain that bridges the left and right hemispheres — creating new connections. Learning something new, in contrast, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/4-everyday-activities-that-will-actually-strengthen-your-brain.html">engages the nucleus basalis,</a> the part of our brain responsible for consolidation and attention.<a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://heartmindonline.org/resources/10-exercises-for-your-prefrontal-cortex#resource-sources">Dancing, circus arts, music, theatre, and sports</a> all strengthen executive function. Strategic games like chess <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.lifehack.org/310667/7-hobbies-science-says-will-make-your-brain-works-smarter-and-faster">improve brain plasticity</a>, forcing us to take in more information and make fresh connections. And learning a new language builds up our cognitive reserve, storing away increased brain functioning tools for later use.<h2 id="bd59" data-selectable-paragraph="">3. Look for the opposite of value</h2>Picking olives and building <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.jotform.com/myforms/">simple form solutions</a> have almost nothing in common, which is exactly why they fit so well together. In a world where we worship work, doing something that lacks intrinsic monetary or professional value can take you out of your comfort zone — and into an entirely new creative realm.<h2 id="405c" data-selectable-paragraph="">4. Find flow</h2><a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/raising-happiness/201509/3-steps-finding-your-flow">Flow</a>, the sought-after state of being “in the zone,” allows us to lose ourselves in the present moment. It’s easy to forget that we can most easily find flow while doing something we love. But when seeking a hobby, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/119942-how-to-find-a-hobby-as-an-adult">Bustle suggests</a>, think about the last time you were so engrossed in an activity that you forgot to eat.The lost sense of time in flow state restores your mind and energy, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/jobs/02career.html">says Carol Kauffman</a>, an assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School. It also requires a high level of concentration and can enhance your creativity, help you think more clearly and sharpen your focus.The office never feels further away than when I’m out in the fields of my childhood home, teaching my children the skills I learned when I was their age — when I’m working with my hands and smelling memories in the air around me.At the same time, I also feel closer to my purpose as an entrepreneur. I’m more aware of my commitment to my team’s wellbeing.When I’m at my desk, it can take hours to come up with something new. But with my hands busy, and my head in the trees, the ideas come to me like olives in the warm, Turkish air — effortless, and ripe for the picking.

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The Single Piece Of Advice That Changed The Course Of My Career

When I started my last corporate job, I asked experienced co-workers for advice and best-practices, and most of them told me something like: “Try to get in front of important people.”
That’s corporate code for sucking up.
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credits to: Darius Foroux

category: Career Advise

published: Jan 21, 2023|682 views

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The Single Piece Of Advice That Changed The Course Of My Career

written by: richill artloe

created: January 21, 2023 | 11:49 AM

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Blog Content: When I started my last corporate job, I asked experienced co-workers for advice and best-practices, and most of them told me something like: “Try to get in front of important people.”That’s corporate code for sucking up.It wasn’t my first time working for a large company. I’d seen a lot of suck ups get promotions in the past, and in a moment of weakness, I decided to listen to those idiots.You “get in front of important people” by scheduling unnecessary meetings with random people, always saying something during meetings, pretending you’re working while you’re watching YouTube videos, and staying at the office until late when you’re not productive at all.But sucking up didn’t feel right — I just couldn’t do it. It’s not my style. But it’s so tempting do it because people get rewarded for that type of behavior. It’s important to be seen working.Also, who doesn’t want to get promoted? So you get lured in. That’s why I understand why people who start at corporations decide to play politics—you think it’s normal.But “get in front of important people,” is horrible advice. Anything that is close to that, like “fake it till you make it,” or “just network your way up,” is also bad. It’s all based on appearances.<h1 id="928c" data-selectable-paragraph="">Thank god there’s another way to get rewarded.</h1>I was lucky enough to finally meet a stand-up guy. He was a new VP in another department. We met at the elevator, talked a bit, hit it off, and decided to schedule some time to properly meet.I thought he was very honest and confident, so I told him about the “getting in front of people” thing, and asked his opinion. Also, we had no ties nor mutual interests—i.e. no politics.He said: “Stay out of the chit-chat. Do your work. Let your results speak for you.”He said that he never played politics and he never applied for a manager role. He worked hard, people recognized his results, and THEY came to him with opportunities.That’s the best piece of career advice I’ve ever received. It’s good because it’s simple. And it works for every single industry.<blockquote>“Big ideas are usually simple ideas.” — David Ogilvy</blockquote>But it’s also tough advice for people to take. It’s uncertain: Do your job and hope for the best. You get rewarded when you <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://dariusforoux.com/work-fucking-hard/">work hard</a>.It’s like when people say: “Good things will come in due time.”<h1 id="b3da" data-selectable-paragraph="">“Yeah, right! I want to see instant results.”</h1>Yes, and the kid wants his candy NOW. Calm down, honestly.I get it: We’re obsessed with quick results and blueprints. We want people to tell us: Do X, and you will get Y.But unfortunately, things are not that simple. Over the past few months, thousands of people joined my newsletter, more than a million read my articles — and from that exposure, I got new opportunities.Want to know my exact blueprint? I HAVE NO IDEA.I just do my work and I don’t procrastinate. I’m also not a magician. I can’t trick people to read my stuff or work with me.No matter how many marketing hacks you use, A/B tests you run, meetings you schedule with important people, or meetups you visit — if you keep wasting time on appearances, you never get better at what you do.Instead of always trying new things, appearing busy, or doing things that are not essential, try to keep things simple. Focus on your core competencies, and improve that. No gimmicks, just real work.<blockquote>“Quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers.” — Seth Godin</blockquote>In the end, this is the best and simplest career advice I ever got: Do your job well (you don’t even have to be the best in the world, to start; be better than average people). That’s the ONLY career advice you need. And the results will come.If they don’t, let me know, so we can go back to sucking up. But I’m pretty sure that will never happen. For now, let’s get back to work.

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How you can start a career in a different field without “experience” — tips that got me job offers from Google and other tech giants

Last week I talked about how you can land a 6-figure job in tech with no connections by generating referrals from people ... read more

credits to: Austin Belcak

category: Career Advise

published: Dec 17, 2022|537 views

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How you can start a career in a different field without “experience” — tips that got me job offers from Google and other tech giants

written by: richill artloe

created: December 17, 2022 | 09:27 AM

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Blog Content: Last week I talked about <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://medium.freecodecamp.com/how-you-can-land-a-6-figure-job-in-tech-with-no-connections-6eed0de26ea4#.n25pxtah1">how you can land a 6-figure job in tech with no connections</a> by generating referrals from people inside those companies.The article found its way in front of a lot of people, and they had a lot of questions. The most common questions focused on one thing: experience.Many people find that their current career isn’t living up to their expectations. They want to change paths, but they don’t have any experience in another field, and no idea where to start.In this post I’ll show you how to quickly gain experience in any field, as well as how you can leverage that new experience to land job offers in that field.I personally used this strategy to transition from the medical field — where I was working in hospital operating rooms — to the tech industry, where I received offers from Google and other tech companies (along with a 200% raise).<h1 id="7f60" data-selectable-paragraph="">Myths about things you DON’T need when switching fields</h1>Before we dive in, I think it’s important to address a few “myths” about changing industries:<ul><li id="1332" data-selectable-paragraph="">You don’t need an extensive network of contacts. In fact, you don’t need any contacts at all — you can make them all on your own.</li><li id="0aa0" data-selectable-paragraph="">You don’t need a degree in the field you want to switch to. Perception is reality, and results speak volumes when it comes to perception. They are worth more than any degree or previous job title. More on that later.</li><li id="cf7e" data-selectable-paragraph="">You don’t need money. Everything you need to know can be learned for free. In fact, I’m going to show you how this process can actually help you generate a second stream of income.</li></ul><figure><img alt="" width="700" height="297" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*wGDpl3aoMSUBmcfQ.jpg" /><figcaption data-selectable-paragraph="">Courtesy of <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://starecat.com/">StareCat.com</a></figcaption></figure>Next, I’m going to outline the exact steps I used to land a job in a totally different industry so you can make it happen for yourself.<h1 id="f8a9" data-selectable-paragraph="">Part 1: Painting a picture of the perfect candidate</h1>The good news about entering a completely different field is that you are a blank canvas. You can choose your skills and mold yourself into the perfect candidate.<h2 id="0f3d" data-selectable-paragraph="">What does perfection look like?</h2>In order to become the ideal candidate, we must first understand what “ideal” looks like in the eyes of the people who will be hiring you. There are two ways to accomplish this:<h2 id="e7ac" data-selectable-paragraph="">Job descriptions</h2>Job descriptions are essentially resumes in reverse. They spell out the exact skills you need in order to be successful in that particular role. That sounds obvious, but we are going to be looking at this from an atypical lens.Let’s take a look at this Growth Marketing Analyst role that I grabbed from Facebook’s site:<blockquote>Responsibilities- Leverage data to understand our products in depth, identify areas of opportunity, and execute projects to drive growth and engagement of Facebook users.- Drive projects focusing on new user growth, mobile usage, and revenue — working closely with design, product, engineering, and data teams.- Work both on core Facebook products like news feed, notifications, and mobile, and offsite marketing channels like SEO, SEM, and email.- Use tools like Hadoop/Hive, Oracle, ETL, R, PHP, Python, Excel, MicroStrategy, and many other internal tools to work efficiently at scale.Minimum Qualifications- BS or MS in Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Physics, Statistics.- 1+ years experience with SQL.- 2+ years of quantitative or statistical analysis experience.- 1+ years of experience managing a project.- 1+ years of experience in marketing, advertising or growth.- Ability to process and analyze data sets, and interpret them to make business decisions.- Communication skills and ability to manage a project or product.Preferred Qualifications- Software development experience.- Internet Marketing experience.</blockquote>What do you see here? What does the ideal candidate look like? What do they need to get hired?My guess is that you’re thinking, “Ok, they need a degree in computers or math. Then they need at least two years of experience coding and managing projects at a company.”Well, here’s what I see:Facebook is looking for someone who understands how to identify trends/patterns within big data that will have a direct impact on revenue. That person also has enough knowledge of programming to efficiently make those discoveries and present them in a simple, concise fashion.The main issue a lot of people have is that they think the only way to get “experience” is to work at company or have fancy degrees. This is one of the biggest myths when it comes to job searching.In order to understand it, let’s take a step back and think about why companies hire.They want someone who will come in and have a large, positive impact on their bottom line.Someone could have a PhD in Computer Science and be fluent in all of the programming languages mentioned above, but if they lack the ability to clearly convey results, the company isn’t going to benefit.On the other hand, someone who may not have a degree or total fluency but understands how to find impactful insights and presents them in a concise, actionable manner is extremely valuable.Your goal is to become that second person.<h2 id="faee" data-selectable-paragraph="">Informational interviews</h2>In addition to combing through job descriptions, it’s equally important to get in touch with people who work in the industry.They will be able to help you prioritize the skills you found in those job applications, as well as give you some inside info on the intangibles (nuances of the hiring process, putting you in touch with their contacts, etc.).I’ve found that the best way to make this happen is by leveraging LinkedIn’s advanced search filters.You can search for people at specific companies, with specific titles. If you have LinkedIn Premium, you can even search for people who used to work in your industry and now work in your target industry — or even at your target company.Then you can use this email script to reach out:Subject: Quick QuestionHi [Name],My name is Austin and I currently work at Cultivated Culture. I was browsing through LinkedIn and came across your information — I hope you don’t mind me reaching out of the blue here.I saw that you have extensive experience in Facebook’s Growth Analytics vertical and I’m very interested in learning more about that space. I would love to have the opportunity to run some questions by you, as well as tap into any advice you may have given your knowledge of the industry.I know that your time is extremely valuable so please don’t feel to need to respond in depth. If you do have 5 minutes to chat, I would really appreciate it.Best,AustinWhen they agree to a meeting, you’ll want to prepare some questions. They should focus on:<ul><li id="a896" data-selectable-paragraph="">Identifying which skills are the most crucial for performing daily activities (this will allow you to prioritize)</li><li id="003e" data-selectable-paragraph="">Providing some background on how that person got to where they are (you’d be surprised at how many people came from other industries)</li><li id="d198" data-selectable-paragraph="">What they would do if they were in your shoes — trying to get this job with little to no experience in the field</li></ul>Here are those bullets in question form to help get you started:<ol><li id="8dc2" data-selectable-paragraph="">I’ve been doing some research and it seems like [Skill 1] — [Skill 3] are common in the space. Which of these do you think is the most crucial to success?</li><li id="0746" data-selectable-paragraph="">I was looking through your LinkedIn and saw that you came from [Previous Role/Company]. How did you initially get involved in this industry and how did you end up at [Current Role]?</li><li id="792e" data-selectable-paragraph="">Let’s say you were in my shoes — you’re new to the industry and don’t have too much experience. How would you go about getting your current job? What specific steps would you take?</li></ol><h2 id="16ed" data-selectable-paragraph="">Bringing It All Together</h2>Now you have an understanding of the skills that you need, where they stand in terms of priority, and a roadmap from someone who has/had the role you want.Next, you need to build a foundation with those skills and use them to generate results that directly align with the company’s goals for that role.<h1 id="8ba0" data-selectable-paragraph="">Part 2: Nailing The Basics (On The Cheap)</h1>Over the next month or two we’re going to focus on building a rock solid understanding of the basics needed for the skills you identified above.For now, the best ways to do this are by reading books, taking courses, and creating a sandbox you can use to test your knew knowledge.<h2 id="a5d0" data-selectable-paragraph="">Reading Up (For Free)</h2>Books are a fantastic way to understand the basic concepts of a specific subject. They also happen to be very easy to get for free.Remember that public library your parents wanted you to check out when you were a kid? It’s actually still there! Amazing, right?The good news for you is that even public libraries have caught up with the times and now carry ebooks. You can borrow them for free like any other book, but they will be sent directly to your phone so you can read them anywhere, anytime. All you need to do is install the Kindle app (which you can get for free for <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle-read-books-ebooks-magazines/id302584613?mt=8">iOS</a> and <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.kindle&hl=en&gl=us">Android</a>).In order figure out which books to read, I would Google “best books on [subject]” or <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.quora.com/">go ask some folks on Quora</a>.<h2 id="2290" data-selectable-paragraph="">Taking Courses (For Free-ish)</h2>While books are giving you the 30,000 foot view of your topics, courses will help you figure out the nitty gritty. They are a better way to learn the actual skills because they tend to be interactive and are updated regularly.One of the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.coursera.org/">best resources for our purposes is Coursera</a>. Coursera aggregates courses from the best professors at the best schools in the country (I’m talking Princeton, Stanford, Harvard — they don’t mess around).These courses are fantastic because they are structured like an actual course you would take in college. They have videos, but they also have tests, projects, and forums where students can collaborate. This is key because it helps make the course “sticky” due to the fact that you are committing to all the above rather than just watching a few videos.Best of all, at the end of the course, you can receive a certificate stating that you passed the course. It will even have the seal from that university on it! It does cost ~$49 but it’s well worth it because you can put that right on your resume:<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="542" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*p78QkLkxwA5C7v-w.png" /><figcaption data-selectable-paragraph="">Oh this? Just some cred from a top 10 biz school (Courtesy of Coursera)</figcaption></figure><h2 id="562f" data-selectable-paragraph="">Subscribing To Industry Blogs & Newsletters</h2>Next, you’re going to want to sign up for some newsletters.Blogs stay in business by having the highest quality, most up-to-date information and getting it out there as quickly as possible. This is the easiest way for you to stay on top of current events in the industry while picking up tons of knowledge along the way.You can find them using the same method you used to find the books — Googling and hitting up Quora.Additionally, try to find a niche blog as they tend to have highly detailed information on your topic. Here are some examples:SEO: <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo">The 10 Chapter Beginner’s Guide To SEO</a>Content Marketing: <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.quicksprout.com/the-advanced-guide-to-content-marketing/">The Advanced Guide To Content Marketing</a>Facebook Ads: <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://rich20something.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-making-money-with-facebook-ads/">The Ultimate Guide To Making Money With Facebook Ads</a><h2 id="d8b7" data-selectable-paragraph="">Free Resources (Where Applicable)</h2>Many industries and fields have a ton of free resources out there to help your learn. For example, if you’re an analytics person — Google Analytics is completely free to set up. Additionally, Google offers an entire course on the platform for free.If your plan is to break into the development field, you’re already in the right place. <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.freecodecamp.com/">Free Code Camp</a> is one of many great resources that will help you learn the basics of programming for free.Be sure to do a thorough search on your industry. Chances are good that free training resources exist.<h2 id="85b3" data-selectable-paragraph="">Bonus Pro Tip: Google Alerts</h2>Google Alerts are an awesome way to save yourself hours that you would have spent searching for articles on specific topics or companies.You can set them up for anything that you could feasibly search for in Google, but probably want to stick with the salient points like a specific industry, certain skills, the company you want to work for and Beyonce.Then, every day, Google will crawl the web and find the most relevant (and worthy) articles on your specific subjects and deliver them straight to your inbox.<a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/alerts">You can sign up for Google alerts here.</a><h1 id="9c8f" data-selectable-paragraph="">Part 3: Getting Paid To Hone Your Skills</h1>Yup, you read that right. We’re going learn how to have someone pay you to learn the skills you need to change industries.<h2 id="47fe" data-selectable-paragraph="">Building Credibility & Real-World Results</h2>Now that you understand the basics of these skills, it’s time to really develop them.I’ve found that the best way to truly learn something is by doing it. I can’t think of a better way of “doing” than selling your skills for some cold hard cash.<h1 id="cfd2" data-selectable-paragraph="">Rapidly Develop Your Skills By Freelancing</h1>While it may seem like a daunting task, it’s fairly easy to get started in the freelance world even if you have no prior “experience.”As Tim Ferriss says, the definition of an expert is someone who knows more than the person they are dealing with.There are two ways of going about finding clients when you’re starting out — freelance aggregator sites and traditional cold outreach:<h2 id="87dc" data-selectable-paragraph="">Upwork (A Freelance Aggregator)</h2><a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.upwork.com/">Upwork</a> is a community where business owners come to find freelancers for everything under the sun.The beauty of Upwork is that it removes the need for you to invest a lot of time in marketing yourself. It is an inbound site meaning your services will show up to people who are already looking for that particular service, making them more likely to hire. That may also be attractive to someone who is uncomfortable with a traditional sales process.The trade off is that, while you save time, Upwork charges a hefty fee for saving you that time. For our purposes, that’s not too terrible because you’re mostly in it for the learning while the money is icing on the cake.I recommend using Upwork if you’re having trouble managing the sales process on your own, or if you’re just starting out and need to build up a few success stories.If you really want to expand your initial reach, check out <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.hubstaff.com/upwork-competitors/">Hubstaff’s comprehensive rundown of Upwork alternatives</a> and get yourself on multiple platforms.<h2 id="c88e" data-selectable-paragraph="">Cold Outreach</h2>The second option, and the path that I recommend, is handling the sales process on your own. That way you get to keep 100% of the revenue and remove the middle man.This can be a bit tougher initially because those businesses may not be actively looking for your services and if you don’t have much sales experience, the learning curve can be steep.In this section we’ll through the steps that I used to land my initial clients, build success stories and then use those results to expand my portfolio (and increase my revenue).<h1 id="32c0" data-selectable-paragraph="">Define Your Niche</h1><figure><img alt="" width="700" height="267" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*o8ST2gu7fDF8eV6AugMH1g.png" /><figcaption data-selectable-paragraph="">Courtesy of Partner’s Title Co.</figcaption></figure>Our first step on our freelancing journey is defining our target prospect. Most articles out there tell you that when you start a business your niche should be laser-focused, like Male Golfers, Ages 47–54 who suffer from back pain.While I agree that it should be targeted, it’s not reasonable to expect that you’re going to know your target audience in that level of detail before you’ve even worked with a single client.You’ll begin to hone in on your ideal niche as you go, but for now we’re going to use the following process to determine our target audience (actually, we’re going to choose 3).<h2 id="a9d0" data-selectable-paragraph="">Defining Your Initial Target Prospect</h2>Start by making a list of 50 people that you know. It can include everyone from your best friend’s parents to a connection on LinkedIn you met at a conference last year. The only criteria they need to meet is that you must feel comfortable reaching out to that person.Add these people into <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fasMrAIovSMxIRbpKJzJerPdAcaBXbChCcFebG5XHGU/edit?usp=sharing">this spreadsheet I created for you</a> along with their company type and industry (ignore the email column for now, we’ll get to that later):<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="334" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*5T48Bvr6P653Vt--9nOvww.png" /></figure>Now that we have our people, let’s take a look at their company type and industry. Which industries and company types match up best with your knowledge and skill set?If we take my list, I know that my marketing skills could benefit a tech company, but they could also benefit a health & wellness startup looking to build an audience. Additionally, know that it’s much easier to sell into startups than corporations when you’re first starting out. With that in mind, my ideal mix is:Company Type: StartupIndustry: Advertising, Tech, Web Development & Health/WellnessNow we have one “niche,” but my list here is only 10 people. I want you to try and find 3 different niches where one or more of your skills apply. Then I want you to assign each niche a number and label your spreadsheet (you can also highlight too if that helps):<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="274" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*zr_umTC-_UbPUG1agriP9g.png" /></figure>Awesome! You just defined 3 areas that you can sell into and you have your first set of prospects.Key Takeaway: Don’t get caught up in finding a super-specific niche before you’ve ever booked a client. Keep things broad, take on a few initial clients and your niche will narrow over time.<h1 id="d124" data-selectable-paragraph="">Create Time & Be Consistent</h1>I have spent a lot of time reading about success. I’ve also spent a lot of time building businesses in hopes of chasing it. After sifting through the thousands of pages and lessons, I found that one thing had the greatest influence on whether I was successful or not:ConsistencyThe ability to work on something every single day — regardless of how you feel, how crazy your job is or how many friends tell you to go to happy hour — is the difference between succeeding and failing when you start a business.In order to be consistent, you have to create time. Time that you know is not going to be interrupted. For me, that means waking up at 5:30am. For you, early may work, or maybe late at night is your thing. Whatever you do, make sure that it’s a natural fit for you. You don’t want to feel like you have to drag yourself to do this, otherwise it will never work.<h2 id="e6e0" data-selectable-paragraph="">Put It In Your Calendar</h2>Start by opening up your Google calendar and finding a 1.5 hour block of time that works for you at least 5 days every week (yes, that includes weekends).Create an event and set reminders for 1 hour before and 15 minutes before. Mark that time as “busy” on your calendar:<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="122" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*MruU_v4ApvLlpi0m.png" /></figure><h1 id="5d50" data-selectable-paragraph="">Hold Yourself Accountable</h1>Now it’s real — ink on paper. However, your calendar invite isn’t going to get you out of bed the day after you went out a little too hard or help you say no to those free concert tickets to see Kanye. If we truly want to stick with this, we’re going to need a little outside help.I personally recommend <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.stickk.com/">StickK</a> because I’m a competitive person who doesn’t like losing. StickK basically lets you bet yourself that you will start your business.You put down a dollar amount (I recommend $100) and you set a goal. Then you’ll be assigned a “referee” who will hold you accountable. If you complete your goal, you get your $100 back. If you don’t, that money is donated to the charity of your choice.I can personally tell you that the thought of $100 being yanked out of my wallet has helped me push through many hangovers.<h1 id="7ee8" data-selectable-paragraph="">Getting Your First Client</h1>Now that we’ve got our service and our niches nailed down, it’s time to get some paying customers.Since we don’t have much in the way of a portfolio, we’re going to want to start by aiming for a prospect where we have a personal connection. Then we’re going to leverage the current experience that you have to land the deal.Let’s head <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fasMrAIovSMxIRbpKJzJerPdAcaBXbChCcFebG5XHGU/edit?usp=sharing">back to our spreadsheet</a> and look through the list of names that we highlighted in each niche. I want you to go ahead and rank each of these people in the order of how likely they are to help you. Then we’re going to reach out to each from top to bottom.<h2 id="4e74" data-selectable-paragraph="">Finding Emails</h2>If you don’t already have their email, you can easily find it by using <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://voilanorbert.com/">VoilaNorbert</a> or <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://findanyemail.net/">FindAnyEmail.net</a>. Once you have it, go ahead and plug it into your spreadsheet for future reference.<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="122" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*8LPZJ6SczhWZlVXbSO1fPw.jpeg" /></figure><h2 id="a58b" data-selectable-paragraph="">Reaching Out</h2>Now we’re going to reach out to our contact and ask them if they can help us set up a meeting. Here is the exact email template you can use for that:Subject: Quick QuestionHi [Name],Hope you’re doing well! I wanted to let you know about a business I’m starting up called [Company Name]. It’s aimed at helping companies [Insert Value Prop].Most recently we were able to [Insert Success Story]. I did a quick audit of [Prospect’s Company] and I have some ideas that I’d love to share with you. Could you help me get in touch with the correct person? Either way, would love to catch up soon!Best,[Your Name]All you need to do is fill in their name, your skills and press send.I would also highly recommend getting an email tracker such as <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.hubspot.com/products/sales/email-tracking">Hubspot </a>(free) or <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.yesware.com/">Yesware </a>(better, but costs $). These will allow you to see if your prospect read your message and help you determine whether or not to follow up.<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="409" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*V_QvADy44NTnsUNX.png" /></figure>If they open your email once, that trail is dead. However, if they open it multiple times across multiple days, feel free to follow up with them after 4–5 business days. I have personally followed up with people 8–10 times before eventually getting a response that led to a deal.<h2 id="f614" data-selectable-paragraph="">Preparing For The Meeting</h2>Once the meeting is set, we want to make a compelling case for why this company needs your services. The best way to do that is using what I like to call The Audit Technique.It’s extremely simple and effective:<ul><li id="bb14" data-selectable-paragraph="">Carefully review our prospect’s current set up (website, social media, content, copy, health — whatever fits your service)</li><li id="4477" data-selectable-paragraph="">Identify as many issues/improvements as we possibly can</li><li id="2212" data-selectable-paragraph="">Determine the measurable impact of fixing these issues</li><li id="c460" data-selectable-paragraph="">Share specific strategies for solving 2–3 of the issues and then showcase the potential result of fixing all of them</li><li id="beb3" data-selectable-paragraph="">Tell them that, regardless of whether or not they hire you, they can keep the audit report</li></ul>Boom! Easy.<h2 id="69b5" data-selectable-paragraph="">Closing The Deal</h2>In the beginning, most of your prospects aren’t going to be seeking you out. That means that you have to convince them that your services will be worth their time and money. The best way to do that is via the following framework:1. AddressWe’re going to start off the meeting by addressing the issues that you found with their site. Don’t be too critical. The goal here is to make them feel good about their business while also letting them know that there is a lot of untapped potential out there.Hand them your Audit Report and walk them through each of the issues. Explain what is happening, why it’s hurting their business, and what the solution is.2. Illustrate PotentialOnce you’ve explained the issues, you want to clarify what the prospect is missing out on. The more quantifiable this is, the better. For example:<ul><li id="01e1" data-selectable-paragraph="">Your call to action on the site isn’t strong enough. Your conversion rate is probably 5% lower than where it should be. If your site gets 30,000 visitors a month, that’s 1,500 people we’re not capturing!</li><li id="1b5b" data-selectable-paragraph="">Instagram accounts like yours typically see 100–300 followers every day, but you are only netting 20–30. If you implement the strategy I laid out here you should see an immediate boost within a few days. That could mean an additional 2,400 followers each month!</li></ul>Show them how this is impacting their bottom line. Walk them through the math:<blockquote>You: What is your typical sales conversion rate from your email list?Prospect: Hmmm, it’s around 3%You: Wow, that’s pretty good! And how much profit do you make from each sale?Prospect: Typically we net around $150 per sale.You: Awesome. Based on my audit, I’m seeing that we’re missing out capturing an additional 3–5% of your site’s traffic due to poor copy and CTA placement. I poked around and saw that your site gets ~30,000 visitors per month which means that we could be capturing an additional 1,500 people every month. Based on the numbers you just gave me, that’s $6,750 per month!</blockquote>If you charge $2,000 per month, that’s a no brainer for your prospect. Any business owner would pay $2,000 if they knew it would result in an incremental profit of $4,750 — and you just made $24k this year!<h2 id="33ee" data-selectable-paragraph="">Ask Them For The Sale</h2>Now that you’ve proven out the value — ask them for the sale:<ul><li id="129d" data-selectable-paragraph="">Tell them that the Audit Report is theirs to keep regardless</li><li id="8448" data-selectable-paragraph="">Reiterate the potential opportunity they have to gain</li><li id="c977" data-selectable-paragraph="">Outline what next steps look like for hiring you</li><li id="f641" data-selectable-paragraph="">Ask them if they want to move forward</li></ul>Chances are good that they’ll want some time to think about it. No worries at all — drop note on your calendar to follow up with them 72 hours later.You just booked your first client!<figure><img alt="" width="250" height="250" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/0*cjY--Zhpp7Ks-_R9.gif" /></figure>Now I want you to rinse and repeat this process for everyone on your spreadsheet. If you can get your foot in the door, you can expect about a 5%-10% close rate.<h2 id="05cc" data-selectable-paragraph="">Consolation: Offering Your Services For Free</h2>Since we’re mostly in this for the learning, this is great option to consider if the above process isn’t initially working out.I found that it was much easier to land clients when I had success stories I could speak to. It’s important to figure out a way to get some results before you go all-in on pitching for money.You can reach out to businesses, same as above, and offer your services for free. This takes away all of the risk for the company, making them much more likely to agree, while allowing you to get right to the learning and create real-world results.Remember, we’re in this to try and find a job we love that pays us what we deserve. That is worth a LOT more than a few paid freelance contracts. If the freelancing turns into a source of revenue, that is icing on the cake.<h1 id="d1e9" data-selectable-paragraph="">Leveraging Your Results To Land Your New Job</h1>There you have it — a step-by-step plan to build the experience you need to land a join a different industry. Now it’s time to get out there and get your foot in there door.First up, edit the resume.<h2 id="0624" data-selectable-paragraph="">Add Your Experience To Your Resume</h2>As soon as you have some concrete results under your belt, you’re going to want to add them straight at the top of your resume.This will be the first thing that your potential employer will see and it helps remove any doubt about your qualifications.Way back up at the top of the article we took a look at why companies hire. The qualifications of X years is just an arbitrary number set by the company to make them feel like they are hiring someone who can do the job.Adding in your freelance experience not only shows that you can do the job, but also that you have an understanding of how to run a business. This knowledge is extremely valuable to an employer, especially for a technical hire because technical folks typically get tunnel vision and have trouble seeing how their work relates to the larger picture — making money.Here is a screenshot of my consulting experience on my resume:<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="171" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*D5xsd_x43MG19XqH6ONOmg.png" /></figure><h2 id="605d" data-selectable-paragraph="">Identify Influencers At Your Target Company</h2>Now that you have the relevant experience, you’re going to want to start connecting with influencers who can help refer you into your dream job.I outline that exact process in my article <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://medium.freecodecamp.com/how-you-can-land-a-6-figure-job-in-tech-with-no-connections-6eed0de26ea4#.n25pxtah1">How To Land A 6-Figure Job In Tech With No Connections</a> so be sure to check that out when you’re ready.

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How to Think About Your Career

If you had asked 22-year-old me what my “career aspirations” were, I would have looked at you blankly and then casually changed the subject to what programs you’d recommend to model cute 3D bunnies for a video game.

It’s not that I didn’t think about my career at ... read more

credits to: Julie Zhuo

category: Blog

published: Nov 27, 2022|350 views

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How to Think About Your Career

written by: richill artloe

created: November 27, 2022 | 12:58 PM

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Blog Content: If you had asked 22-year-old me what my “career aspirations” were, I would have looked at you blankly and then casually changed the subject to what programs you’d recommend to model cute 3D bunnies for a video game. It’s not that I didn’t think about my career at all. I was ambitious — I wanted to be a part of something big. I wanted to be able to support myself financially and not worry my parents (as this was a high bar set at doctor, aka the “stablest of all professions,” I suspect they still secretly worry about this.) I wanted the kind of job where I wouldn’t be watching the clock every hour, daydreaming.But beyond that, the specifics of “thinking about my career” was a giant grey cloud to me. It felt almost icky to be too career-oriented, like if you were, you were that kind of self-absorbed person constantly trying to game the system by sugar-coating the things you said to your bosses. Besides, at 22, I had taken my first job at a start-up where we were moving way too fast to sit down and idly contemplate the skills we hoped to learn. Who needs career conversations when you’re busy changing the world?Here’s the thing though: your career, like your life, moves forward whether you think about it or not. If you don’t think about it, then you’re putting faith in the winds. Maybe you’ll end up somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. Maybe not. Why take that chance when you can captain your own sails?Here’s what I wish I had known about getting a handle on my career earlier in life:<h1 id="7a5c" data-selectable-paragraph="">Your career is defined by your skills and how you’ve used them, not by any external measure of your progress.</h1>It’s common to think of your career as your level within the company, or how much money you make, or your title, or whether you were included in some prestigious group (a meeting of importance, an exclusive conference, a list of N under N, an award recipient, etc.)Often, I hear people say things like, “I’m interested in advancing my career. What do I need to do to get promoted?”This is a perfectly valid question to ask, but I suspect what lurks beneath the question is the assumption that advancing one’s career = getting a promotion. I contest this quite heavily. In my opinion, it’s like equating being a good friend with getting invited to friend’s wedding.Certainly, the people who attend someone’s wedding are likely to be good friends. But you wouldn’t think that optimizing for getting an invitation to a wedding is the right way to go about being a good friend. In fact, it’s entirely the other way around. If you focus 100% on being a great friend to someone, even if you never once thought about being invited to their wedding, guess what. You’re probably going to get that fancy envelope in the mail.The same is true regarding your career. If you focus exclusively on improving your skills and your impact to your organization (or to the world at large), the promotions, raises and accolades tend to come as a byproduct.The reverse isn’t true. As an extreme analogy, you might have a terrible boss who tells you the way to get a promotion is to shut your mouth, fetch her coffee every morning, and do any busywork she assigns you. Now, maybe you check off these boxes and get a promotion. Cool. But would doing this actually help you in the long run? Would doing this teach you new skills and make you a more attractive hire for some other company down the line? Probably not. Maybe what happens is that you rise in the ranks of that company only to have it go bankrupt later on. (Hey, this isn’t unreasonable given the organization seems to possess questionable management practices). Post-bankruptcy, you realize you don’t have many marketable skills in this rapidly-changing economy, so it’s hard to get a job at a similar comfort level to what you had. Life sucks. You get bitter.So don’t ask “What does it take to get a promotion?” Ask instead: “How can I be doing more to help make our customers (or would-be customers) happy?” Ask “What skills should I be developing to help me increase my impact?”Even if your current company has a broken promotion system, even if your company collapses tomorrow due to the winds of ill fortune, even if every external measure you hold yourself to — title, salary, affiliation, awards — goes out the window, your skills are forever. Nobody can take those away from you. No matter where you journey, your skills and your past experiences go along for the ride. This is why you shouldn’t worry too much if your career doesn’t follow some up-and-up external ladder structure. Are there instances where a new role with a pay cut and a title downgrade might unlock a treasure trove of new learnings and opportunities? Of course. Might you be better off in 10 years if you take a smaller position at a faster-growing company? <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2013/03/14/why-a-career-jungle-gym-is-better-than-a-career-ladder/#ea1e02195bdb">Just ask Sheryl Sandberg</a>.Careers are long, so invest into them where it counts.<h1 id="87a4" data-selectable-paragraph="">Treat your manager as a coach, not as a judge.</h1>For most of my career, I had the mental model that my manager, like my teachers and professors of the past, was someone in a position of authority who took note of what I did and passed judgement on it. They determined whether I was or wasn’t doing well, what I needed more critical feedback on, and what letter grade or assessment I deserved.As such, my modus operandi for interacting with my manager could be summarized in one neat statement: don’t come across as an idiot.This meant that I’d try and act as if I had my shit together in front of him or her. I’d exude confidence and optimism, even when I wasn’t feeling it. I’d say “Oh, I’ve got it under control,” when they asked if I needed help with anything. There was no clearer evidence of personal failure than if my manager had to get involved in something I was responsible for. I read it as a neon sign brightly flashing Warning: employee not competent enough to take care of this task on her own.It wasn’t until I had managed for many years myself that this mindset began to change.Look, your manager’s job (assuming she is a good manager) is to help you and the rest of your team get better results. From this perspective, it is completely logical that she should be invested in your career. When you do better, then by extension, she does better. Hence, your manager is someone who is on your side, who wants you to succeed, and who is willing to spend a good deal of time and energy to help you do that.Can you imagine a star athlete trying to hide their weaknesses in front of their coach? Would you tell your personal trainer, “Oh, I’m pretty fit, I’ve got it under control” when she asks you how she can help you achieve a better workout? Of course not. That is not how a coaching relationship works.It’s precisely because I didn’t see my manager as a coach that I missed out on years of asking for and receiving training and feedback that would have helped me become better faster. Yes, of course, your manager still plays the role of judge. Yes, she can (and should) fire you if you can’t do the job, or do nothing but play Pokemon Go all day. But assuming you’re not unqualified or lazy or an asshole (and trust me, if you were, you’d know quite quickly), then your manager would like nothing better than for your career to be on a rocket-ship trajectory to the moon.You don’t just need coaching when you’re struggling. I’m willing to bet that everyone who’ll take home gold at Rio will have a coach. A majority of them will probably credit good coaching as a critical factor in getting them to where they are.The more honest you can be with your manager about your aspirations, your motivations, and where you’d like their help to improve, the faster you’ll move.<h1 id="852d" data-selectable-paragraph="">Create a mental image of yourself mastering the skills you most want to master, and believe that that is in your future.</h1>A few years back, <a rel="noopener" href="https://medium.com/the-year-of-the-looking-glass/the-secret-of-the-chicken-and-the-egg-206b7f1ce83b#.yix2h0shv">I wrote about a little book that caught my eye at Safeway</a>, an obnoxious little thing with faux wax seal, quill-pen script, the ancient parchment paper glowing as if with magical beams. The book loudly proclaimed: Get whatever you want. Discover the secret to life.Spoiler warning ahead, but this is what the secret to getting whatever you want turned out to be: if you believe it can happen, it will happen.(I know, I know. I too was hoping it would be something more along the lines of Burn a sprig of Douglas Fir at 11:23pm on the eve of the New Moon and bow three times to a fat armadillo.)As trivial as the new-age tidbit of if you can believe it can happen, it will happen sounds, there is research that shows if you can create a clear visualization of yourself achieving the outcome you want, you prime yourself to act in a way that is consistent with what you imagine.Many years ago, when I was frustrated by all the things I struggled with and felt unequipped or scared to do in my job, I started a list of what I wished a future me would one day be able to waltz in and easily accomplish. This list is titled One Day, I will…Now, maybe seven or eight years later, this list is still up-to-date. I’ve added additional items throughout the years, but the more incredible thing is how I’ve been able to check things off. The skills that once seemed a distant dream when I was 25 or 26 now feel like second nature. And these proof points give me confidence that all the new items I am still adding will also happen. In 5 or so years, I’ll look back feeling great about having mastered those skills as well.Going back to this list a few times a year gives me a deep sense of motivation and comfort. These things I can clearly visualize are totally doable. So do them I will.If you’re curious what my list looks like, here is a snippet of items checked off through the years, and items that I am still working on:One Day, I will……✓ Not feel intimidated when I interview someone because I’m worried about what they think of me as an interviewer.✓ Not be nervous about a public speaking event in the days before it happens.✓ Feel comfortable speaking up in a meeting of > 5.✓ Publicly blog without stressing about what other people will think.Succinctly and clearly be able to make the point I want to make in 3 bullets.Regularly be able to weave compelling stories and analogies into verbal explanations.Host large events where people have fun and I am not really stressed out.…<h1 id="c147" data-selectable-paragraph="">You own your career, and you have more of an ability to shape it than anybody else.</h1>This is the last takeaway because no matter how many people are on the sidelines helping you, ignoring you, or working against you, your career — like your life — is your responsibility. Don’t blame your manager, your significant other, your friends, or your company if you don’t have the career that you want. All of these things are in your power to affect or change.If you find it hard to wake up excited about going to work in the mornings, ask yourself why.If you look back on your last six months and you can’t point to anything that’s been hard for you, question whether you are challenging yourself enough.If you find yourself constantly looking for other people to tell you how awesome you’re doing, consider if you’re shortchanging your own growth and development.If your manager is not giving you the support or coaching you’d like, tell her how you’d like to be supported or coached.If working at your current company is not aligned with your long-term goals or values, consider making a move.If you’ve never thought about where you’d like to be in three years, sit down and think about it.

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The No. 1 Predictor Of Career Success According To Network Science

It has been over three years since Steve Jobs died.
Since then, books have been written and movies have been made.
Each has celebrated his legacy and aimed to share the secrets he used to build the largest company i... read more

credits to: Michael Simmons

category: Career Advise

published: Oct 23, 2022|359 views

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The No. 1 Predictor Of Career Success According To Network Science

written by: richill artloe

created: October 23, 2022 | 12:41 PM

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Blog Content: It has been over three years since Steve Jobs died.Since then, books have been written and movies have been made.Each has celebrated his legacy and aimed to share the secrets he used to build the largest company in the world; things like attention to detail, attracting world-class talent and holding them to high standards.We think we understand what caused his success.We don’t.We dismiss usable principles of success by labeling them as personality quirks.What’s often missed is the paradoxical interplay of two of his seemingly opposite qualities; maniacal focus and insatiable curiosity. These weren’t just two random strengths. They may have been his most important as they helped lead to everything else.Jobs’ curiosity fueled his passion and provided him with access to unique insights, skills, values, and world-class people who complemented his own skillset. Job’s focus brought those to bear in the world of personal electronics.I don’t just say this as someone who has devoured practically every article, interview, and book featuring him.I say this as someone who has interviewed many of the world’s top network scientists on a quest to understand how networks create competitive advantage in business and careers.The Simple Variable That Explains What Really Causes Career SuccessIn December of 2013, I <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelsimmons/2013/12/03/why-being-the-most-connected-is-a-vanity-metric/">interviewed one of the world’s top network scientists</a>, Ron Burt. During it, he shared a chart that completely flipped my understanding of success. Here is a simplified version:<figure><img alt="" width="669" height="515" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/669/1*UdzMiGfz1xQDcBR2WkZFqw.png" /></figure>The bottom line? According to multiple, peer-reviewed studies, simply being in an open network instead of a closed one is the best predictor of career success.In the chart, the further to the right you go toward a closed network, the more you repeatedly hear the same ideas, which reaffirm what you already believe. The further left you go toward an open network, the more you’re exposed to new ideas. People to the left are significantly more successful than those to the right.In fact, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/ronald.burt/teaching/pdfs/1brokerage.pdf">the study</a> shows that half of the predicted difference in career success (i.e., promotion, compensation, industry recognition) is due to this one variable.Do you ever have moments where you hear something so compelling that you need to know more, yet so crazy that you’d have to let go of some of your core beliefs in order to accept the idea?This was one of those moments for me. Never in all of the books I had read on self-help, career success, business, or Steve Jobs had I come across this idea.I wondered, “How is it possible that the structure of one’s network could be such a powerful predictor for career success?How A Closed Network Impacts Your CareerTo understand the power of open networks, it’s important to understand their opposite.Most people spend their careers in closed networks; networks of people who already know each other. People often stay in the same industry, the same religion, and the same political party. In a closed network, it’s easier to get things done because you’ve built up trust, and you know all the shorthand terms and unspoken rules. It’s comfortable because the group converges on the same ways of seeing the world that confirm your own.To understand why people spend most of their time in closed networks, consider what happens when a group of random strangers is thrown together:<figure><img alt="" width="640" height="250" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/640/1*53jg_zdICBzrAwVAPFo9jA.png" /></figure>David Rock, the founder of the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.neuroleadership.com/">Neuroleadership Institute</a>, the top organization helping leaders through neuroscience research, explains the process well:<blockquote>We’ve evolved to put people in our ingroup and outgroup. We put most people in our outgroup and a few people in our ingroup. It determines whether we care about others. It determines whether we support or attack them. The process is a byproduct of our evolutionary history where we lived in small groups and strangers we didn’t know well weren’t to be trusted.</blockquote>By understanding this process, we can begin to understand why the world is the way it is. We understand why Democrats and Republicans can’t pass bills with obvious benefits to society. We understand why religions have gone to war over history. It helps us understand why we have bubbles, panics, and fads.The Surprising Power And Pain Of Open NetworksPeople in open networks have unique challenges and opportunities. Because they’re part of multiple groups, they have unique relationships, experiences, and knowledge that other people in their groups don’t.This is challenging in that it can lead to feeling like an outsider as a result of being misunderstood and under-appreciated because few people understand why you think the way you do. It is also challenging, because it requires assimilating different and conflicting perspectives into one worldview.In one of my all-time favorite movies, The Matrix, the main character, Neo, is exposed to a completely new world. Once he is, he can’t go back. He’s an outsider in the new group, and he’s an outsider in his old life. He’s had an experience that everyone he’s ever met would never understand. This same phenomenon happens when we enter new worlds of people.On the other hand, having an open network is a huge opportunity in a few ways:<ul><li id="141e" data-selectable-paragraph="">More accurate view of the world. It provides them with the ability to pull information from diverse clusters so errors cancel themselves out. <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://longnow.org/seminars/02007/jan/26/why-foxes-are-better-forecasters-than-hedgehogs/">Research by Philip Tetlock</a> shows that people with open networks are better forecasters than people with closed networks.</li><li id="1229" data-selectable-paragraph="">Ability to control the timing of information sharing. While they may not be the first to hear information, they can be the first to introduce information to another cluster. As a result, they can leverage the first move advantage.</li><li id="0927" data-selectable-paragraph="">Ability to serve as a translator / connector between groups. They can create value by serving as an intermediary and connecting two people or organizations who can help each other who wouldn’t normally run into each other.</li><li id="9dc1" data-selectable-paragraph="">More breakthrough ideas. Brian Uzzi, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the Kellogg School of Management, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/a_virtuous_mix_allows_innovation_to_thrive/">performed a landmark study</a> where he delved into the tens of millions of academic studies throughout history. He compared their results by the number of citations (links from other research papers) they received and the other papers they referenced. A fascinating pattern emerged. The top performing studies had references that were 90% conventional and 10% atypical (i.e., pulling from other fields). This rule has held constant over time and across fields. People with open networks are more easily able to create atypical combinations.</li></ul>The Revisionist Timeline Of Steve Jobs SuccessAs a result of pursuing his curiosity in different fields throughout his life, Steve Jobs developed an extremely unique perspective, skillset, and network; one that no one else in the computer industry had. He turned these unique advantages into the largest company in the world by having a razor sharp focus. Within Apple, he cut out people, products, and systems that weren’t world-class.<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="310" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/700/1*ZM6O_lQpAKehR5U8cMJEtA.png" /></figure>Many are quick to label parts of Steve Jobs’ life as the ‘lost’ or ‘wilderness’ years. However, when we view his life in retrospect, we see that his diversions were critical to his success.What is labeled as the magic of Steve Jobs or the quirks of his character become replicable principles we can all follow.It is from this vantage point that we can begin to understand the following quote from a Steve Jobs interview for Wired in 1995:<blockquote>Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something.It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people.Unfortunately, that’s too rare a commodity. A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences.So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.</blockquote>Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.Throughout human history, all societies including our own have created myths that share one common element, the hero’s journey.Here’s what the journey looks like according to Joseph Campbell, the originator of the term…Things are going great. You feel normal and fit in. Then something happens, and you change. You start to feel like an outsider in your own culture. You hide parts of yourself to fit in, but that doesn’t help. You feel called to leave and fulfill part of yourself, but that has a lot of uncertainty. So, you hesitate at first.Finally, you take the plunge. You go through difficult times as you’re learning to navigate the new world. Finally, you overcome the challenges. Then, you go back to your old culture and have a huge impact because you share the unique insights you’ve learned.The hero’s journey myth is embedded in everything from our society’s classic movies (i.e., Star Wars) to the heroes we glorify (i.e., Steve Jobs), because it hits on core parts of the human experience.The field of network science shows us two things. (1) The hero’s journey is the blueprint for creating career success. (2) We can all be heroes. It just takes a little faith as you follow your heart and curiosity into unknown worlds. As Steve Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. ”

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Don’t Pick A Career — Create One

One of the most important career lessons I’ve learned is to pursue a career and not a job. At first glance, you might think, “What’s the difference?” I also didn’t get it for years.
That’s how I finally ended up in an IT job... read more

credits to: Darius Foroux

category: Career Advise

published: Sep 10, 2022|519 views

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Don’t Pick A Career — Create One

written by: richill artloe

created: September 10, 2022 | 11:10 AM

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Blog Content: One of the most important career lessons I’ve learned is to pursue a career and not a job. At first glance, you might think, “What’s the difference?” I also didn’t get it for years.That’s how I finally ended up in an IT job that I wasn’t passionate about. At one point, I was reflecting on my career and life by writing in my journal and thought, “How on earth did I end up in this job?”I didn’t have a good answer. All I knew was that I felt stuck and lacked any future perspective. If you have ever been in that position, or are in it right now, you know that it’s depressing.<h1 id="db8c" data-selectable-paragraph="">How Conscious Are Your Decisions?</h1>If you would ask me “how did you end up in your current job?” four years ago, I would tell you this: “It just happened.” It’s a common answer to that question.Looking back, I realized that I never made conscious decisions about my career until that point.We all believe we’re Independent and that we make our own decisions. But that idea about ourselves is false. The truth is that we chase things like money, status, job titles, promotions, corner offices, respect from our peers, you name it. All external factors.We must stop putting our careers in other people’s hands. We must take control by making conscious decisions.Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the most conscious thinkers of all time, said it best:<blockquote>“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”</blockquote><figure><img alt="" srcset="https://miro.medium.com/max/300/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png 300w, https://miro.medium.com/max/320/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png 320w, https://miro.medium.com/max/360/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png 360w, https://miro.medium.com/max/375/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png 375w, https://miro.medium.com/max/393/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png 393w, https://miro.medium.com/max/414/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png 414w, https://miro.medium.com/max/700/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png 700w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" loading="lazy" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/700/0*o55NuI5XGla3QFzV.png" /></figure><h1 id="7969" data-selectable-paragraph="">What Career Do You Want?</h1>Most of us don’t know what we want. I also didn’t know exactly what I wanted for many years. At least, that’s what I told myself. Deep down, I knew damned well what I wanted to do. It’s what I’m doing right now: writing, teaching and speaking.Until four years ago, I was simply too afraid to pursue this career because of one thing: creating a career is hard.I believe that we all have something we love to pursue. Whether or not that’s something we actually end up doing for the rest of our lives doesn’t matter.What matters is that we consciously decide to pursue a particular career. And that we don’t pick a job because we need the money. Or because our parents want to.Just like Emerson said, you decide who you become. After successfully creating my own career, I’ve identified 5 steps that can help you to get started.<h1 id="fbf7" data-selectable-paragraph="">1. Analyze yourself</h1>I’ve never met a successful person who did not build a career on their strengths. It simply does not exist. No one can perform well by doing something they are bad at.Sure, you can improve your weaknesses. But it’s not an effective strategy. Like Peter Drucker says in <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/142212312X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=dariusforoux-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=142212312X&linkId=1c37db0c596895334b1cc9685cf88bf6">Managing Oneself</a>:<blockquote>“It takes far more energy and work to improve from incompetence to mediocrity than it takes to improve from first-rate performance to excellence.”</blockquote>So figure out how you perform. Identify your strengths. Then, go to the next step.<h1 id="46f9" data-selectable-paragraph="">2. Identify an industry that fits your strengths</h1>This is a tough one. On one side, I believe that we should pursue a career we are passionate about. But on the other side, I think we should NOT do something we’re bad at.So what should you do if you love something but suck at it? My opinion is to not pursue a career in that field. Treat it like a hobby instead. A lot of people love to make music, but they are not good enough to earn a living. But does that mean you should stop making music? Hell no! Go and jam with your friends — in your spare time.The bottom line is this: Only pursue a career that fits your strengths. I know this is somewhat of a limited view. Some people even call it pessimistic. But I see it as realism.We all have bills to pay and people to take care of. We can only do that by making a living. But that doesn’t mean we should do work we hate. There is always an industry that you love and that fits your strengths. <h1 id="c322" data-selectable-paragraph="">3. Improve your universal skills</h1>Just being good at your job doesn’t cut it. To truly make an impact in the workplace, you need what I call “<a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://dariusforoux.com/universal-skills/">universal skills.</a>”Skills like writing, leadership, personal effectiveness, and persuasion are helpful to all professionals. Whether you are a coder or carpenter, you want to provide value to others. To keep doing that, you need those universal skills.The earlier you start improving your universal skills, the more likely it is that you will be ready when you get an opportunity. <h1 id="21f6" data-selectable-paragraph="">4. Start at the bottom</h1>I never understand why people are so impatient. No one ever became successful by starting at the top. That’s simply not how life works.Just look at all the kids with rich parents who give them everything. Those kids often don’t understand the value of hard work and how hard it is to make a living. There’s no honor in getting a free pass.“But don’t you want to take the fast lane of life?” Some people might argue.Yes, of course. I’m all about personal effectiveness and achieving better results in less time. But I’m not about quick fixes and unrealistic expectations. For the first three years after I started my first business in 2010, I made virtually no money. And I even moved back to my parents for the first two years, so I had no expenses.All the money we made went back into the business. And I worked on the business 7 days a week. It’s the same when you start or switch careers.You might not see any benefits during the first few years. It’s a hard concept to grasp. Because you also don’t want to waste your time. That’s why I always warn people; if you’re seeing 0 results, you’re doing something wrong.When I didn’t pay myself at our business, the business itself was growing. You see? I’m not saying, “Put your head down and work yourself to death.”No, you still have to be smart. If you don’t see any results, be hard on yourself. But always be willing to start at the bottom. Forget about your ego. No one is good enough to do certain things. And at some level, we’re all students. It’s the only sustainable strategy if you want to achieve sustainable career success.<h1 id="e372" data-selectable-paragraph="">5. Keep developing yourself</h1>One thing I always notice when I talk to successful people is how excited they are about the future. Have you ever experienced that as well?And it’s true. There’s nothing more exciting than the rush you get when you get new ideas or when you daydream about the future.At the same time, when you have no outlook on the future at all, you feel stuck and depressed. Am I right?We’ve all been there. There’s nothing more discouraging than being stuck at a dead-end job. That’s why we must always keep learning. We should never, for a single moment, get comfortable with our current job.Every day, we must learn and develop ourselves. And before you go out and say it, I will: “That’s hard!”It’s much easier to work 9–5 and spend the rest of the evening on the couch, watching tv shows, movies or playing video games.You and I both know that a fulfilling career doesn’t come for free. The price is hard work and effort. I’m willing to pay that; what about you?

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These are the coding languages you should learn in 2022

With the new year approaching, it becomes even more critical to look at new opportunities within the technology sector. With IT’s continuing fast development and employers seeking more talent with a diverse skillset — what better way to start 2022 than by learning a new coding language?
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credits to: Makers

category: Career Advise

published: Aug 07, 2022|154 views

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These are the coding languages you should learn in 2022

written by: richill artloe

created: August 07, 2022 | 12:39 PM

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Blog Content: With the new year approaching, it becomes even more critical to look at new opportunities within the technology sector. With IT’s continuing fast development and employers seeking more talent with a diverse skillset — what better way to start 2022 than by learning a new coding language?No matter your level of experience, staying current with coding languages will help you sustain and most likely excel in your career as a programmer. We’ve compiled the top 5 coding languages you should prioritise learning in 2022!<h1 id="ca9c" data-selectable-paragraph="">1. Ruby</h1>Let’s kick off with Ruby, as it’s one of the most widely used coding languages globally. Its popularity can be attributed to its beginner-friendly nature, which is clear, understandable, and concise, allowing for multiple ways to solve one problem. We begin our students’ journey with Ruby at Makers because it allows them to focus on the problem at hand instead of getting bogged down in syntax and language details.Ruby is a great language to start with if you want to get acquainted with the foundations of programming before you move on to more complex languages. It also enforces good programming habits, and will likely improve your skill-set as a programmer.Makers graduate Simone talks about the benefits she received from using Ruby on the course in her <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://blog.makersacademy.com/why-ruby-d57ca666539e">Why Ruby</a>? blog post,“Having just spent the last week learning JavaScript, I feel like I have a far better appreciation of Ruby’s features and have been astounded by how quickly I was able to get to grips with JavaScript.”Companies using Ruby in their tech stacks rank high with names like Netflix, Airbnb, Bloomberg, Github and many <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.monocubed.com/companies-that-use-ruby-on-rails/">more.</a><h1 id="8e06" data-selectable-paragraph="">2. JavaScript</h1>According to<a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2021#technology-most-popular-technologies"> Stackoverflow’s annual 2021 survey</a>, JavaScript is presently the most commonly used programming language globally, currently in its ninth year in a row on the top spot. This isn’t too surprising as JavaScript facilitates most website interaction — it’s essentially the language of the web.Software developers and front-end engineers with a flair for the visual or intuitive user experience thrive with JavaScript. However, JavaScript isn’t limited to front-ends. It can also power web applications, mobile applications, or even standalone API to integrate other services. A full-stack engineer becomes highly sought after when leveraging this language to increase organisational flexibility.At Makers, we teach JavaScript for many reasons, mainly it’s taught because no other language can run in the browser. Because of this, it’s not possible to create modern websites without them. Many of our students choose to use Javascript to build their final projects.Read more about why makers use Javascript <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://makers.tech/curriculum/coding-languages-for-beginners/">here</a>.<h1 id="2477" data-selectable-paragraph="">3. Python</h1>For employers, Python is one of the most in-demand programming languages and has the highest level of support for data science and machine learning. It’s also a leading contender among software developers. Why? You could say that with Python, the career prospects are endless — you can build just about anything with this language.As well as the front-end and the back-end of your website, Python can be used to develop artificial intelligence and develop both online and offline applications, from productivity tools to games — and most likely any other types of applications you can think of. In short, Python is the jack-of-all-trades of programming languages, and by mastering it, a programmer can potentially become an expert in all types of programming.Another benefit of Python is that many startups are utilising it for their backend stack, providing many opportunities to developers. Check out this article detailing <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://djangostars.com/blog/python-best-programming-language-for-startup/">why start-ups choose to use Python</a>.<h1 id="6b78" data-selectable-paragraph="">4. Go(lang)</h1>Many coding languages have emerged in recent years, challenging JavaScript and Python for dominance. Considering Go(lang) is being developed by tech giant Google, it’s no wonder the language has gained such a large following, ranking third most wanted in the UK according to <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2020#technology-most-loved-dreaded-and-wanted-languages-wanted">StackOverflow’s 2021 annual report</a>.The Go(lang) language has a faster execution time than many other languages because it was designed for automation on a large scale, making it easier to write high-performance applications. Go has the benefit of being suitable for push notifications, is perfect for streaming, and is quick due to its compiled and simple nature. Consequently, many companies are now looking for developers familiar with Go — or those willing to learn it.Among the significant tech companies using this comprehensive, fast, easy-to-learn, and powerful language are Facebook, Docker, Dropbox, Netflix, Uber, and many others. It’s fair to say that Go(lang) is one to watch!<h1 id="71f8" data-selectable-paragraph="">5. Kotlin</h1>As the leading language for Android development, Kotlin is a modern statically typed programming language used by over 60% of professional Android developers to improve productivity, developer satisfaction, and code quality.Not only that, but this language is becoming more desirable among employers as job postings related to Kotlin skills have increased<a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://content.techgig.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-learn-kotlin-in-2021/articleshow/82324241.cms"> 1400% since 2017.</a> Aside from Kotlin code being safer by design because of bug-prevention features, its code is more concise than other programming languages. This makes it easier to read and organise, allowing for re-use and maintainability.Consequently, it’s no surprise that the language is used by Twitter, Reddit, Netflix, Uber, BMW, Coursera, Slack, and Trello, to name a few.Gaining proficiency in Kotlin will guarantee you success in the Android development field. Find out more about Kotlin code <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://developer.android.com/kotlin">here.</a><h1 id="cff2" data-selectable-paragraph="">Final Thoughts</h1>Technology never stands still, and as of 2022, the number of coding existing languages is more than 300 — making it difficult to prioritise learning one that will be as popular in a few years as it is today. As previously mentioned, we recommend for beginners that Ruby is a good place to start, and then move onto a language you feel the most challenged or excited by.

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The 7 Emails You Should Send Every Week to Get Ahead in Your Career

ost people see email as a strictly transactional tool, using it only when they need something or owe someone something. That’s exactly why you should use it to stand out.
Taking a moment to send these seven emails every week can help you strengthen your ... read more

credits to: Michael Thompson

category: Career Advise

published: Jun 11, 2022|268 views

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The 7 Emails You Should Send Every Week to Get Ahead in Your Career

written by: richill artloe

created: June 11, 2022 | 04:22 PM

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Blog Content: ost people see email as a strictly transactional tool, using it only when they need something or owe someone something. That’s exactly why you should use it to stand out.Taking a moment to send these seven emails every week can help you strengthen your connections, stay top of mind as opportunities come up, and learn about industry trends. (Slack messages and texts also work, but I’m into email because most people have their inboxes open all day anyway.) None of these messages should take more than five minutes to write, but each of them will go a long way in helping to advance your career.<h1 id="034d" data-selectable-paragraph="">An email saying “thank you”</h1>Imagine opening your inbox after lunch and seeing, sandwiched between a coupon from the local pizza place and a message from an acquaintance asking if you could tweet their new article/contest/course, an email with the simple subject line: “Thank you.” Now imagine how much those two words could improve your day.People love to feel appreciated. Instead of worrying about all the things you need to do in the morning, take a moment to thank someone for what they do for you. “Thanks for all your support during that last big project” or “I’m so glad we get to work together. Thanks for being my sounding board” is all you need to say to make an impact.<h1 id="7133" data-selectable-paragraph="">An email to someone you admire</h1>The fastest way to get what you want is to get to know the people who <a rel="noopener" href="https://forge.medium.com/the-power-of-doing-the-right-things-consistently-1e7430bc0efb">already have it</a>. Send a message to someone a step or two further ahead in their career and let them know how their work has impacted you. I like to <a rel="noopener" href="https://forge.medium.com/how-to-get-on-the-radar-of-people-you-admire-5f6646a65c45">use the formula</a>: “Thanks to your work doing X, I’ve been able to accomplish Y.”I’ve been sending cold emails every week for the past three years, and many of those messages have led to great phone calls, which in turn have led to close relationships and interesting opportunities. Amazing things happen when people we admire turn into friends.<h1 id="b9d4" data-selectable-paragraph="">An email lifting someone up</h1>Earlier in my career, <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=conor+neill">Conor Neill</a>, a leadership expert and the person I admire most in the business world, would send me short messages telling me that he was following my work and that I was progressing. The fact that he’d take the time to do that meant the world to me.There’s something magical about someone you don’t know very well showing interest in you. Often, it’s even more validating than when a friend encourages you, because they really don’t have to do it. One sentence can impact someone for a lifetime. Neill taught me to always <a rel="noopener" href="https://michael-thompson.medium.com/to-add-meaning-to-your-career-be-a-name-dropper-1d60514b2c85">lift as you climb</a>.<h1 id="23af" data-selectable-paragraph="">An email to someone you just met</h1>In his book <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X">The Power of Habit</a>, Charles Duhigg writes that when it comes to learning about new opportunities, “weak ties” trump “strong ties.” This is because people who run in different circles than you are exposed to different ideas, whereas people we see on a regular basis tend to have similar conversations.Reach out to someone you recently met during a training session or through a mutual friend. See if they’re up for a chat. We all need more eyes looking out for us.<h1 id="11e2" data-selectable-paragraph="">An email to an old co-worker</h1>Starting a weekly <a rel="noopener" href="https://forge.medium.com/feel-more-connected-by-writing-a-2-minute-boring-email-4bb3b07f205f">boring email chain</a> with a few of my buddies from high school has vastly improved my quarantine experience — I realized the easiest way to have friends right now is to keep up with my old ones. The same is true for maintaining a professional network.It’s harder to network with new people, so why not use your energy to check in on the people you used to work with? It’s a good way to learn about what’s going on in your industry.<h1 id="a2e2" data-selectable-paragraph="">A Thursday afternoon email to your boss</h1>Save your boss from having to make rounds before the weekend. Tell them what you’ve got going on: “Here’s where we stand regarding W, X, Y so far this week. I’m focusing on Z tomorrow. But if there’s something that needs to be pushed, let me know.” It will help you understand your priorities and show that you’re organized.<h1 id="2932" data-selectable-paragraph="">A Friday afternoon email to yourself</h1>When I talked to <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://medium.com/u/1ceb119b8919?source=post_page-----2358f8451ef9--------------------------------">Melody Wilding, LMSW</a>, the author of <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Yourself-Overthinking-Channel-Emotions/dp/1797201964">Trust Yourself</a>, she suggested I send myself a Friday afternoon message with a run-down of the week. Try it: Write down your wins, a few things you learned, and any idea that made your week a successful one. It’s a simple exercise, but it really helps you <a rel="noopener" href="https://forge.medium.com/you-still-need-an-after-work-routine-when-working-from-home-9850c1e3ccc7">transition out of work mode</a> and realize that what you’ve done is enough.

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I Quit My Job and Tripled My Income in One Year Without Selling My Soul

Gather round and let me teach you how to manifest millions in the bank, super-yachts, and a diamond-encrusted banana hanger.
Just kidding: this isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme or some woo-woo-workshop. Instead, here’s a list of 12 things that have di... read more

credits to: olga Pope

category: Career Advise

published: May 14, 2022|232 views

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I Quit My Job and Tripled My Income in One Year Without Selling My Soul

written by: richill artloe

created: May 14, 2022 | 01:33 PM

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Blog Content: Gather round and let me teach you how to manifest millions in the bank, super-yachts, and a diamond-encrusted banana hanger.Just kidding: this isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme or some woo-woo-workshop. Instead, here’s a list of 12 things that have directly or kinda-directly helped me go from living paycheck-to-paycheck, to hiring my first ever financial advisor (because I now have something called savings and investments.)Note that I said ‘12 things’, not ‘12 steps I followed to get here’ — that would imply that I had a plan to follow. 2020 and 2021 ate our plans for breakfast, with a side of predictions and a tall glass of tentative hope. I just had to figure it all out as I went, and took note of everything that worked — so now you can pick and choose the stuff that makes sense to you and your situation.Disclaimer no.1: I’m a copywriter and branding consultant, but this should work for most other creative service providers.Disclaimer no.2: This wouldn’t have worked if I was just starting out. This is my 7th year in the industry, so I’d had time to build my skills, work with some big-name clients, and meet a few cool people before I quit.Now, here’s that list, in sort-of-chronological order.<h1 id="718b" data-selectable-paragraph="">I quit my corporate job.</h1>Cliché, anyone? After 5 years at one of the world’s biggest and best advertising agencies, I resigned to co-found a new business. Two weeks before the pandemic. With less than 2 months’ savings to my name. I know, I know — can’t expect everyone to be that lucky.Thing is, I’d figured out that working for an agency was a dead end for me. I’d been doing everything ‘right’ but enjoying it less and less, and my salary was ridiculous by both London and industry standards. I could have gone to a less legendary agency for more pay, but money wasn’t my main beef. If you’re miserable at the best company in your sector, perhaps it’s not the company that’s the problem.Simply changing jobs would have been as effective as changing your hairstyle in the hopes of fixing a subzero self-esteem (exciting for a day, before you go straight to Hello Darkness My Old Friend).<h1 id="eb4c" data-selectable-paragraph="">I went from a partnership to full autonomy.</h1>I co-founded a company, then stepped down after one year to go solo. I’d realised that co-owning a branding studio wasn’t working for me, so in the long run it would have been terrible for my co-founder as well. Becoming autonomous after 7 years of working in partnerships turned out to be one of the best things I’d ever done.<h1 id="c682" data-selectable-paragraph="">I studied ALL. THE. DAMN. TIME.</h1>I’ve learned more in one year than in the previous 5. But most importantly, I’ve learned a way broader spectrum of disciplines. You have to, when you’re running your own business. For me, that meant going from copywriter to copywriter/brand strategist/company director/producer/social media manager/admin/designer/web developer/salesperson.I either hated or was less-than-great at most of those things, but turned out to be surprisingly decent at a couple others. Granted, it did help that I was already ok with tech and had a degree in graphic design. But even with the least Olga-compatible of those areas, I’ve learned enough to know more than most people — which ended up making my skillset way more valuable. A copywriter is competing with hundreds of thousands of others. A copywriter who gets brand strategy, understands and appreciates graphics and can advise you on pricing and web design, on the other hand… They’re in short supply. The secret is to develop skills that are either adjacent to your primary superpower (in my case, that’s words) — or skills that, despite being unrelated at first glance, create something truly valuable when combined with your main area of expertise.<h1 id="2677" data-selectable-paragraph="">I learned to understand my value.</h1>When you work for a company, it’s easy to think that your value is measured by your salary. Once you’re out (or maybe even sooner), you realise you’ve kinda been had. Let’s say you spend months creating an ad campaign for a new product by Fat Cat Co. They make millions. Your company makes hundreds of thousands and retains them as a client. What do you get? Er, well, you get the same old salary, or at best a pay rise, if the stars are aligned and there’s no salary freeze or some other excuse.When you work for yourself, you’re much closer to the end result and to your client. You learn to understand their business problems and your direct effect on them. You begin to see your input in a completely new way, which translates into your growing confidence, skills and value, which in turn translate into better work and well-deserved higher pay — especially if you start to <a rel="noopener" href="https://medium.com/swlh/expert-or-vendor-which-one-are-you-f10163b94666">act as an expert instead of just being a vendor</a>.<h1 id="6f41" data-selectable-paragraph="">I had some words with my lifelong dread of poverty.</h1>It didn’t happen overnight, but I’ve revised the most messed up of my beliefs around money. Especially the part where I’d been telling myself that wealth is dirty and rich people are horrible, that I’m genetically predisposed to never making much dough and will likely spend my final years eating dust on toast.The fashionable term to describe what I’ve done is ‘changed my money mindset’. A more precise term would be ‘called out my own BS.’ When I figured out that I wouldn’t really end up on the street even if things didn’t go my way straight away, and also realised I knew quite a few People With Money who happened to be terrific human beings of high moral standards, I stopped making decisions out of existential fear of poverty or misguided disdain for money.<h1 id="2065" data-selectable-paragraph="">I learned to say ‘no’.</h1>Possibly the most important freedom when you work for yourself is the freedom to choose your clients. If you fancy the idea of doing work that doesn’t feel like work while keeping your integrity, learn to say ‘thanks but no thanks’ to projects that don’t excite you, won’t let you do a kickass job, or don’t sit well with your morals. People may not agree with your opinion, but they will respect you for having one. Curiously, some of my NOs ended up recommending me to others who became a big YES.<h1 id="6f3a" data-selectable-paragraph="">I didn’t hog my skills and knowledge.</h1>When I get on a call with a potential new client, I don’t hold back any advice — even if I don’t think we’ll end up working together. If someone needs a mentor or just some guidance, I’ll skip the daily dose of Netflix to help them out. Not everyone agrees with giving away valuable info, and you definitely shouldn’t work for free on the regular — but if everyone asked you for an advance payment before sharing a tip, the Earth would be a pretty sad planet to live on. From what I’ve seen so far (being both on the giving and receiving end), people are more likely to choose someone who starts being useful right from the beginning and without expecting anything back.I also took on a few pro-bono projects from a couple of startup mentorship programs, just because I wanted to help — and half of those soon became paying clients as their businesses grew. It hadn’t been my intention, but generosity works in surprising ways.<h1 id="6897" data-selectable-paragraph="">I teamed up with great people.</h1>When I say I went solo, I don’t mean I never collaborate. But instead of the agency model where you just throw whatever humans you have at each task, now I can build a perfect, hyper-specialised nano-team for each project — or join somebody else’s.You end up with this brilliant virtuous circle where you keep bringing each other cool clients and projects. If you plan to quit your job and go independent, make sure your connections know that you’re now a hireable free agent: some of my best clients and collaborations came to me this way.<h1 id="e803" data-selectable-paragraph="">I took a crash course in finance.</h1>When you don’t have much money, reading about money is profoundly depressing. Net worth, what net worth? Stocks, bonds, index funds, ISAs and SISAs are exotic terms you’ll never need in your vocab. Professional indemnity insurance? Compound interest? Investment portfolio diversification? Wash your mouth out: I’m a creator, and the only portfolios I deal with are design ones. But once you realise that being poor isn’t synonymous with being a decent human being, you need to educate yourself about money, take a long hard look at yours, and start acting on what you’ve learned. The first three steps I’d recommend are:<ol><li id="74e5" data-selectable-paragraph="">Get a good accountant. Mine saved me around £4,000 in the first year.</li><li id="23d4" data-selectable-paragraph="">Open a separate pot or bank account for taxes and add money to it every time you get paid. Corporate tax is 20% in the UK, so I take 1/5 from every payment I receive and put it in the pot straight away. I don’t even account for tax-deductible expenses: I’d rather have bonus moolah left over at the end of the year, once my accountants have worked their magic, than have a nasty surprise in the form of more tax than I’d saved up for.</li><li id="d4f8" data-selectable-paragraph="">Pick at least 3–5 books about money (there’s plenty to choose from) and get clued up. A few times I cried. Other times I got angry. But mostly I just wished I had learned it all sooner.</li></ol><h1 id="e644" data-selectable-paragraph="">I resisted the sleaze.</h1>There’s a tonne of shameless, cringeworthy, sometimes borderline scammy self-promotion and marketing out there. Some of it seems to work — so on darker days, when you’ve got zero things going on, you may start wondering if you, too, should start dancing while pointing at words on TikTok. Or doing webinars where you ask people to sign up for your limited-edition, time-sensitive transformational programme. Or running ads promising ‘7-figure launches on autopilot’.My only advice here is to trust your gut. I’m still working on my relationship with sales, but my new rule is: if it feels sleazy, that’s because it is. I don’t care if it works wonders for literally everyone else: if the thought of doing it myself makes my skin crawl, I trust that feeling and stick with what feels right.<h1 id="6a7b" data-selectable-paragraph="">I raised my rates — several times.</h1>First and most importantly, I stopped looking at average rates for my industry. Then I started bumping up my prices after each 3 clients — to reflect my growing expertise and value. Then the weirdest thing happened: after I told a regular client that my hourly rate was going up by 20%, they replied saying ‘actually, we were thinking it should be 50% — shall we do that instead?” I didn’t argue. And none of my new clients even flinched when I quoted the new, higher rate. Two curious things happen when you raise your rates:<ol><li id="a145" data-selectable-paragraph="">Unless you’re a charlatan, you actually start doing even better work — because you feel that you have to justify the higher price.</li><li id="2e38" data-selectable-paragraph="">People listen to you more.</li></ol><h1 id="78fd" data-selectable-paragraph="">I didn’t start spending more as I started to earn more.</h1>Your wealth is what you don’t spend.Tripling your income means nothing if you triple your spending at the same time — which is what a shocking number of us do.Perhaps it was my frugal Soviet upbringing that saved me. I still share a flat with a friend, for now. I spend the exact same amount on food (and working lunches are tax-deductible, woohoo!). I haven’t switched to designer clothes or bags (never been my jam). If anything, I now buy fewer takeaway coffees, because I’ve calculated how much more cash I could invest by feeding my caffeine addiction the home-brewed way. The only big thing I’ve spent on was orthodontics: my teeth have been ruining my confidence for 25 years, so I consider it an indirect business investment.That’s it — no voodoo, no animal sacrifices and no cosmic ordering, just a dozen things that I wish I’d known sooner. If you’d like to read more about any of these, leave a comment and I’ll make sure to cover it in one of my next articles.

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Best Career Advice I Ever Heard

It’s half a year ago. I am mentally going through the most difficult time in my life. I am on a sixth phone call in a row with the Education Desk of the University of Amsterdam, desperately changing back and fourth my degree choice for the new academic year. It was on August 31st, right in the last... read more

credits to: Piotr Lipiński

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 30, 2022|202 views

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Best Career Advice I Ever Heard

written by: richill artloe

created: April 30, 2022 | 01:09 PM

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Blog Content: It’s half a year ago. I am mentally going through the most difficult time in my life. I am on a sixth phone call in a row with the Education Desk of the University of Amsterdam, desperately changing back and fourth my degree choice for the new academic year. It was on August 31st, right in the last day of the time to decide (although normally, everyone would choose months before that time).<blockquote>Sir, you have to decide. Other people are waiting in the queue about important formal issues. This time you have to tell me what you are doing and I will put in the system the information that you cannot change your choice anymore, even if you call once more — said the person from the Education Desk.</blockquote>I was deciding between two options — a Master’s degree in Neuroeconomics, and a 6-months long minor in Data Science. Both somewhat interesting to me, but at the same time, utterly unconvincing. That’s because I had another option in mind, which seemed both the most exciting and the most scary choice, which was to take a gap year. I was so afraid of it, because I thought I would lose the valuable time for developing my career, and did not know how to engage myself in interesting projects during that gap year time. At the end I decided to start the Master’s degree, during which I ultimately became so depressed and desperate to take a break, that when an opportunity for dropping out presented itself, I took it.So, currently I am 3 months in my gap year experience (on Madeira, in Portugal), and I am absolutely loving it. But at the same time, I have achieved a certain clarity of perspective about career choices and where I went wrong, and where I can potentially make better choices in the future.Therefore, I want to share some of the insights that I have gathered, especially those that come from scientists, and which at the same time proved meaningful and useful to me.<ol><li id="7981" data-selectable-paragraph="">Rather than trying to choose ‘the best option’, we should choose the option that we simply like the most and would be proud of later on. This comes from Angela Duckworth, a University of Pennsylvania psychologist, during the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast/whats-the-best-advice-youve-ever-received/">No Stupid Questions podcast</a>.</li></ol><blockquote>“[About her conversation with the professor named Kay Merseth] “Angela, it sounds to me like you really want to make the right decision, the best decision.” And I nodded. And she said, “But life’s not like that. Life is a story. And your job is not to tell the ‘right’ story or even the best story. It’s just to tell a story that you can be proud of.” (…) I think I was a little bit paralyzed by “What’s the absolutely correct or best decision?” And we can’t know. I mean, life is just mostly uncertainty. All we can do is act in a way where we can use the intuition we have. There are many, many paths in life, and who knows how this is going to turn out? But am I doing something that — at the end of the story, will I look back and say, “I’m proud of that”?”</blockquote>Even if an option seems great on paper, if our intuition does not tell us it is the right choice, we will likely not be happy following that option. Sure, it is always worth it to make a ‘pros and cons’ list, but our intuition is something we should never ignore.2. Sometimes change is good for its own sake. If one has been thinking for some time already about switching to a different career, it is usually a good decision to switch. And funnily enough, there is empirical evidence to back up this claim! The University of Chicago Economist, Steven Levitt has conducted a <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=09365c95-2d3d-470e-8fc0-e5c16e8ca7ff%40redis">field experiment</a> on this. Subjects who were having difficulty with making an important life decision (such as a career change) flipped a coin to help to determine their decision. In other words, if the coin landed on ‘heads’, one should make the change, and if it landed on ‘tails’, they should remain in the status quo. Statistically, the subjects complied with the coin toss result. Crucially, 6 months later, those who the coin told to make the change, were happier than those who the coin told to remain in the status quo.The main conclusion of that research is that people might be too cautious when making these important life decisions. It is quite understandable since the switch of a career is very uncertain while keeping on doing what we are already doing is more predictable. But I think that it is a very dangerous bias, and have a theory about why it can be hurtful to remain in the status quo in spite of the willingness to switch. Our success in the current career might be largely hampered by the constant evaluation of whether or not this is the right career that we are doing. Our negative emotions that come with this evaluation are not helping either. If one is constantly occupied with questioning whether it is worthwhile to keep on developing in the direction one is already heading, no wonder that this development will not work very well. A change, on the other hand, might be very refreshing.3. We tend to think that we would change in the future less than we actually will. A <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.1229294?casa_token=caEByE6_AykAAAAA:zM8Xpw5whQB6JLTdvXkYFkENC8bbBCuCgUsAxmz-0BYmqHvOwnwY02MruWETNHSHUoAiD2MMiz_zCGTS">study by the psychologist Daniel Gilbert</a> and other researchers from Harvard University empirically supports this. They compared how much people think they will change in the next 10 years, with how much people who are 10 years older think they have changed in the past 10 years. “Young people, middle-aged people, and older people all believed they had changed a lot in the past but would change relatively little in the future”.So, the problem is that we look for career choices that satisfy our current preferences, while largely ignoring the fluidity of those preferences in the future. The implication of this finding is two-fold:<ul><li id="b574" data-selectable-paragraph="">We can potentially overcome this by <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://80000hours.org/key-ideas/summary/">concentrating on the societal impact of the potential careers rather than our current preferences</a>. This is an idea <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKlx1DLa9EA">popularized by Benjamin Todd in his famous TED Talk</a>.</li><li id="39cd" data-selectable-paragraph="">Because the change we will experience is often skewed towards the characteristics of others in the environment in which we will work, we should consider those characteristics as a proxy of who we will become. Below is the fragment of the <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast/sendhil-mullainathan-thinks-messing-around-is-the-best-use-of-your-time/">People I (Mostly) Admire</a> podcast, where another professor from the University of Chicago, Sendhil Mullainathan, builds on this point:</li></ul><blockquote>“So, what you should ask yourself is, “I am going to become like the people at company A or like the people at company B. That’s who I’m actually going to become. Which of these kinds of people do I want to be as a person?” And so, that puts a whole different perspective on it because now you no longer think of yourself, you’re actually choosing versions of you and you really have to accept that.”</blockquote>Wrapping up, whether you are deciding on how to move forward with your current career, or thinking about switching to something completely new, I hope these pieces of advice will help you not to get stuck in your head. Rather than thinking of all the possible outcomes of the future, I believe it is worthy to consider which version of yourself you would be the most proud of, and following that direction without being overly concerned about the dangers of change.<figure><img alt="" width="700" height="443" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*uVysljt5k-k6vMSlYKfMTw.jpeg" /><figcaption data-selectable-paragraph="">Thinking of the infinite number of the different green roots will likely make you anxious, but considering which root you would be potentially proud of can be a very good idea. Picture by <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaaIndTrf22/">@waitbutwhy</a></figcaption></figure>

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What You Can Learn About Remote Employee Onboarding From a Company That's Been Doing It for Years

The initial days and weeks at a new job are critical for new hires to get acquainted with your company culture, meet the people they'll be working with regularly, and start to get a sense of their day-to-day responsibilities.
Typically, this is all happening in an office environment where people can engage and interact directly. But... read more

credits to: Kayla Ellman

category: Career Advise

published: May 08, 2020|1381 views

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What You Can Learn About Remote Employee Onboarding From a Company That's Been Doing It for Years

written by: richill artloe

created: May 02, 2020 | 12:10 PM

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Blog Content: The initial days and weeks at a new job are critical for new hires to get acquainted with your company culture, meet the people they'll be working with regularly, and start to get a sense of their day-to-day responsibilities.Typically, this is all happening in an office environment where people can engage and interact directly. But the rapid shift to fully remote work in response to the coronavirus pandemic means that—for companies that are still actively hiring—employee onboarding now has to happen virtually as well.How do you extend a warm welcome to new hires when you can’t rely on go-to first-day activities like office tours, team introductions, and a group lunch?If your workforce already includes remote employees, it might be fairly easy to build on your existing onboarding process. But for organizations that have never had distributed teams, welcoming new hires virtually might not feel like a smooth transition to make.We spoke with Adam Starr, a tech recruiter at our partner <a href="https://www.themuse.com/profiles/medidata">Medidata Solutions</a>, to find out what an effective virtual onboarding strategy looks like in practice. Starr has over 12 years of experience working remotely and is passionate about giving remote employees at Medidata a voice. He shared key insights around how to facilitate interpersonal connections from a distance, why it’s not enough to just replicate in-person onboarding activities, and more. <h2>A significant portion of Medidata’s workforce has always been remote. How has that helped your team adapt quickly to our current situation?</h2>Since I joined Medidata as a remote employee over six years ago, I and several others have been working to evolve the conversation around remote working from one of business necessity to strategic differentiator. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, we were hiring and onboarding remote employees on a very regular basis, so we had all the infrastructure in place to adapt—we just needed to scale it.Multiple teams and a newly formed task force are supporting both new hires and existing employees transiting to remote work. We also have a monthly New Hire Orientation that is typically hosted in our New York headquarters. We’ve converted that to a virtual orientation and the feedback has been great. This format has even allowed for more senior leaders to interact with our new hires.The core cultural support of our remote employees comes via our Remotians Business Resource Group (Remote + Medidatians = Remotians). This group is composed of passionate employees from both the U.S. and U.K. who do everything from welcoming new hires during their first week to now leading weekly video calls across multiple time zones to provide a space where all employees can drop in to discuss almost anything. <h2>What advice would you give to someone who is virtually onboarding new employees for the first time ever?</h2>Onboarding all employees virtually means accounting for a wide range of living situations. Trying to work with partners or children at home is just the beginning. Even experienced remote employees are seeing their work environments upended. Those creating processes and policies should be patient, inclusive, and open-minded. Unique situations will pop up and you’ll need to get a variety of perspectives before providing a recommendation or policy. This also extends to all employees at a company. Everyone will need to be more patient and forgiving. Senior leaders must set this tone and ensure direct managers are also serving as an example. <h2>Onboarding new hires in person typically involves giving an office tour on the first day, having a team lunch, and scheduling introductory meetings in the first couple of weeks. What kind of welcome activities do you plan for remote new hires?</h2>Virtual onboarding can and should go beyond replicating the physical format. For example, an in-person team lunch with more than four or five people can easily settle into side conversations with just the person sitting next to you. Group video calls allow for everyone to be a part of every conversation. We also have a Welcome Team and a separate weekly onboarding session just for remote employees where they get a snapshot of what remote culture is like at Medidata. This allows them to widen their internal networks beyond just our People Team and their immediate team. During this new normal, we’re expanding this initiative to all new employees.When a new employee can make just a few high-quality connections, it sets the tone and provides them with the confidence to create new connections for themselves. That foundation allows for a more sustainable and organic approach to building relationships, which also tends to create a virtuous cycle that empowers other employees to do the same. <h2>What do your managers and team leaders do to help set expectations and help new hires understand what their role will be within the larger team?</h2>At Medidata, this really begins with the talent acquisition team. From the very first interaction with a candidate, we draw on our understanding of the business, the needs of the hiring manager, the dynamics of their teams, and our strong culture to paint a full picture for the candidate. In addition, our people team has produced some great content for both managers and individual contributors. What I particularly like is that everyone has access to the manager material, so individuals can help keep their managers accountable to the items that should be covered and the progress that should be made.Our approach to performance management consists of three check-ins over the course of the year. The first is to set role-based and personal development goals. Achievement of those goals is then discussed during regular 1:1s, culminating in the second check-in where managers also work with the employee to map out the rest of their year. The 1:1s are very important because the check-ins can’t really exist in a vacuum. Regular contact between the manager and the employee is critical, especially at a company like Medidata where priorities can change very quickly. <h2>Do you find that remote employees are more hesitant to reach out to people that they haven’t met in person before? If so, how do you help facilitate those first interactions?</h2>Many of us are hesitant to reach out to those we don’t know; it’s not unique to remote employees. In fact, remote employees have a bit of an advantage because they’re not expected to walk over to someone’s desk. They can simply send an instant message or pick up the phone to introduce themselves. In this situation, I think a bit of anonymity helps and provides permission to take that first step.I also like to facilitate introductions via email and encourage everyone to add actual pictures of themselves to the profiles of the different applications we use. That way, when you do get to the office or company event, there’s a greater chance of being recognized or recognizing someone else. For a remote employee, that look of recognition on someone’s face is the physical embodiment of feeling included. <h2>Team bonding looks a little different when it’s happening virtually. What kind of activities do you organize and how do you make sure new hires feel comfortable participating?</h2>We try to adopt “meet people where they’re at” and “come as you are” approaches, which is why we offer multiple avenues to enable employees to connect with one other. Specifically, I encourage people to turn on their webcams and keep them on. In our more informal video calls, I have a “rule” that any family members, pets, or roommates that wander into view must be introduced. It seems that this really helps people relax and feel more comfortable integrating work with their life.Since 2015, our bread and butter has been the Jive social media platform. I really credit it with helping me build a strong and diverse internal network of work friends. We use Jive for a lot, including stuff that isn’t even business-related. Spaces on books, movies, pets, and even opportunities to buy, sell, or swap goods with fellow employees are very popular.Now that Medidata is a part of the Dassault Systèmes family, we’ve started to take advantage of the 3DExperience platform. Slack is also a Medidatian favorite where we encourage people to create channels for just about anything (the channel for our Remotians is nearly 400 strong!). I’m also partial to #pet-idatians. <h2>Is there anything else you think someone should know about onboarding remote employees that we haven’t covered already?</h2>If you choose transparency, authenticity, and humanity over process, you can never lose. A new employee may complete onboarding and not remember half of what was shared, but they will remember how you made them feel. If you do it right, that feeling will stay with them and they will pass it on to the next newbies. That’s a sign of a strong company culture.

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7 Top Digital Marketing Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

As companies increasingly rely on online engagement to fuel their businesses, the field of digital marketing is more important than ever. Whether your background is in crunching numbers and analyzing data, in editorial where storytelling and content strategy are your specialties, or in PR or brand representation protecting the best interests ... read more

credits to: Shelby Simon

category: Career Advise

published: May 06, 2020|677 views

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7 Top Digital Marketing Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

written by: richill artloe

created: May 02, 2020 | 12:09 PM

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Blog Content: As companies increasingly rely on online engagement to fuel their businesses, the field of digital marketing is more important than ever. Whether your background is in crunching numbers and analyzing data, in editorial where storytelling and content strategy are your specialties, or in PR or brand representation protecting the best interests of your client, you'll need to stand out from the pack and nail your interviews to move forward in your digital marketing career.But with so many opportunities within the field, what qualities and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/digital-marketing-skills">digital marketing skills</a> are hiring managers looking for in candidates?The best digital marketing employees are actively curious, they are highly collaborative team players, and they respond to constructive feedback with grace and hard work, says Bethany Cantor, an accomplished digital marketing director who has worked at startups and corporations ranging from Aaptiv to Teachable, where she’s currently Head of Content and Brand Marketing.When Grace Ouma-Cabezas, a marketing executive with 14 years of experience and currently the Vice President of Marketing at Food52, is hiring digital marketers, she’s “typically looking for people who are curious, creative, have grit, and thrive in fast-paced environments.” (Full disclosure: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/profiles/food52">Food52</a> is a partner of The Muse.)Regardless of the level or the type of <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/marketing-jobs-careers-types">digital marketing role</a> for which you are applying, you’ll want to show these qualities alongside your skills and experience in an interview. And you can do that by preparing to answer these digital marketing interview questions (in addition to the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers">common interview questions</a> you’re likely to get no matter what kind of job you’re after).<h2>1. Tell Me About Your Experience in Digital Marketing.</h2>This may seem like a broad question at first, but your interviewer doesn’t want you to run down your entire resume here. This is your best chance to explain how your specific career experience and personal traits make you the best candidate for this particular digital marketing position at this specific company. <h3>How to Answer</h3>When you’re crafting your answer to this question, think about the company and role you’re applying to. For example, if you’re interviewing at a startup, you’ll likely be expected to thrive within a fast-paced environment and wear multiple hats on a smaller team. So talk about ways you’ve stepped outside of your current job description to take on more opportunities and grow your skill set. If you’re expected to be able to report on data sets, speak to your experience collecting and analyzing data and explain how you’ve run reports in the past. For content-focused roles, your writing experience cannot be understated: Be sure to address the various ways you have worked with content and the strategies you’ve used to achieve results.To demonstrate all of these things, tell a story about your career. With your answer, you want to show your interviewer how your experience adds up to lead you to this job as the next step in that story. This sort of career trajectory–oriented mindset is highly attractive to interviewers seeking a candidate who knows why this role is right for them at this time (and why they are right for the role) and who will continue to learn and grow at their company. Prepare your answer to this question in advance so you avoid rambling and can highlight your proudest achievements and best skills.You could say something like:“I have worked in digital marketing for six years, and my experience has been mostly in a startup environment. In my most recent role as a media director, my day-to-day responsibilities were to plan my team’s editorial calendar and to use that content to develop creative marketing strategies and meet revenue goals. What I loved most about my role was having the opportunity to watch my strategies play out and learn from each campaign. In my next role, I look forward to taking my experience to a new industry and learning what performs best there <a name="campaign"></a> while having more oversight over a variety of content initiatives.” <h2>2. Describe a Digital Marketing Campaign You’ve Worked on From Start to Finish. How Did You Approach the Task? How Were You Successful? How Could You Have Done Better?</h2>“This question gets to the heart of a candidate's ability to evaluate an action's performance and pivot as needed. I actually like to hear about campaigns that didn't work out as expected, or where there was a need to change course,” Ouma-Cabezas says. That narrative could demonstrate a candidate’s grit, or how they perform under different types of pressure.Meanwhile, Cantor’s experience working in startup environments influences the traits she seeks when looking for future team members. She always loves to hear if people have taken on responsibilities outside of their roles and wants to see candidates who have demonstrated that they can “roll with the punches, fix problems, and come up with creative solutions.” <h3>How to Answer</h3>To ace this interview question, it’s important to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/star-interview-method">highlight a specific story</a> from your career that demonstrates experience or skills that are applicable to the role you are seeking. Equally valuable are your examples of times you’ve stepped up to the plate to go beyond what was asked of you; times you’ve had to communicate wins or challenges to your team, clients, or stakeholders; and times you learned from an experience so you can execute better the next time.With this question, Ouma-Cabezas also looks for flexibility and the ability to work well with others. “I think it's important in digital marketing not to be too ‘precious’ about your ideas—meaning you can scrap [an idea] for a more effective one, which you could easily come up with.” So if you have an example that demonstrates these qualities, even better.One last thing to keep in mind: As with all aspects of digital marketing, your story will only be stronger if you can back it up with quantitative results. Daryle Lockhart, a digital marketing project manager with more than 22 years in the field, finds himself looking for data-driven answers to this question. “Numbers are important, but to me, applied analytics are more important. A successful digital marketer needs to be able to see beyond just followers and traffic and see conversion rates,” he says. He seeks candidates who can cut through the biggest numbers to find the most important quality data group—and you can use this question to show that this is you.You could answer this by saying:“During a campaign for a television network’s new show launch, we knew we had to think outside the box and create something totally new in order to earn a dedicated fan base and air a successful pilot. I designed a campaign that included a special launch event and activities at locations surrounding New York City’s Madison Square Park, and we blasted the launch all over social media.“We noticed a high volume of followers engaging with our content and our reach was excellent, with more than one million people liking our Facebook page within a week. However, despite our massive reach, we were not seeing a high conversion to ticket sales for our event. We decided to adjust our strategy and started targeting ads to a smaller age bracket and geographic area. That is when we exceeded our ticket sales goals, selling more than 5,000 for the launch event.“Our massive reach helped create fan buy-in and got more people to watch the show, but our targeted approach resulted in more ticket sales, more organic <a name="googleanalytics"></a> social media promotion, and most importantly, loyal fans who continue to tune into the new episodes every week.” <h2>3. Tell Me About How You’ve Used Google Analytics [or Another Digital Marketing Tool or Skill] Day-to-Day in Your Current Role.</h2>Your future employer wants to understand not only that you know how to use the digital marketing tool, but at what level, from beginner to advanced to expert. Be honest here—do not say you are an expert at Google Analytics or SEO if you only know the basics!“If a candidate only has basic understanding and comfort level with a skill, but is truly exceptional in every other way, I will make space and figure out how to get you educated [on the skill you need to learn]—especially if you are open and excited about it,” Cantor says. <h3>How to Answer</h3>This is your chance to back up that list of skills on your resume or LinkedIn profile. Prove you understand how to apply the digital marketing tool in question by explaining how you use it in day-to-day operations and how that informs the bigger picture of your job.It’s OK to talk about digital marketing tools or programs you would like to learn more about. If the job description calls for Curalate or Buffer and you haven’t used them before, speak to a relevant tool you’ve taken initiative to learn and express eagerness to get up to speed on the programs with your prospective team.For example, one answer to this if you’re not very experienced in using Google Analytics in the same way the role calls for might be:“I have used Google Analytics for two years as an account manager. I recently completed a General Assembly course on the subject to further my understanding of this tool. Though I didn’t need to do this for my work with clients, I wanted to understand how the media and product teams use Google Analytics to make decisions so that my business development team could work with the other teams more cohesively and be able to report analytics to our clients directly. However, I know there are more in-depth Google Analytics functions I’ll have to learn and use as a brand marketing manager, and I look forward to furthering my <a name="content"></a> knowledge on the subject the way I did when I first wanted to learn the basic program functions.” <h2>4. Give Examples of How You’ve Worked With Content Marketing and Content Strategy.</h2>There is a time and place for traditional digital marketing, but content strategy is rapidly becoming more important to brands as a way to connect, engage, and build loyalty with audiences. To keep up in this area, you need to be on top of changes in the industry. So with this question, your interviewer wants to know if you have taken the initiative throughout your career to ask questions, learn new skills, and evolve with industry trends—particularly when it comes to content. <h3>How to Answer</h3>If you’re coming from an editorial or content background, you’re not alone—and it may be to your advantage. Cantor got her first marketing job coming exclusively from the editorial side of the business. “I looked at marketing and realized that a modern marketing team was beginning to look a lot like the content teams I was used to. People want a marketing team that includes stellar social, editorial, and partnerships content.”While many successful digital marketers are experienced and strong writers—branding, content, and social media are just a few of the roles where editorial backgrounds are key—being an expert in copy is different from being an expert in content strategy, so you’ll want to make the connection for your interviewer. Anja Winikka officially made the move to the digital marketing world after having been a digital editor for over a decade at TheKnot.com, where she’s now the Director of Education & Industry Innovation. (<a href="https://www.themuse.com/profiles/theknotworldwide">The Knot Worldwide</a> is also a partner of The Muse.)She describes the career shift in a way that makes it easy to connect editorial skills to content marketing and strategy: “In editorial, it was our job to listen to our audience, understand what it was they needed, and then to come up with content that they would connect with across digital channels. We used analytics to inform our decisions and we worked across departments (including SEO, product, and social media) to get the job done.”Meanwhile, if you don’t have any experience in content creation or using content as a marketing tool, it’s OK to admit that you aren’t well-versed in that arena. Instead, play to your strengths with data analysis and a proven track record of success in numeric growth, as well as how you might apply that to what you do know about content. Better yet, if you keep up with industry trends with regard to content strategy, SEO, or the ever-evolving social media and email algorithms outside of your current job, share what you know!For example, you might say:“My current role doesn’t have a strong content component to it officially, but I have seen the increasing importance of content marketing in the digital world. I noticed some of my favorite brands increasingly telling stories with their social media presence and wanted to find out why, so I’ve taken a few LinkedIn Learning courses, participated in a few content marketing webinars, and asked our social media manager to sit in on some planning sessions to get a better understanding of what this process looks like in action. In order to really get some experience, I even ended up helping them brainstorm and execute a series of Instagram posts that doubled our engagement rate on that platform and gained our company 60% more followers that week than our average. I’m also <a name="kpis"></a> particularly interested in learning more about SEO and how to develop a content strategy based on what people are already searching for.” <h2>5. Describe a Process or Method You Use to Define KPIs.</h2>This is straightforward—your interviewer wants to get an up-close look at your tactical knowledge. Speak to your experience. Even if you didn’t call your goals “key performance indicators” in your previous roles, talk about how you measured and analyzed data and how it informed your decision making and proved whether or not your campaigns were successful. <h3>How to Answer</h3>The ability to pull and present data is critical in digital marketing. In answering this question, Cantor says she looks for five key takeaways:<ol><li>Did you have goals before, or would being responsible for specific goals be a new thing?</li><li>Are you comfortable presenting findings? Can you explain reasons why traffic changes month to month?</li><li>Are you comfortable with the software the company uses? What are the tools you’ve used in the past?</li><li>Have you pulled metrics in some way or worked with a team that pulled metrics? Did you take part in analysis and are you able to understand and interpret the data?</li><li>Do you understand how the data affects day-to-day operations?</li></ol>If you can speak to these points, you should be good to go.A sample answer might sound like:“In my previous role, my team held weekly check-ins to review traffic and conversions. We set weekly and monthly goals based on trends we were seeing and presented them to our company in a weekly conference call. I prepared the presentation for my team once a month using Salesforce. I would share sales numbers as well as an analysis of what we were seeing <a name="communicate"></a> in trends around traffic and conversion rates and what we predicted for future months so that other teams could make decisions based on our findings.” <h2>6. How Do You Communicate Progress to Your Team, Clients, and Stakeholders?</h2>No matter where you are within your team, being an excellent communicator is imperative to your success as a marketer. This means that you need to be able to present information clearly and confidently and back your claims up with data, all while maintaining positive and professional rapport with your team.Having progressed through the digital marketing ranks herself, Winikka has seen firsthand how critical this skill is at all levels and knows it is at the core of success in the field. “When you really boil it down, marketing is about the passing along of ideas and concepts from one person to the next. If you are good at convincing other people of your ideas, you have what it takes to be a great marketer,” Winikka says. <h3>How to Answer</h3>Upon asking a question like this, Ouma-Cabezas says she “would be listening for how much (or little) positive intent the candidate uses in their communication,” as well as “how they take accountability, especially with communicating challenges and progress. I'd also be listening for real-world examples of this. If not answered using an anecdote, I would ask for examples.”You could say:“When my team acquired our biggest client, a reputable bottled water company, I worked directly with my team to prepare a plan for how we would deliver on the agreement to highlight them at each event in a thought leader speaker series my company hosted.“Each morning at 9 AM, my team would sit down together for 15 minutes and talk about the campaign progress and data. On Friday afternoons, I held a call with the client to talk about the week that had passed and our goals for the following week. On one particular instance over the summer, we saw a drop in traffic and conversions from events, which had our client deeply concerned that they were not receiving the reach we promised. However, we were able to adjust our strategy moving forward and make up for the lull by hosting an exclusive event with a high-profile thought leader and offering comped tickets for our most engaged followers on social media.”By doing all this, we earned brand buy-in for our client and saw a major uptick in sales throughout the fall. We exceeded our <a name="why"></a> annual goal before the new year and our client renewed their contract for the following year with twice the budget.” <h2>7. Why Do You Want to Work in Digital Marketing?</h2>Everyone has a “why”—a driving force behind their career, how they got to where they are, and why they go to work every day. This question may make or break your interviewer’s decision to hire you depending on how your “why” fits into their company culture and the role itself.Winikka asks this question in her digital marketing interviews often. “I want to understand what [the candidate] values most about digital marketing. Some love the process, others love ideation, and still others love execution. It is so helpful to know that about a person up front so that I can understand whether they are going to truly connect with the type of work we need done. It also helps me make a decision about the way that person will interact with the team.” <h3>How to Answer</h3>The best answer here is the most truthful one, and it’s going to be highly personal to you.For Ouma-Cabezas, for example, “It is both challenging and rewarding to drive a business forward. You get the ‘instant gratification’ of seeing results of a campaign but also can see the improvement over time of longer-tail initiatives and optimizations,” she says.A great response to this question would be to describe what you have enjoyed in your career so far and how it has led you to seek your new role.For example:“I am a person who is happiest when I get to brainstorm creative strategies and work in an environment where every day is different from the next. I am a skilled content creator, but in an earlier role, I discovered that my favorite part of digital marketing is looking at analytics and audience engagement to inform the big picture content strategy of my team and seeing how that makes a positive impact on the whole organization. This is why, since then, I have sought out and thrived in startup environments where I am given the autonomy to be responsible for both content and digital marketing strategy. In my next role, I am looking for an opportunity to exercise my talents in management and creative strategy while still having a hand in top-notch brand storytelling.” <h2>Next Steps: After the Digital Marketing Interview</h2>At the end of your interview, you should anticipate having time to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/51-interview-questions-you-should-be-asking">ask your own questions</a>. Ideally, many of these will be answered over the course of your interview, but this is a prime opportunity to continue to give your interviewer insight into your values. Curate at least three or four questions that get to the core of what you hope to gain from your next company and role—it is to your benefit to learn as much as you can and allow your interviewers to learn about you based on what you ask.Once the interview is over, the work is not yet done. In many cases, you can expect a skills test before you’re hired. If your next role is writing heavy, anticipate preparing copy. If you’re applying for a data-driven position, an analysis or presentation may be what your future employer wants to see. Be sure to spend enough time on the assignment to complete it to the best of your ability—your prospective employer can tell if you rushed, and even if the interview was spectacular, poor work execution can be a dealbreaker in a hiring decision.And remember that at the end of the day, your interviewer is looking for someone who is a fit for their team, and the best you can do—before and after the interview—is be yourself.

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9 Questions You'll Probably Get Asked in a Software Engineer Interview (and How to Answer Them)

It’s a good day. After weeks of radio silence and anticipation, you’ve finally landed a first-round interview for that software engineer position you’ve had your fingers and toes crossed for. You managed to impress the company on paper and now they want to continue the conversation. Congrats!
Now what?
Le... read more

credits to: Yolanda M. Owens

category: Career Advise

published: May 04, 2020|518 views

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9 Questions You'll Probably Get Asked in a Software Engineer Interview (and How to Answer Them)

written by: richill artloe

created: May 02, 2020 | 12:05 PM

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Blog Content: It’s a good day. After weeks of radio silence and anticipation, you’ve finally landed a first-round interview for that software engineer position you’ve had your fingers and toes crossed for. You managed to impress the company on paper and now they want to continue the conversation. Congrats! Now what?Let’s break down the components of what you can expect in that first interview. Spoiler alert: This article will focus on nontechnical software engineer interview questions<h2>What Do Interviewers Initially Look for in Software Engineers?</h2>The initial interview is typically a nontechnical conversation to prequalify you for the technical interview. In other words, the interviewer wants to make sure you have the basics down before investing time and resources into seriously dissecting your programming prowess. Here’s what interviewers are trying to gauge in your first-round interview:<ul><li>Does your experience match your resume? In the digital application world, recruiters need to make sure a candidate hasn’t manipulated their experience and stuffed keywords from the job description into their resume to beat the bots. “When talking with a technical candidate about experience, you want to know specifics of how tools and technologies were used, and get a sense for direct contributions to projects—actual involvement, not generalities,” says Michelle Martin, Founder of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.the-mmgroup.com/">The MMGroup</a> staffing agency. So expect plenty of drilling down into the details of your experience.</li><li>How have you moved the needle in previous roles? Software engineering is not about just showing up and following specs. Employers want evidence that you’re a problem solver—the kind of person who gets things done and is passionate about their work. Talk about things you did that made projects better. Skills are critical, but they won’t yield success if your delivery isn’t productive or purposeful.</li><li>Do you have the right soft skills? Companies place a lot of emphasis on cultural fit, says Martin. “But at the end of the day, they’re talking about the right temperament or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/engineers-soft-skills-hiring-managers-want">soft skills</a>—your ability to adapt to team dynamics, being coachable, open to sharing knowledge, collaborating across functions, and offering infrastructure support.”</li></ul>While you’ll probably get a lot of classic <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers">interview questions</a> (like <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-better-ways-to-answer-why-do-you-want-to-work-at-this-company">“Why do you want to work at this company?”</a> or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-type-of-work-environment-do-you-prefer-interview-question-answer-example">“What type of work environment do you prefer?”</a>), there are also a myriad of interview questions out there to test your experiences as a developer. We’ve selected and debugged a few to put you on the right track. <h2>1. Tell Me About a Complex Application You’ve Worked on or Supported.</h2>This question gives employers insights on how you’ve navigated challenges, worked under pressure, collaborated as part of a team, and creatively problem solved. Use this opportunity to talk up any of your best talents and show that you’re confident in your abilities. <h3>How to Answer</h3>When responding to this question, explain why you considered the application(s) complex, then describe your role working on them. Were you involved in the front- or back-end development, testing, design, or maintenance? Were you the sole developer or part of a development team?From there, focus on a specific example of something you worked on and take a few minutes to summarize what you were tasked with, the actions you took to accomplish those tasks, and how it fit into the overall project. Be sure to include what you learned and how the experience shaped you as a professional. While you <a name="difficult"></a> don’t want to drone on and on, it’s important to include some specific details to keep your response from being too general or generic. <h2>2. Describe a Particularly Difficult Project You’ve Worked on and How You Dealt With It.</h2>Software projects are synonymous with roadblocks, obstacles, and endless facepalms. Interviewers use this question to check your attitude and evaluate your overall level of contribution to a project—including management skills and your ability to interface with key stakeholders. <h3>How to Answer</h3>Think of a difficult project you’re particularly proud of—where you identified problems, resolved issues, and satisfied the client or stakeholder. Make sure you put a positive spin on the challenges you faced—no badmouthing clients or coworkers!—and include details of what you personally contributed to the outcome.If you have a portfolio of your work, this would be a great time to pull a few samples to present as visual aids as you tell your story. This will help demonstrate your passion, enthusiasm, and subject matter knowledge, <a name="languages"></a> and bring a 3D element to the conversation. <h2>3. What Programming Languages Have You Used? What Are Your Top Three Programming Languages?</h2>A software engineer interview (even a nontechnical one) wouldn’t be complete without an overview of your programming languages and proficiency. The interviewer just wants a sense of how many languages you know and if any align with the languages commonly used for programming within the company. <h3>How to Answer</h3>There are no tricks to answering this question. Keep your response simple, concise, and truthful—don’t answer just to fit the job description. The interviewer is asking about your qualifications in order to get to know you.This might <a name="fun"></a> sound like:I’m proficient in Java, Ruby, Python, C++, and Rust. I have a knowledge base in Perl and PHP and am currently learning Swift. But my favorite programming languages are Java, Python, and C++. <h2>4. What Interesting or Fun Projects/Tools Have You Created or Worked on?</h2>As previously mentioned, employers want to know you’re passionate about your work—both on and off the clock. <h3>How to Answer</h3>Use this opportunity to loosen up, show off your programmer personality, and let your inner geek shine. Again, if you have samples of your work, this is a great time to spotlight your crown jewel. And if you haven’t worked on anything you’d categorize as “fun,” don’t sweat it. Simply talk up an app or tool you really admire and break down the appeal.For example say something like: “I haven’t created anything as fun as I’d like quite yet, but am really interested in developing something like [insert app or tool]...“ <a name="agile"></a>The objective here is to show your genuine love for development in all its many forms. <h2>5. What Is Your Exposure to Agile?</h2>This question goes back to culture fit and soft skills. Employers who ask this want to understand your Agile development mindset to assess compatibility with their process. They’re looking for adaptable developers who can troubleshoot defects and provide feedback to grow their team’s methodology. <h3>How to Answer</h3>Start by sharing an example of a project you’ve been involved with where Agile was used. Be sure to include your thoughts about Agile development in the example. Do you feel it facilitates productivity and efficiency in rapid change environments? Are there any flaws you’ve observed in Agile processes and any recommendations you’ve provided to remedy them during projects?Again, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question. It’s a matter of sharing your perspective so the interviewer can discern how you best fit the role, the team, and their existing processes.Keep in mind that a similar question can be <a name="apis"></a> asked about other methodologies depending on the role you’re interviewing for—so be sure to double check the job posting. <h2>6. How Would You Explain APIs to a Nontechnical Stakeholder?</h2>This question is designed to gauge your ability to translate tech-speak for non-tech-savvy audiences—an important skill for any developer. <h3>How to Answer</h3>While accuracy is important, you want to frame your response in a manner that educates without overwhelming your audience. Use a concrete example that’s relatable and demonstrates the practical application of whatever technology you’re being asked to explain.Here's one way this might sound:“If I were explaining what APIs are to someone without a lot of technical background, I’d probably say that at their core, APIs are a way for programs to communicate with each other—usually with a limited set of possible inputs and responses like a menu at a restaurant (where the inputs are menu items and the responses are food). But unlike a menu, you have to use the exact keywords an API is coded for or it won’t understand you. For example,<a name="success"></a> if I use the correct inputs, Instagram’s API allows me to code a website so that the company’s most recent Instagram posts are automatically displayed on their site.” <h2>7. How Do You Measure Success?</h2>This question is often reserved for more senior level roles (such as program or project managers or subject matter experts) but can be asked across skill levels. “Recruiters who pose this question are seeking to learn about a candidate’s goals, values, [and] work ethic. The response can tell me if he or she is goal oriented, and what they value,” Martin says. What she looks for is “transparency and humility in their response.” <h3>How to Answer</h3>“The best responses I have received always have to do with how others play a role in how the candidate defines or measures success,” Martin says. That’s because software engineering is an inherently team-driven industry and no individual can be successful on their own—everyone on a software development team has to succeed for a project to work. And everyone contributes to success in different ways. Recruiters are looking for software engineers who understand this and seek to utilize their team to its full potential.For example, Martin once had a candidate who was tasked with taking over a project. For him, it was important to learn about his team’s skill sets, interests, goals, strengths, and values, in order to move the project forward. He ultimately measured true success by whether everyone on the team had been engaged, contributed to the ultimate outcome, and learned from the process. This created a win for not only his project, but all his team members.If you’re an individual contributor, you should still talk about how important teamwork is to your idea of success—but think about what you consider good collaboration. Focusing on these elements in your answer <a name="contribute"></a>will help you demonstrate that you’re resourceful, you’re willing to help others, and you care about projects beyond just your individual contributions. <h2>8. How Did You Contribute Success to Your Last Project?</h2>Since the previous question asked to define success, it’s only fair to ask how you’ve made success happen. Here the interviewer is looking to evaluate your teamwork and collaboration skills. They’re assessing your resourcefulness, active listening, and ability to elevate a team or project. <h3>How to Answer</h3>Use examples that demonstrate what you did to make a project better and the steps you took to make it happen. A response to this question could look like this:I spent a lot of time doing API code review on my last project. While reviewing a teammate’s code, I discovered some webviews were very resource heavy <a name="communication"></a>and not designed as efficiently as they could be. I recommended using an alternate webview to make it less dense and more optimal, and to potentially lower project costs. <h2>9. What are Your Communication Strengths?</h2>It’s likely that developers will, at some point, find themselves in a client-facing situation, and they’ll definitely have to communicate with team members and other departments within their company. Being able to communicate like a champ on paper—and in person—is the holy grail for a software engineer candidate. A question like this shines a light on a candidate’s awareness of their own strengths and how adept they are at communicating under pressure. <h3>How to Answer</h3>How you communicate in the workplace likely falls on a broad spectrum. Your job in the interview is to paint an accurate portrait of your communication style. Talk about how you break down problems for yourself and then tell your interviewer how you would articulate that to others. Think about your strengths: Are you a rock star at translating information into visuals (sketches, doodles, charts, infographics)? Or are analogies and metaphors your weapon of choice? <h2>Some parting tips…</h2>It’s important to remember that there’s no way of knowing what exact questions will be asked in your software engineer interview. But hopefully now you feel more comfortable about the types of questions that may be asked and better understand where recruiters and hiring managers are coming from.What you don’t want to do is feed the interviewer what you think they want to hear. Doing so will start the working relationship off on false pretenses and potentially set you up for failure. So be yourself. If they like you, flaws and all, you’re off to a great start. If anything gives them pause, consider it a bullet dodged and know that better things are on the horizon.You’ve. Got. This.

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Your Ultimate Guide to Answering the Most Common Interview Questions

Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview?
We can’t read minds, unfortunately, but we’ll give you the next best thing: a list of more than 40 of the most commonly asked interview questions, along with advice for answering them all.
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credits to: The Muse

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 23, 2020|1882 views

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Your Ultimate Guide to Answering the Most Common Interview Questions

written by: richill artloe

created: March 23, 2020 | 11:16 AM

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Blog Content: Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview?We can’t read minds, unfortunately, but we’ll give you the next best thing: a list of more than 40 of the most commonly asked interview questions, along with advice for answering them all.While we don’t recommend having a canned response for every interview question (in fact, please don’t), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you’re the right person for the job.Consider this list your interview question and answer study guide.<h2> </h2><h2>Classic Questions</h2>These frequently asked questions touch on the essentials hiring managers want to know about every candidate: who you are, why you’re a fit for the job, and what you’re good at. You may not be asked exactly these questions in exactly these words, but if you have answers in mind for them, you’ll be prepared for just about anything the interviewer throws your way. <h3>1. Tell Me About Yourself.</h3>This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it’s crucial. Here's the deal: Don’t give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Muse writer and MIT career counselor Lily Zhang recommends using a present, past, future formula. Talk a little bit about your current role (including the scope and perhaps one big accomplishment), then give some background as to how you got there and experience you have that’s relevant. Finally, segue into why you want—and would be perfect for—this role. <h3>2. How Did You Hear About This Position?</h3>Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.<h3> </h3><h3>3. Why Do You Want to Work at This Company?</h3>Beware of generic answers! If what you say can apply to a whole slew of other companies, or if your response makes you sound like every other candidate, you’re missing an opportunity to stand out. Zhang recommends one of four strategies: Do your research and point to something that makes the company unique that really appeals to you; talk about how you’ve watched the company grow and change since you first heard of it; focus on the organization’s opportunities for future growth and how you can contribute to it; or share what’s gotten you excited from your interactions with employees so far. Whichever route you choose, make sure to be specific. And if you can’t figure out why you’d want to work at the company you’re interviewing with by the time you’re well into the hiring process? It might be a red flag telling you that this position is not the right fit.<h3> </h3><h3>4. Why Do You Want This Job?</h3>Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don’t? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem”), then share why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you’re doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”). 5. Why Should We Hire You?This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you’re asked it, you’re in luck: There’s no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, but also deliver great results; that you’ll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you’d be a better hire than any of the other candidates.<h3> </h3><h3>6. What Are Your Greatest Strengths?</h3>Here’s an opening to talk about something that makes you great—and a great fit for this role. When you’re answering this question, think quality, not quantity. In other words, don’t rattle off a list of adjectives. Instead, pick one or a few (depending on the question) specific qualities that are relevant to this position and illustrate them with examples. Stories are always more memorable than generalizations. And if there’s something you were hoping to mention because it makes you a great candidate, but you haven’t had a chance yet, this would be the perfect time. <h3>7. What Do You Consider to Be Your Weaknesses?</h3>What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can’t meet a deadline to save my life” is not an option—but neither is “Nothing! I’m perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve never been strong at public speaking, but you’ve recently volunteered to run meetings to help you get more comfortable when addressing a crowd. <h2>Questions About Your Work History</h2>The meat of any job interview is your track record at work: what you accomplished, how you succeeded or failed (and how you dealt with it), and how you behaved in real time in actual work environments. If you prep a few versatile stories to tell about your work history and practice answering behavioral interview questions, you’ll be ready to go. <h3>8. What Is Your Greatest Professional Achievement?</h3>Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don’t be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/star-interview-method">STAR method</a>: situation, task, action, results. Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”), then describe what you did (the action) and what you achieved (the result): “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 person-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%." <h3>9. Tell Me About a Challenge or Conflict You’ve Faced at Work, and How You Dealt With It.</h3>You’re probably not eager to talk about conflicts you’ve had at work during a job interview. But if you’re asked directly, don’t pretend you’ve never had one. Be honest about a difficult situation you’ve faced (but without going into the kind of detail you’d share venting to a friend). “Most people who ask are only looking for evidence that you’re willing to face these kinds of issues head-on and make a sincere attempt at coming to a resolution,” former recruiter Rich Moy says. Stay calm and professional as you tell the story (and answer any follow-up questions), spend more time talking about the resolution than the conflict, and mention what you’d do differently next time to show “you’re open to learning from tough experiences.”<h3> </h3><h3>10. Tell Me About a Time You Demonstrated Leadership Skills.</h3>You don’t have to have a fancy title to act like a leader or demonstrate leadership skills. Think about a time when you headed up a project, took the initiative to propose an alternate process, or helped motivate your team to get something done. Then use the STAR method to tell your interviewer a story, giving enough detail to paint a picture (but not so much that you start rambling) and making sure you spell out the result. In other words, be clear about why you’re telling this particular story and connect all the dots for the interviewer. <h3>11. What’s a Time You Disagreed With a Decision That Was Made at Work?</h3>The ideal anecdote here is one where you handled a disagreement in a professional way and learned something from the experience. <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-tell-me-about-a-time-when-interview-questions">Zhang recommends</a> paying particular attention to how you start and end your response. To open, make a short statement to frame the rest of your answer, one that nods at the ultimate takeaway or the reason you’re telling this story. For example: “I learned early on in my professional career that it’s fine to disagree if you can back up your hunches with data.” And to close strong, you can either give a one-sentence summary of your answer (“In short…”) or talk briefly about how what you learned or gained from this experience would help you in the role you’re interviewing for. <h3>12. Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake.</h3>You’re probably not too eager to dig into past blunders when you’re trying to impress an interviewer and land a job. But talking about a mistake and winning someone over aren’t mutually exclusive, Moy says. In fact, if you do it right, it can help you. The key is to be honest without placing blame on other people, then explain what you learned from your mistake and what actions you took to ensure it didn’t happen again. At the end of the day, employers are looking for folks who are self-aware, can take feedback, and care about doing better. <h3>13. Tell Me About a Time You Failed.</h3>This question is very similar to the one about making a mistake, and you should approach your answer in much the same way. Make sure you pick a real, actual failure you can speak honestly about. Start by making it clear to the interviewer how you define failure. For example: “As a manager, I consider it a failure whenever I’m caught by surprise. I strive to know what’s going on with my team and their work.” Then situate the example in relation to that definition and explain what happened. Finally, don’t forget to share what you learned. It’s OK to fail—everyone does sometimes—but it’s important to show that you took something from the experience. <h3>14. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?</h3>This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you’ll be asked. Definitely keep things positive—you have nothing to gain by being negative about your current employer. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that you’re eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you. For example, “I’d really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I’d have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go from your most recent job? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally acceptable answer. <h3>15. Why Were You Fired?</h3>Of course, they may ask the follow-up question: Why were you let go? If you lost your job due to layoffs, you can simply say, “The company [reorganized/merged/was acquired] and unfortunately my [position/department] was eliminated.” But what if you were fired for performance reasons? Your best bet is to be honest (the job-seeking world is small, after all). But it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. Frame it as a learning experience: Share how you’ve grown and how you approach your job and life now as a result. And if you can portray your growth as an advantage for this next job, even better. <h3>16. Why Was There a Gap in Your Employment?</h3>Maybe you were taking care of children or aging parents, dealing with health issues, or traveling the world. Maybe it just took you a long time to land the right job. Whatever the reason, you should be prepared to discuss the gap (or gaps) on your resume. Seriously, practice saying your answer out loud. The key is to be honest, though that doesn’t mean you have to share more details than you’re comfortable with. If there are skills or qualities you honed or gained in your time away from the workforce—whether through volunteer work, running a home, or responding to a personal crisis—you can also talk about how those would help you excel in this role. <h3>17. Can You Explain Why You Changed Career Paths?</h3>Don’t be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring manager why you’ve made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience is transferable to the new role. This doesn’t have to be a direct connection; in fact, it’s often more impressive when a candidate can show how seemingly irrelevant experience is very relevant to the role. <h3>18. What’s Your Current Salary?</h3>It’s now illegal for some or all employers to ask you about your salary history in several cities and states, including New York City; Louisville, North Carolina; California; and Massachusetts. But no matter where you live, it can be stressful to hear this question. Don’t panic—there are several possible strategies you can turn to. For example, you can deflect the question, Muse career coach Emily Liou says, with a response like: “Before discussing any salary, I’d really like to learn more about what this role entails. I’ve done a lot of research on [Company] and I am certain if it’s the right fit, we’ll be able to agree on a number that’s fair and competitive to both parties.” You can also reframe the question around your salary expectations or requirements (see question 38) or choose to share the number if you think it will work in your favor. <h3>19. What Do You Like Least About Your Job?</h3>Tread carefully here! The last thing you want to do is let your answer devolve into a rant about how terrible your current company is or how much you hate your boss or that one coworker. The easiest way to handle this question with poise is to focus on an opportunity the role you’re interviewing for offers that your current job doesn’t. You can keep the conversation positive and emphasize why you’re so excited about the job. <h2>Questions About You and Your Goals</h2>Another crucial aspect of an interview? Getting to know a candidate. That’s why you’ll likely encounter questions about how you work, what you’re looking for (in a job, a team, a company, and a manager), and what your goals are. It’s a good sign if your interviewers want to make sure you’ll be a good fit—or add—to the team. Use it as an opportunity! <h3>20. What Are You Looking for in a New Position?</h3>Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.<h3> </h3><h3>21. What Type of Work Environment Do You Prefer?</h3>Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be specific. <h3>22. What’s Your Management Style?</h3>The best managers are strong but flexible, and that’s exactly what you want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, “While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach...”) Then share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the company’s top salesperson. <h3>23. How Would Your Boss and Coworkers Describe You?</h3>First of all, be honest (remember, if you make it to the final round, the hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and coworkers for references!). Then try to pull out strengths and traits you haven’t discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed. <h3>24. How Do You Deal With Pressure or Stressful Situations?</h3>Here’s another question you may feel the urge to sidestep in an effort to prove you’re the perfect candidate who can handle anything. But it’s important not to dismiss this one (i.e. don’t say “I just put my head down and push through it” or “I don’t get stressed out”). Instead, talk about your go-to strategies for dealing with stress (whether it’s meditating for 10 minutes every day or making sure you go for a run or keeping a super-detailed to-do list) and how you communicate and otherwise proactively try to mitigate pressure. If you can give a real example of a stressful situation you navigated successfully, all the better. <h3>25. What Do You Like to Do Outside of Work?</h3>Interviewers will sometimes ask about your hobbies or interests outside of work in order to get to know you a little better—to find out what you’re passionate about and devote time to during your off-hours. It’s another chance to let your personality shine. Be honest, but keep it professional and be mindful of answers that might make it sound like you’re going to spend all your time focusing on something other than the job you’re applying for. <h3>26. Are You Planning on Having Children?</h3>Questions about your family status, gender (“How would you handle managing a team of all men?”), nationality (“Where were you born?”), religion, or age are illegal—but they still get asked (and frequently). Of course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be trying to make conversation and might not realize these are off-limits—but you should definitely tie any questions about your personal life (or anything else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this question, think: “You know, I’m not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?” <h3>27. How Do You Prioritize Your Work?</h3>Your interviewers want to know that you can manage your time, exercise judgement, communicate, and shift gears when needed. Start by talking about whatever system you’ve found works for you to plan your day or week, whether it’s a to-do list app you swear by or a color-coded spreadsheet. This is one where you’ll definitely want to lean on a real-life example. So go on to describe how you’ve reacted to a last-minute request or another unexpected shift in priorities in the past, incorporating how you evaluated and decided what to do and how you communicated with your manager and/or teammates about it. <h3>28. What Are You Passionate About?</h3>You’re not a robot programmed to do your work and then power down. You’re a human, and if someone asks you this question in an interview, it’s probably because they want to get to know you better. The answer can align directly with the type of work you’d be doing in that role—like if, for example, you’re applying to be a graphic designer and spend all of your free time creating illustrations and data visualizations to post on Instagram.But don’t be afraid to talk about a hobby that’s different from your day-to-day work. Bonus points if you can “take it one step further and connect how your passion would make you an excellent candidate for the role you are applying for,” says Muse career coach Al Dea. Like if you’re a software developer who loves to bake, you might talk about how the ability to be both creative and precise informs your approach to code. <h3>29. What Motivates You?</h3>Before you panic about answering what feels like a probing existential question, consider that the interviewer wants to make sure you’re excited about this role at this company, and that you’ll be motivated to succeed if they pick you. So think back to what has energized you in previous roles and pinpoint what made your eyes light up when you read this job description. Pick one thing, make sure it’s relevant to the role and company you’re interviewing for, and try to weave in a story to help illustrate your point. If you’re honest, which you should be, your enthusiasm will be palpable. <h3>30. What Are Your Pet Peeves?</h3>Here’s another one that feels like a minefield. But it’ll be easier to navigate if you know why an interviewer is asking it. Most likely, they want to make sure you’ll thrive at their company—and get a glimpse of how you deal with conflict. So be certain you pick something that doesn’t contradict the culture and environment at this organization while still being honest. Then explain why and what you’ve done to address it in the past, doing your best to stay calm and composed. Since there’s no need to dwell on something that annoys you, you can keep this response short and sweet. <h3>31. How Do You Like to Be Managed?</h3>This is another one of those questions that’s about finding the right fit—both from the company’s perspective and your own. Think back on what worked well for you in the past and what didn’t. What did previous bosses do that motivated you and helped you succeed and grow? Pick one or two things to focus on and always articulate them with a positive framing (even if your preference comes from an experience where your manager behaved in the opposite way, phrase it as what you would want a manager to do). If you can give a positive example from a great boss, it’ll make your answer even stronger. <h3>32. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?</h3>If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you've set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition (a.k.a., this interview isn't the first time you’re considering the question), and c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn’t necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say that you’re not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision. <h3>33. What’s Your Dream Job?</h3>Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While “an NBA star” might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them <h3>34. What Other Companies Are You Interviewing With?</h3>Companies might ask you who else you’re interviewing with for a few reasons. Maybe they want to see how serious you are about this role and team (or even this field) or they’re trying to find out who they’re competing with to hire you. On one hand, you want to express your enthusiasm for this job, but at the same time, you don’t want to give the company any more leverage than it already has by telling them there’s no one else in the running. Depending on where you are in your search, you can talk about applying to or interviewing for a few roles that have XYZ in common—then mention how and why this role seems like a particularly good fit. <h3>35. What Makes You Unique?</h3>“They genuinely want to know the answer,” Dea promises. Give them a reason to pick you over other similar candidates. The key is to keep your answer relevant to the role you’re applying to. So the fact that you can run a six-minute mile or crush a trivia challenge might not help you get the job (but hey, it depends on the job!). Use this opportunity to tell them something that would give you an edge over your competition for this position. To figure out what that is, you can ask some former colleagues, think back to patterns you’ve seen in feedback you get, or try to distill why people tend to turn to you. Focus on one or two things and don’t forget to back up whatever you say with evidence. <h3>36. What Should I Know That’s Not on Your Resume?</h3>It’s a good sign if a recruiter or hiring manager is interested in more than just what’s on your resume. It probably means they looked at your resume, think you might be a good fit for the role, and want to know more about you. To make this wide-open question a little more manageable, try talking about a positive trait, a story or detail that reveals a little more about you and your experience, or a mission or goal that makes you excited about this role or company. <h2>Questions About the Job</h2>At the end of the day, the people on the other side of the hiring process want to make sure you could take on this role. That means they might ask you logistical questions to ensure that timing and other factors are aligned, and they might have you imagine what you’d do after starting. <h3>37. What Would Your First 30, 60, or 90 Days Look Like in This Role?</h3>Your potential future boss (or whoever else has asked you this question) wants to know that you’ve done your research, given some thought to how you’d get started, and would be able to take initiative if hired. So think about what information and aspects of the company and team you’d need to familiarize yourself with and which colleagues you’d want to sit down and talk to. You can also suggest one possible starter project to show you’d be ready to hit the ground running and contribute early on. This won’t necessarily be the thing you do first if you do get the job, but a good answer shows that you’re thoughtful and that you care. <h3>38. What Are Your Salary Requirements?</h3>The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what you should be paid by using sites like Payscale and reaching out to your network. You’ll likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating the highest number in that range that applies, based on your experience, education, and skills. Then make sure the hiring manager knows that you're flexible. You're communicating that you know your skills are valuable, but that you want the job and are willing to negotiate.You can also try to deflect or delay giving a number, especially if you get this question very early in the process, by saying something like, “I was hoping to get a sense of what range/band you had in mind for this role” or, as Liou suggests, “Before discussing any salary, I’d really like to learn more about what this role entails.” <h3>39. What Do You Think We Could Do Better or Differently?</h3>This question can really do a number on you. How do you give a meaty answer without insulting the company or, worse, the person you’re speaking with? Well first, take a deep breath. Then start your response with something positive about the company or specific product you’ve been asked to discuss. When you’re ready to give your constructive feedback, give some background on the perspective you’re bringing to the table and explain why you’d make the change you’re suggesting (ideally based on some past experience or other evidence). And if you end with a question, you can show them you’re curious about the company or product and open to other points of view. Try: “Did you consider that approach here? I’d love to know more about your process.” <h3>40. When Can You Start?</h3>Your goal here should be to set realistic expectations that will work for both you and the company. What exactly that sounds like will depend on your specific situation. If you’re ready to start immediately—if you’re unemployed, for example—you could offer to start within the week. But if you need to give notice to your current employer, don’t be afraid to say so; people will understand and respect that you plan to wrap things up right. It’s also legitimate to want to take a break between jobs, though you might want to say you have “previously scheduled commitments to attend to” and try to be flexible if they really need someone to start a bit sooner. <h3>41. Are You Willing to Relocate?</h3>While this may sound like a simple yes-or-no question, it’s often a little bit more complicated than that. The simplest scenario is one where you’re totally open to moving and would be willing to do so for this opportunity. But if the answer is no, or at least not right now, you can reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, briefly explain why you can’t move at this time, and offer an alternative, like working remotely or out of a local office. Sometimes it’s not as clear-cut, and that’s OK. You can say you prefer to stay put for xyz reasons, but would be willing to consider relocating for the right opportunity. <h2>Questions That Test You</h2>Depending on the style of the interviewer and company, you could get some pretty quirky questions. They’re often testing how you think through something on the spot. Don’t panic. Take a moment to think—and remember, there’s no one single correct answer or approach. <h3>42. How Many Tennis Balls Can You Fit Into a Limousine?</h3>1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously? Well, seriously, you might get asked brain-teaser questions like these, especially in quantitative jobs. But remember that the interviewer doesn’t necessarily want an exact number—they want to make sure that you understand what’s being asked of you, and that you can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So take a deep breath and start thinking through the math. (Yes, it’s OK to ask for a pen and paper!) <h3>43. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?</h3>Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There’s no wrong answer here, but you’ll immediately gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say…” <h3>44. Sell Me This Pen.</h3>If you’re interviewing for a sales job, your interviewer might put you on the spot to sell them a pen sitting on the table, or a legal pad, or a water bottle, or just something. The main thing they’re testing you for? How you handle a high-pressure situation. So try to stay calm and confident and use your body language—making eye contact, sitting up straight, and more—to convey that you can handle this. Make sure you listen, understand your “customer’s” needs, get specific about the item’s features and benefits, and end strong—as though you were truly closing a deal. <h2>Wrapping-Up Questions</h2>When it comes time for the interview to wind down, you might have a chance to add any last thoughts and you’ll almost certainly have time to ask the questions that will help you decide if this company and role might be great for you. In fact, if they don’t leave time for you to ask any questions at any of your interviews, that might be a red flag in itself. <h3>45. Is There Anything Else You’d Like Us to Know?</h3>Just when you thought you were done, your interviewer asks you this open-ended doozy. Don’t panic—it’s not a trick question! You can use this as an opportunity to close out the meeting on a high note in one of two ways, Zhang says. First, if there really is something relevant that you haven’t had a chance to mention, do it now. Otherwise, you can briefly summarize your qualifications. For example, Zhang says, you could say: “I think we’ve covered most of it, but just to summarize, it sounds like you’re looking for someone who can really hit the ground running. And with my previous experience [enumerate experience here], I think I’d be a great fit.”<h3>46. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?</h3>You probably already know that an interview isn’t just a chance for a hiring manager to grill you—it’s an opportunity to sniff out whether a job is the right fit from your perspective. What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team? You’ll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer (“What's your favorite part about working here?") or the company's growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?") 

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

Your resume is arguably the most valuable piece of paper for your career. But this document can be daunting for many. Maybe you’re not sure how to fit in all your information onto one page. Maybe you’re not sure about the right way to format and write your resume. Maybe you don’t even know what the heck a resume is!
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credits to: Alyse Kalish

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 06, 2020|709 views

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

written by: richill artloe

created: March 02, 2020 | 12:28 PM

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Blog Content: Your resume is arguably the most valuable piece of paper for your career. But this document can be daunting for many. Maybe you’re not sure how to fit in all your information onto one page. Maybe you’re not sure about the right way to format and write your resume. Maybe you don’t even know what the heck a resume is!Whatever your concern, we’ll break down everything you need to know about making the perfect resume, from scratch.<ul><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#whatisresume">What Is a Resume?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#employers">What Are Employers Looking for in a Resume?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#howtowriteresume">How Do You Write a Resume?</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#pickformat">Pick Your Format</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#basicinformation">Start With Your Basic Information</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#workexperience">Add in Your Work Experience</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#otherexperience">Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#education">Don’t Forget Your Education</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#skillsinterests">Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#resumesummary">Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#tailor">Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#edit">Edit and Refine It</a> <a name="whatisresume"></a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-resume-examples#resumeexamples">What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?</a></li></ul> <h2>What Is a Resume?</h2>A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length (two only under specific circumstances), it showcases the jobs you’ve held and currently hold, the responsibilities you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.For all the work you may put into writing one, hiring managers actually spend very little time—mere seconds in many cases—looking at your resume. But despite this sad fact, it’s safe to say that creating a great resume (rather than hastily throwing one together) still matters.“If you miss the mark, your resume may never be read. Even worse, you might be removed from the applicant pool by a computer before a human even knows you exist,” says Muse career coach <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/heather-yurovsky">Heather Yurovsky</a>, founder of Shatter & Shine. So you want to get it right because, as she explains, isn’t the goal to “spend less time looking for a job and more time in a role you love?”You might be wondering if you can lean on your LinkedIn profile instead of writing a resume. The answer, sadly, is no. Most hiring managers still expect you to submit a resume, even if they also look at your LinkedIn. Even if you don’t need a resume for a job you’re applying for now, you’re going to need one at some point in your career—they’re not anywhere close to going out of style. So it’s best to always have one at the ready should an opportunity pop up.And although LinkedIn has plenty of benefits, a resume has one clear advantage: While your LinkedIn is usually a broader picture of your career trajectory, your resume gives you the opportunity to tailor your career story to a specific role or company (more on that later).<a name="employers"></a>Oh, and you’ve probably heard of something called a CV? <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/cv-vs-resumehere-are-the-differences">It’s slightly different from a resume</a>, and usually more common with <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-is-curriculum-vitae-example">academics</a> and job seekers outside the U.S. <h2>What Are Employers Looking for in a Resume?</h2>Hiring managers look for three things on your resume, “What did you do? Why did you do it? And what was the result?” says Muse career coach <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/martin-mcgovern-0db4a5">Martin McGovern</a>, owner of Career Therapy. “If you can answer all three of these questions in...your resume bullet points, you’re going to be on the right track.”Clear, easy-to-understand language is key. “The truth is that most resumes make no sense. They are stuffed with jargon, they are too technical, and they are filled with redundancies. Try to read a resume that isn’t yours and you will quickly realize that it feels like an alien wrote it,” McGovern adds. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter who has no idea how your role works—how can you make your resume accessible to them?The hiring manager also cares about more than just you and you alone—they care about you in relation to them. <a name="howtowriteresume"></a>“Hiring managers want to see if a candidate matches the requirements” of the role they’re hiring for, Yurovsky explains. “Your resume should paint this picture so the hiring manager not only knows what day-to-day responsibilities you can handle, but why you, above other[s], bring value to their organization.” <h2>How Do You Write a Resume?</h2><a name="pickformat"></a>Whether you’re someone who’s never written a resume in your life, or you need a nice, thorough refresher on the process of creating one, follow these steps to go from a blank page to a complete—and dare I say beautiful—document. <h3>1. Pick Your Format</h3>Before you start typing one single thing, you have to decide what you want the overall resume to look like.<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-surprising-career-lessons-i-learned-from-using-a-free-resume-builder">Resume builders</a> can be helpful for this step—they’ll take all your basic information and organize it for you, eliminating some of the legwork. You can also use a pre-made outline, such as one of <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/top-google-docs-resume-templates-how-to-use-them">these free Google Docs templates</a>.But it’s often safest to start with a clean slate all on your own and eventually upgrade to a more advanced layout. This allows you to course correct, edit and re-edit, and choose a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/resume-formats-pick-best-one-for-you">resume format</a> that best fits your particular situation (after all, not everyone has a career trajectory that’s easy to compartmentalize).In general, you’re most likely to cover and/or include sections on the following:<ul><li>Your work experience</li><li>Your non-work experience, including professional organizations, community involvement, or side projects</li><li>Your education and certifications</li><li>Your skills (specifically hard skills) and interests</li></ul>So how do you format and organize all of that information?By far the most common (and safest, if you’re not sure which route to take) option is reverse <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-is-a-chronological-resume-example">chronological order</a>. This means you organize your experiences from most recent to least recent. So your work experiences would go above your education, and your current role would go above previous roles you’ve held. This of course has its exceptions—maybe you went back to grad school between jobs, or your most recent role is irrelevant to the job you’re applying for. So the whole page may not be exactly in reverse chronological order depending on your situation. It’s just a guideline.There’s also something called a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-is-a-functional-resume-example">functional</a> or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/is-a-skillsbased-resume-right-for-you">skills-based resume</a>. This is used pretty rarely, mainly with career changers and those with limited or complicated work histories. It gets its name because it’s primarily about listing your skills rather than experiences, and showcases them above your work history and education.You can also opt for a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/combination-resume-hybrid-resume-format-example">combination resume</a>, which is a mix between a reverse chronological resume and skills-based resume. It highlights your skills at the top, but allows just as much room below to cover your job and school experience.Use caution when choosing these two formats: “Combo and skills-based [resumes] can be hard to follow, because [they force] the reader to hunt for connections between your skills and experience, and [don’t] provide the full context of your work,” <a name="basicinformation"></a>says Muse Career Coach <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/angela-smith">Angela Smith</a>, founder of Loft Consulting. “I’ve also heard a lot of recruiters say that they automatically discount skill-based resumes because they feel the candidate is trying to hide something. I don’t necessarily believe that, but I think it’s important for job-seekers to know that perception is out there.” <h3>2. Start With Your Basic Information</h3>Your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/heres-exactly-what-should-be-included-in-your-resumes-header">contact information</a> should always go at the top of your resume. In this header you’ll want to include anything that could be helpful for a recruiter to get in touch with you. Usually, this means adding in:<ul><li>Your full name (preferably the name you use across the web)</li><li>Your phone number</li><li>Your personal email address</li></ul>You might also choose to include other basic information, such as your LinkedIn or personal website URL, your GitHub (for technical roles), your social media profiles (if relevant to the job), or your address. If you’re looking to move for a job, you may choose to leave out your address or write “open to relocating” to better your chances of getting an interview.<a name="workexperience"></a>The key is to make this part as clear as possible. If a hiring manager can’t reach you, there’s no point in perfecting the rest of your resume. <h3>3. Add in Your Work Experience</h3>This section will most likely be the bulk of your resume. Even if you’re changing careers, employers still want to see where you’ve worked, what you’ve done, and the impact of that work to get a sense of your background and expertise.Your “Work Experience” might be one entire category, or you might choose to break it up into “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience” to highlight the jobs that are most important for hiring managers to focus on. Either way, you’ll almost always want to have your most recent experience at the top and your older experience down below.Within your work experience, you’ll want to include each official job title, the company (and possibly its location), and the years you worked there. Below that, you’ll add in two to four <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-write-resume-bullets-thatll-make-the-hiring-manager-pay-attention">bullet points</a> explaining what you did in that job, the skills you built and exercised, the tools you used, and the results of what you did. If you accomplished a lot during your time there, focus on the responsibilities that made the most impact or you’re the most proud of, as well as the ones that best align you with the job you’re applying for (more on that in the following sections). It’s key here to list, if relevant, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-quantify-your-resume-bullets-when-you-dont-work-with-numbers">quantitative</a> as well as qualitative accomplishments.For example, you might write:Associate Accountant, Finances and Co., Ann Arbor, MI September 2017 – Present<ul><li>Manage billing and invoicing for more than 50 clients, ensuring the deadlines and needs of our enterprise partners, including Big Company and Super Star Org, are met</li><li>Collaborate closely with sales, account management, and project management teams on project setup, maintenance, and invoice management</li><li>Assist in the streamlining of invoicing guidelines and procedures through documentation and the implementation of new software, resulting in an average two-week decrease in total time spent per client</li></ul>Your resume bullets should be in past tense if you’re referring to past jobs and present tense if you’re talking about your current roles. In addition, your bullets should always start with a strong <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome">action verb</a> that best describes what you did. And if you have examples of your work, consider <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/include-links-job-application-resume-cover-letter">hyperlinking</a> them here as well.If you have a ton of experience and this category is starting to run long (read: over one page), consider kicking out your oldest jobs unless they’re super relevant to the job you’re applying for, or extra impressive for your field.Not sure where to start? “It’s helpful to do a brain dump and create a document that has everything and anything you consider as experience or an achievement,” says Yurovsky. From there, she explains, you can start to whittle down what is and isn’t important. And you can refer to this document later if you ever decide to update your resume for a specific role.Need more specific advice on listing your work experience on your resume? Check out these additional resources:<ul><li>When you’ve held multiple jobs at the same company: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/2-jobs-1-company-how-to-show-multiple-positions-on-your-resume">2 Jobs, 1 Company: How to Show Multiple Positions on Your Resume</a></li><li>When you’re not sure what your accomplishments are or how to explain them: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/resume-revamp-how-to-turn-your-duties-into-accomplishments">Resume Revamp: How to Turn Your Duties Into Accomplishments</a></li><li>When you want to spruce up a boring or insignificant job: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-your-most-boring-jobs-sound-more-interesting-on-your-resume">How to Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting on Your Resume</a></li><li><a name="otherexperience"></a>When you’re considering fudging a job title: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-answer-to-can-i-change-my-job-title-on-my-resume-to-make-it-more-accurate">The Answer to “Can I Change My Job Title on My Resume to Make It More Accurate?”</a></li><li>When you’ve had a bunch of short-term gigs: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-list-temporary-jobs-on-your-resume">How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume</a></li></ul> <h3>4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience</h3>Anything you’ve done that’s not work experience—your side gig, volunteer work, special projects—can be hosted under clearly-labeled sections (“Volunteer Experience” or “Activities,” for example). Depending on how robust your work experience is, these things may be worth including, particularly if they’ve helped you level up your skill set or better align you with your dream job. Plus, they make you look that much more well-rounded, passionate, and hardworking.If you’re a recent grad, you might also build out a section for on-campus activities, such as clubs, organizations, or leadership experience. This can be a great supplement if you’re lacking in the jobs department. You can frame these just as you would professional jobs—including your title, the organization’s name, and bullets describing what your role was and what you accomplished.<a name="education"></a>Read More: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-list-volunteer-experience-resume">This Is Exactly How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume</a> <h3>5. Don’t Forget Your Education</h3>If you’re still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree. Brand-new grads might also write in their GPA, honors and awards, study abroad, thesis, or other notable achievements. But keep this section super simple, as you don’t want it to take up too much space over your work experience.It’s possible you have unique education experience, such as taking an online course or certification. If you did this specifically as a way to boost yourself within your industry, definitely include it. Again, list everything more or less reverse chronologically—so a grad school degree would go above an undergrad degree, and a more recent relevant online course would go above that.Learn more about the ins and outs of listing your education on your resume:<a name="skillsinterests"></a><ul><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-and-how-not-to-list-education-on-your-resume">How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-list-online-courses-on-your-resume-the-right-way-because-yes-there-is-a-wrong-way">How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way (Because Yes, There Is a Wrong Way)</a></li></ul> <h3>6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests</h3>The <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/every-basic-question-you-have-about-your-resume-skills-section-answered">skills section of a resume</a> gets a bad rap, but it’s just as important as the rest of the stuff you include. It’s a quick list a recruiter can scan to see if your skill set aligns with what they’re hiring for. And it’s super ATS-friendly (ATS stands for “applicant tracking system,” the robot that in some cases reads your resume before a human does) because it allows you to add in keywords the machine is scanning for.Usually this section goes at the bottom of your resume, but in special cases—such as a skills-based resume or when someone’s switching fields—you may place it further up.What exactly do you throw in here? You’ll want to list any hard skills and applications you’re familiar with (Photoshop, SEO, JavaScript, to name a few examples), and, if relevant, your level of expertise. Avoid including soft skills here, like time management or public speaking—save those for your bullet points instead.Be strategic when filling in your skills. Don’t list things <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-super-basic-resume-skills-you-should-think-twice-before-including">you actually couldn’t do</a> at a high competence level (I’m looking at those of you who say you’re “great” at Excel), and maybe nix skills that are completely irrelevant to the job you want. For example, you may not even need to include Excel if you’re applying for say, a design position, unless it’s listed as a job requirement.Maybe you’re thinking, I’m a really good volleyball player, but that’s not a “skill,” right? No, it’s not, but it is a hobby. Adding in a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-reasons-adding-a-hobbies-section-to-your-resume-could-make-all-the-difference">hobby section</a> at the bottom of your resume is underrated, and frequently a smart choice. It can be a great conversation starter with a hiring manager, and it can show that you’re a good culture fit—or a culture add—for the company. <a name="resumesummary"></a>Also, it’s just a nice way to add in some of your personality. So tack on a bullet point listing out some of your interests, such as hiking, rowing, or crafting (no more than five to seven work-appropriate verbs), and you’re all set here. <h3>7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)</h3>You may have heard of a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-resume-summary-statement-when-you-need-one-and-how-to-do-it">resume summary statement</a>. They’re not super common, but they can be useful to include near the top of your resume if you’re looking to add clarity or context to your resume. If you’re a career changer, you might find a summary statement helpful in explaining your leap and tying your experience to your new path. Or if you’re a more experienced professional, you can use a summary statement to highlight a theme that brings your career trajectory together.Overall, you probably won’t need a summary statement if your career is pretty linear and your bullet points do a great job of emphasizing what you have to offer in terms of skills and experience. But if you think it makes sense to include one, “Take the time to think about what the person reading your summary wants to know before you write it,” says McGovern. “Good summaries explain why you do what you do and how it can help. For instance: Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123. Summaries shouldn’t be any more complicated than that.”So, taking McGovern’s example, you might say:Merging a background in social media marketing and PR with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their internal and external communication and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with the modern trends of the space.<a name="tailor"></a>Yurovsky adds that “you don’t want your summary statement to be a dense paragraph with too much information. You want it to be easy to read, concise, and memorable. Almost like a tagline.”Read More: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-resume-summary-examples-thatll-make-writing-your-own-easier">3 Resume Summary Examples That’ll Make Writing Your Own Easier</a> <h3>8. Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)</h3>Once you have your resume written out—you’ve broken down your work experience, tagged on some activities and additional experiences, and listed out your skills—it’s important to go back to the job description (or multiple job descriptions, if you’re applying to several similar jobs) and make sure that what your resume says matches up with the kind of candidate the employers are looking for. In other words, tailor it.Let’s explain further. You’ll want to begin by tackling the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/beat-the-robots-how-to-get-your-resume-past-the-system-into-human-hands">ATS</a>. This means combing the job description to see if individual words and phrases line up. What skills are they asking for, and have you listed them (so long as you actually have them)? What words are they using to describe their ideal hire, and do you use similar language in your resume?Next, take a bird’s-eye view. If you were the hiring manager for the role, where on your resume would your eyes be drawn to? And what would you be looking for? Whatever you think will be most important for the recruiter, make sure it’s near the top of your resume, or otherwise emphasized.Finally, dig into the role and responsibilities of the job. Does your resume reflect similar experience? If not, is there a way you can spin it so that it’s clear you’re capable of doing the job (and doing it well)?<a name="edit"></a>These articles can help you if the word “tailoring” makes you start to sweat:<ul><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-it-really-means-to-tailor-your-resume">What It Really Means to “Tailor Your Resume”</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-guide-to-making-unrelated-experience-look-relevant-on-your-resume">Your Guide to Making Unrelated Experience Look Relevant on Your Resume</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/a-cool-trick-how-to-spin-1-resume-bullet-5-different-ways">A Cool Trick: How to Spin 1 Resume Bullet 5 Different Ways</a></li></ul> <h3>9. Edit and Refine It</h3>Please, please don’t just write your resume and shoot it out without giving it a second glance. Hiring managers may not spend hours browsing it, but if there’s one thing that sticks out more than anything else it’s a glaring typo.The best approach? Write a rough draft, then leave and come back to it later with fresh eyes to give it an edit.Cover the basics: Is your contact information correct and updated? Are you using the right verb tenses? Does everything look consistent and accurate in terms of spelling and grammar?Then do some cutting if your resume’s quite long. It’s no longer a hard-and-fast rule that all resumes must be only one page—but consider it a smart guideline for most applicants, especially if you've got less than 10 years work experience. The exception is if you’re very senior or very established in your career; in this scenario, a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/is-a-twopage-resume-ever-ok">two-page resume</a> isn’t completely out of the question. Everyone else, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-pro-tips-for-cutting-your-resume-down-to-one-page">read this article</a> for advice on how to cut your resume down.Formatting-wise, it’s key to consider a couple things. First, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/finally-the-answer-to-how-much-does-my-resume-font-matter">what font are you using</a>, and is it legible (for a human and a robot)? When in doubt, go with one of these simple, but sleek, options: Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, or Helvetica.Second, are you going to save it as a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-answer-to-should-my-resume-be-submitted-as-a-word-doc-or-pdf">Word document or PDF</a>? Neither option is wrong, although a PDF helps ensure that your formatting is maintained, no matter what type of computer the hiring manager uses to open the document.Third, is your resume formatted in a way that it’s skimmable? If it’s feeling crowded or overrun with words, read this: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/12-tiny-changes-that-make-your-resume-easy-for-recruiters-to-skim">12 Tiny Changes That Make Your Resume Easy for Recruiters to Skim</a>.<a name="resumeexamples"></a>Once you’ve given it a few good looks, it may be worth sending it to a friend or colleague (or even a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaching/resume-review">career coach</a>) to get a second opinion. Don’t just have them edit it for spelling and grammar—they should dig into your bullets and offer feedback on whether or not your resume is showing you in the best possible light (it’s smart to also send them the job description for something to compare it to). <h2>What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?</h2>Here’s the thing: Your resume won’t ever look exactly like someone else’s, nor should it. How you choose to format it, organize your information, and talk about specific experiences depends not just on your career path, but on your field, the job you’re applying for, the company that job is at, and more.So there isn’t a universal way to do a resume. But there are common themes. To give you some context as to how yours might turn out, here are three examples of different kinds of resumes. <h3>The Most Popular: A Reverse Chronological Resume</h3>As previously mentioned, a reverse chronological resume is preferred by many coaches and HR experts, mainly because it’s super readable. When everything’s in a clear order, it’s easy to skim and even easier to draw lines between experiences.Who it’s good for: Just about everyone—from students applying to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/resume-for-an-internship-example">internships</a> all the way up to senior-level executives (with an optional resume summary statement)<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UXlNFd9m-katrOIlPEzyEEi1PsPAzTgoRw56j37QbNM/edit#">Download an Example Chronological Resume for a Software Engineer</a> <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UXlNFd9m-katrOIlPEzyEEi1PsPAzTgoRw56j37QbNM/edit#"><img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F40136%2F0be68193-df9d-485d-bff0-21ee5575a281.png%3Fv%3Daef549a25529dd8aeb642b1871e1ba4ab2e12fd7933536eeb4e5920f4ac880f2&prog=1&w=780" /></a>Example of a reverse chronological resume created in Google Docs using the resume template Swiss. <h3>The Unorthodox Route: A Functional or Skills-Based Resume</h3>Rather than listing out your experience in reverse chronological order, a functional or skills-based resume has bullet points that reflect how each of your skills is demonstrated by the work you’ve done over the course of your career. At the bottom, you’ll include everything else, such as your education, job history, professional achievements, community involvement, and other technical skills. This is a good option if you have a somewhat all-over-the-place work history and want to tie everything together neatly.Who it’s good for: Career changers whose work experiences may not appear to be relevant and people with an abundance of temporary jobs or gaps in their work histories.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h1Roraid6wMTLbxUFch8PzY5fJI5IbSf9biYDO5rXjY/edit#heading=h.jpv9v4b642w5">Download an Example Functional Resume for a Project Manager</a> <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h1Roraid6wMTLbxUFch8PzY5fJI5IbSf9biYDO5rXjY/edit#heading=h.jpv9v4b642w5"><img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F40137%2Ff9362e28-601b-4ae2-b51a-53eefe2b7923.png%3Fv%3Dde5032ee8707749eadca84dba7102e7bedde426c8e825e6bdd796c72e67273ac&prog=1&w=780" /></a>Example of a functional or skills-based resume created in Google Docs using the resume template Spearmint. <h3>The Creative Angle: An Infographic Resume or Resume Website</h3>This resume type is characterized by how it’s formatted visually. You may choose a reverse chronological order or skills-based style to organize your information, but also use graphics, colors, unique fonts, and even multimedia elements to help that information pop. Keep in mind that any <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-tricks-to-submitting-a-creative-resume-that-gets-hiring-managers-attention-without-turning-them-off">creative resume</a> is still likely subject to an ATS—and certain elements may be unreadable by a robot. So consider going this route only if you know a human will be reading your resume (and that said human might enjoy it).Who it’s good for: People applying to creative roles (designers, editors, writers, marketers, video producers, for example), startups, or fun companies, or to jobs where a creative resume is encouraged, if not required.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TZhjZwVRrkb9ksKz9WP5kaSxZ-lAF8JO/view?usp=sharing">Download an Example Infographic Resume for a Designer</a> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TZhjZwVRrkb9ksKz9WP5kaSxZ-lAF8JO/view?usp=sharing"><img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F40138%2F7d252cab-8e78-4f36-a1b5-5c916d724550.png%3Fv%3D4891d14fdede52fa23084872339c873a92f30ae3a2f50aa5eb2414015da1d524&prog=1&w=780" /></a>Example of an infographic resume created in Canva. Not a designer but want your resume to look just as pretty as this example? Check out these articles:<ul><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-sites-to-create-an-awesome-infographic-resume-even-if-youre-the-least-creative-person-ever">5 Sites to Create an Awesome Infographic Resume (Even if You’re the Least Creative Person Ever)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-build-a-resume-website-that-will-impress-every-hiring-manager-who-sees-it">How to Build a Resume Website That Will Impress Every Hiring Manager Who Sees It</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-digital-tools-that-will-make-your-resume-infinitely-more-beautiful">5 Digital Tools That Will Make Your Resume Infinitely More Beautiful</a></li></ul> Your resume is a living, breathing document. So while you won’t go through this whole process every time you apply for a job, you should be thinking about all these things as you go to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-update-your-resume-based-on-what-youve-done-and-where-you-want-to-go">update your resume</a> for your next career step. You might decide later on to switch up the order, or remove or add things, or even get creative and try out a whole new format. If you’re not getting the calls back you expect, you may decide to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-truth-you-have-to-face-if-your-resume-isnt-generating-interviews">scrap it and start over</a>—and that’s totally OK.Regardless of where this piece of paper goes and how it grows, when you give it the care and attention it deserves, you set yourself up for success. And you’ll make it that much more likely that you’ll land an interview and get the chance to prove to the hiring manager—over the phone or in person—what you’ve got to offer.

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48 Questions That'll Make Awkward Small Talk So Much Easier

How many times per week do you find yourself participating in small talk about topics you have no interest in or have already discussed a million times—just for something to say? Whether it’s waiting for a really slow read more

credits to: Aja Frost

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 04, 2020|555 views

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48 Questions That'll Make Awkward Small Talk So Much Easier

written by: richill artloe

created: March 02, 2020 | 12:26 PM

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Blog Content: How many times per week do you find yourself participating in small talk about topics you have no interest in or have already discussed a million times—just for something to say? Whether it’s waiting for a really slow <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-professional-growth-opportunity-youre-overlooking-every-day">elevator with a co-worker</a>, talking to an acquaintance at an industry event, or chatting with a complete stranger at a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event">networking event</a>, it happens to all of us.So, to combat these incredibly boring conversations, I started asking people unexpected, thought-provoking questions that couldn’t be answered with a simple yes or no. The results were awesome: I learned cool facts about other people that I would’ve never picked up in “normal” conversation—and as a bonus we became closer. (And as a double-bonus, I got to stop weighing in on the weather.)If you’re ready to start <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/small-talk-101-how-to-make-the-most-mundane-stories-sound-more-interesting">having awesome conversations</a>, check out my list of favorite questions, divided by small talk topics that most people can get behind. Obviously these don’t apply to everyone in every situation—but there are certainly enough here that you should be able to avoid awkward silences for a long, long time. <h2>Small Talk Questions 1-8Work</h2><ol start="1"><li>If you weren’t working here, what would you probably be doing right now?</li><li>How did you become a [job title]?</li><li>What surprised you the most about your current job?</li><li>What’s the craziest thing a boss has ever asked you to do?</li><li>Would you rather work four 10-hour days or five eight-hour days?</li><li>If you were guaranteed to be successful, what job would you want?</li><li>What was your first job? Did you like it?</li><li>What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? How about the worst?</li></ol> <h2>Small Talk Questions 9-16Entertainment</h2><ol start="9"><li>Are you reading any good books right now? I’d love some recommendations. How about shows?</li><li>Are there any <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/15-awesome-apps-thatll-break-you-out-of-your-i-only-use-the-same-3-apps-rut">apps on your phone</a> that you can’t live without?</li><li>If you could only watch one genre of movies for the rest of your life, what would it be?</li><li>What’s a book you hated that everyone else loved, and vice versa?</li><li>Do you have any <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tech-podcasts-so-addictive-your-friends-should-start-planning-the-intervention">podcast suggestions</a> for my commute?</li><li>What’s the last movie that made you cry? Or laugh aloud?</li><li>Whom would you want to be your Amazing Race partner?</li><li>Who is your favorite person to follow on Instagram?</li></ol> <h2>Small Talk Questions 17-24Food</h2><ol start="17"><li>If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?</li><li>What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?</li><li>What’s your go-to comfort food?</li><li>Are there any foods that you absolutely would not eat?</li><li>What’s something that’s easy to bring in for lunch that isn’t a sandwich?</li><li>What are the best cheap eats around here?</li><li>Does your family have any “secret” or famous recipes?</li><li>What’s your favorite restaurant that other people don’t tend to know about?</li></ol> <h2>Small Talk Questions 25-32Travel</h2><ol start="25"><li>What’s the best “hidden gem” around here?</li><li>If you could fly anywhere for free, where would you go?</li><li>What’s the coolest road trip you’ve ever been on?</li><li>Where’s the last place you traveled? What did you do there?</li><li>Do you prefer action-packed vacations or relaxing on the beach?</li><li>What’s the next trip you have planned?</li><li>If you could take a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/wtf-is-a-workcation-hint-something-you-need-now">workcation</a> or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-you-yes-you-can-make-a-sabbatical-happen">sabbatical</a>, where would you go and what would you do?</li><li>What’s your favorite thing to do around here on the weekends?</li></ol> <h2>Small Talk Questions 33-40Life Story</h2><ol start="33"><li>Where did you live before this? What are the biggest differences you see?</li><li>What did you think you were going to be growing up?</li><li>Do you have any hidden talents or surprising hobbies?</li><li>What was your favorite extracurricular in elementary school?</li><li>What was the must-have accessory or item when you were growing up?</li><li>What’s the most unbelievable thing that’s ever happened to you?</li><li>Who’s the most important role model or mentor you’ve had in your life?</li><li>What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?</li></ol> <h2>Small Talk Questions 41-48Totally Random</h2><ol start="41"><li>If you were in charge of picking the eighth wonder of the world, what would you choose?</li><li>What do you wish you had placed in a time capsule 15 years ago?</li><li>What’s the strangest compliment you’ve ever gotten?</li><li>Have you ever thought of a cool invention or company, only to discover someone had already invented or started it?</li><li>If you could teach a college course on any subject you want, what would it be?</li><li>What’s the most out-of-character thing you’ve ever done?</li><li>What would be your ideal superpower?</li><li>If you could have any type of animal for a pet, what would it be?</li></ol>

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5 Skills From Your Previous Career That’ll Help You Transition Into Tech

You don’t have to be a numbers whiz or child prodigy who taught yourself to code as a kid to pursue a career in software engineering. In fact, having a background in a completely different industry can be an advantage if you want to work in tech. Just ask read more

credits to: Adam Erace

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 02, 2020|486 views

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5 Skills From Your Previous Career That’ll Help You Transition Into Tech

written by: richill artloe

created: March 02, 2020 | 12:24 PM

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Blog Content: You don’t have to be a numbers whiz or child prodigy who taught yourself to code as a kid to pursue a career in software engineering. In fact, having a background in a completely different industry can be an advantage if you want to work in tech. Just ask <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-luk/?originalSubdomain=uk?utm_source=the_muse&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ct--cam-london-mkt-ldn-uk-&utm_content=--send-1--rid-recuweRIgdhJz14va">Janine Luk</a>, who left a position in luxury marketing to work in cybersecurity as a software engineer (and admits to not being very good at math).For help making the switch, Luk attended <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://flatironschool.com/?utm_source=the_muse&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ct--cam-london-mkt-ldn-uk-&utm_content=--homepage--rid-recEMsvPflwfYCUI6">Flatiron School</a>, a global school that teaches students of all backgrounds <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://flatironschool.com/career-courses/coding-bootcamp?utm_source=the_muse&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ct--cam-london-mkt-ldn-uk-&utm_content=--software">software engineering</a>, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://flatironschool.com/career-courses/cybersecurity-analytics?utm_source=the_muse&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ct--cam-london-mkt-ldn-uk-&utm_content=--send-2--rid-recLFjb2Q5sh6upil">cybersecurity</a>, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://flatironschool.com/career-courses/data-science-bootcamp?utm_source=the_muse&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ct--cam-london-mkt-ldn-uk-&utm_content=--data%20science--rid-recfsfZrptPA4wtQ2">data science</a>, and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://flatironschool.com/career-courses/ux-ui-design-bootcamp?utm_source=the_muse&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ct--cam-london-mkt-ldn-uk-&utm_content=--uxui%20design--rid-rec41vWoxOWXsaCxz">UX/UI design</a>, in-person and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://flatironschool.com/campuses/online?utm_source=the_muse&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ct--cam-london-mkt-ldn-uk-&utm_content=--online--rid-recTyc4jYKZdOiFSZ">online</a>. “We have everyone from journalists to opera singers to investment bankers to baristas,” says Gretchen Jacobi, Flatiron School’s Head of Career Services.What’s more, tech is the fastest growing industry in America—which means it’s ripe with opportunity for career-changing graduates (not to mention those who want to re-enter their current industry in a technical role). Plus, many sectors of the economy—like finance and healthcare—are seeing disruption and modernization through tech. “You can pick a field you’re interested in, add ‘tech’, and you’re going to find a company in that space,” Jacobi says. “Finance tech and healthcare tech have the largest share of our GDP, but we’ve had students find jobs everywhere from sports tech to church tech to cannabis tech.”And, Luk adds, “There’s a massive emphasis now on getting people with zero coding experience to join tech companies.”Every job comes with skills that can help you not only learn to code, but also land (and succeed in) your first role as a career changer. So if you’re considering pursuing a new path as a software engineer, chances are good you already have a slew of relevant skills. Below are a few that will certainly come in handy when pivoting to a career in tech. <h2>1. Collaboration</h2>According to Jacobi, there’s a misconception out there that developers click away wearing headphones in a self-imposed solitary environment. “Engineering is actually very collaborative,” she says. “You’re in teams and you have to be able to share your ideas, ask questions of those around you, draw out their insights, and propose ideas without alienating your teammates.”Teamwork is something Luk relied heavily on in her marketing work, with clients such as LVMH and Mandarin Oriental—and it helped her succeed during Flatiron School bootcamp, which involves a group project every three weeks. “Sometimes it was hard to collaborate because people learn at different paces, but it was really beneficial to do it as a group and progress together,” she says.Luk’s previous work experience has also given her an advantage in her current software engineering role. “You have to collaborate in marketing. For example, the PR person has to talk to the events person,” she says. “Tech is the same. And when you get more opinions, it leads to a better project in the end.” <h2>2. Communication</h2>The communication skills that Luk developed in marketing were also a huge asset during group projects as a Flatiron School student. “It was vital to be able to communicate with your team,” she says. “It helped us develop a sense of community because everyone came from a non-computer science background.”Being able to easily speak with others comes in handy in her current role as well, especially when explaining technical aspects of projects to those outside of her team. “I’m able to really bring the technical side of a project to life,” she says. “I try to always emphasize the purpose of the task, as well as mention a potential use-case for the project, and ultimately explain the impact of how this can benefit the team, the company, and stakeholders.”Strong communication skills can also help when applying for jobs after graduating from bootcamp. Prior to attending Flatiron School and finding a job as an engineer in e-commerce, Julianna Tetreault was a private English consultant in Beijing, teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) students debate fundamentals for the largest English-speaking debate competition in the world. “When it came time to interviewing for jobs, my comfortability speaking to people as a consultant definitely helped,” she says. “Something that could have been really nerve-wracking actually wasn’t at all.” <h2>3. Interpersonal Skills</h2>Thanks to the tech world’s exploding conference and events scene, the ability to feel comfortable talking with peers, superiors, and industry experts needs to extend beyond the office. In fact, Luk started attending such events when she had only begun to code. “It was where I met my mentor and discovered a passion for ethical hacking and cybersecurity,” she says.If you come from a field where schmoozing or interpersonal skills are part of the job—public relations, politics, restaurants, even medicine—you’ll have a leg up as an engineer. But if you don’t, have no fear. There are other ways to develop this skill. It’s actually a non-technical aspect of the industry that Flatiron School focuses on. “We help students draw out the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/engineers-soft-skills-hiring-managers-want">soft skills</a> that employers are looking for, just as much as the technical skills,” Jacobi says. <h2>4. Problem Solving</h2>Whether you’re a teacher, a doctor, a salesperson, or a marketing manager—or something else entirely—chances are good you’ve faced setbacks and have had to come up with solutions in the face of a challenge. And if you can do that, you will thrive as an engineer.“Some coding problems can be really hairy to untangle and master, and we rely on students who follow their love of a problem until the wee hours because they just really want to know how to do that thing so badly,” Jacobi says. “We want students who are willing to try paths A, B, and C, and keep trying even when they don’t get it right.” <h2>5. Global Experience</h2>Tech is a global industry, and many companies place value on employees who have navigated similarly ocean-crossing fields. Therefore, if your previous career involved travel or collaborating with an internal company team outside of your home office, that’s a bonus for those considering the switch to engineering.Plus, Tetreault found her experience consulting and teaching in China immensely helpful when attending software engineering bootcamp. “By helping others understand English and learning a bit of Mandarin myself, I was better able to recognize what went into learning another language and apply those same techniques when learning to code,” she says. If the prospect of pursuing a career in engineering seems scary because you lack direct experience, start by taking an inventory of your work. “If you’re communicating, writing proposals, delivering a message in marketing, creating an event that communicates a brand proposition, working with others on moving a project forward, problem solving—all of those are transferable skills to a coding career,” Jacobi says.

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Reinventing Your Career in 2020

It’s New Year’s resolution season, so you’re likely thinking about making some life changes—Go to the gym more! Eat healthier!—in the coming months. You may even find the courage to finally pursue that career change you’ve been mulling over. And you wouldn’t be alone. In a recent survey, about a third... read more

credits to: Kate Ashford

category: Career Advise

published: Feb 28, 2020|527 views

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Reinventing Your Career in 2020

written by: richill artloe

created: February 24, 2020 | 11:40 AM

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Blog Content: It’s New Year’s resolution season, so you’re likely thinking about making some life changes—Go to the gym more! Eat healthier!—in the coming months. You may even find the courage to finally pursue that career change you’ve been mulling over. And you wouldn’t be alone. In a recent survey, about a third of respondents between ages 25 and 44 said they’ve considered making a career change at some point within the past year, according to online education site <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://blog.edx.org/edx-survey-finds-1-3-americans-ages-25-44-completely-changed-fields-since-starting-first-job-post-college/">EdX</a>.There are many reasons you may be inspired to pursue a new field, from more money to a better work-life balance to simply wanting to do something different. If you’re ready to make a change, here’s a step-by-step guide to making it happen: <h2>Step 1: Commit to It</h2>It’s one thing to be unhappy in your job and grumble about it to everyone you know. It’s quite another—and much harder—to act. “A lot of people will complain a lot, but that’s not the same as saying, ‘I am going to change,’” says Dana Theus, an executive and career coach with InPower Coaching. “When I’m working with people, I say, ‘Until you can tell me you’re going to do the work that’s necessary, you’re not really ready for a change.’” One thing that might help is writing it down, and putting the note somewhere you’ll see it every day. <h2>Step 2: Identify What You Want to Do</h2>You likely know what you don’t want to do—but, unfortunately, that’s not super helpful. “Running away from something can send you off on a journey that’s not so pleasant,” says Eli Howayeck, a Milwaukee-based career coach and founder of Crafted Career Concepts. “You need to be clear on what you want.” In other words, make sure you’re running to something.Danielle Bayard Jackson did a self-inventory when she realized she no longer wanted to be a high school English teacher, first thinking about what she liked about her job and where those skills might transfer. “I like to write, read, talk to others, and be on the move,” says Jackson, co-founder of STRIDE Media Group. “I also like to create creative presentations and teach people things. That’s when I landed on public relations.”In addition to identifying your interests and transferable skills, consider these questions when plotting your next move: Do you want to work from home? What kind of company culture do you want? What type of boss do you want to have? Do you want to master new skills?Another way to figure out what you want is to visit online job boards. If you have some idea of what you want to do—say, marketing—plug in the keyword and start searching. If you’re not sure at all, just poke around and see what sparks your interest. “The ones that rise to the top, that’s the clue,” Theus says. From there, she says, find a pattern and look for shared features among the jobs you’ve ranked the highest. For example, are they all at nonprofits? Do they all use marketing skills? <h2>Step 3: Find the Gaps</h2>Once you’ve determined what you want to do, you’ll need to understand what it will take to get you there and which of the necessary skills you may be lacking. The job research you did in the previous step is helpful here also—look at the descriptions of your favorite positions and see what they require of candidates.Or do as Howayeck does with his clients, and list any objections a future employer may have when considering an application from you. “When you do a personal and professional inventory, you may realize that you don’t have one of the important skill sets or experiences typically needed for what you’re trying to do,” Howayeck says. Then come up with ways to overcome these objections, such as taking a course to learn a specific skill or studying for an official certification.Informational interviews with people in your desired field can also be extremely beneficial in helping you identify strengths and weaknesses. It’s the perfect setting to ask questions about what it takes to get into the industry and which skills are non-negotiable in a candidate. <h2>Step 4: Fill Those Gaps</h2>If you determine that your current skill set isn’t strong enough to land your next dream role, consider looking for a bridge job—an intermediary position that will help you get from Job A to Job B.For instance, if you want to change both industries and job titles, you might try switching job titles within your industry first, and then transition industries next. Say you work in accounting in the manufacturing field, but your goal is to work in human resources in retail. You might start by pursuing an HR role in manufacturing, then making the leap to retail after you’ve gained experience in HR.Volunteer opportunities can also help you both get experience and build your confidence that you can do the work. This is something Theus herself did. “I was in marketing, but it was more product marketing and I wanted to get into branding and creative,” she says. “So I sat on a board for a dance company and I did all of their creative marketing, doing the work on evenings and weekends. When I looked for my next job, I said, ‘Yes, I can do this,’ and I showed them my portfolio from the nonprofit.”Jackson took another approach in achieving her goal of transitioning to public relations. She reached out to friends, family, and everyone in her network who owned a business, and said that in exchange for $100 a month, she’d work to get them coverage in magazines and local news and assist with marketing strategy and social media. She also used her evenings to teach herself everything she needed to know about PR by watching YouTube videos and reading books and articles. “After a few months, I was ready to apply to jobs with confidence,” says Jackson, who landed a PR job at a national nonprofit before launching her own agency. <h2>Step 5: Update Your Resume</h2>Get familiar with the jargon used in the industry or position you’re interested in and incorporate that language in your resume, as well as LinkedIn and any social media accounts you use professionally.Need inspiration? Check out <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-is-how-you-spin-1-resume-for-5-different-industries">these examples</a> of how to tailor one resume for five different industries. <h2>Step 6: Network, Network, Network</h2>Networking should be a priority for any job seeker, but even more so for those looking to change careers. After all, you have the added challenge of proving you’re right for an industry or particular role without having a lot of (or any!) concrete experience.<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/job-searching-4-email-templates-thatll-make-asking-for-help-so-much-easier">Spread the word</a> to your network—friends, family members, former colleagues—that you’re looking for work in a new industry and ask if they know anyone you can speak to. Look for professional organizations that host events, and attend as many as you can. And don’t be afraid to contact people in the field you’re trying to join, especially if you see they have a similar career path and made a career change like the one you’re working towards. “The worst thing that’s going to happen is that you don’t get a response,” says Howayeck.While networking, be prepared to explain why you’re leaving your current role. “Almost everyone that you encounter is going to wonder why you’re making the change,” says Howayeck, “and there’s nothing worse than not having a good answer to that question.” Changing careers may seem daunting, but it isn’t an unclimbable mountain. In fact, 29% of people ages 25 to 44 have completely changed fields since starting their first job out of college, according to the EdX data. Much of the work is in determining where you want to go—and then the right preparation, planning, and networking can get you there. And what is the New Year for if not for setting achievable goals?

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10 Essential Tips for Using Social Media to Help Your Career, Not Hurt It

Sure, you love to post pictures of your vacation antics or your kid's first day of school. But social media can also be a powerful tool for your professional life. You can use it to build your personal brand, grow your network, establish yourself as an expert in your field, or give prospective employers a glimpse into your personality. read more

credits to: Kate Ashford

category: Career Advise

published: Feb 26, 2020|649 views

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10 Essential Tips for Using Social Media to Help Your Career, Not Hurt It

written by: richill artloe

created: February 24, 2020 | 11:37 AM

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Blog Content: Sure, you love to post pictures of your vacation antics or your kid's first day of school. But social media can also be a powerful tool for your professional life. You can use it to build your personal brand, grow your network, establish yourself as an expert in your field, or give prospective employers a glimpse into your personality.It can also be full of pitfalls. More employers and recruiters now regularly check candidates’ social media profiles before hiring them, and screenshots of status updates and tweets mean your electronic words can live forever, even if you delete them later.And it’s not just your own posts—your activity, including those stealth “likes,” can come back to haunt you, too. “One thing people are often surprised to learn is that an employer can not only see their LinkedIn profile but also see every post they’ve liked, commented on, or shared, in addition to any posts they’re sharing to their feed,” says Michelle Merritt, executive partner at Merrfeld Career Management. “We remind clients to be cautious in what they react to.”These crucial dos and don’ts will help you navigate the social media maze. <img alt="infographic illustrating top 10 social media dos and don'ts for professionals" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F40547%2F8dab36b6-894a-4a33-ae07-2804f00da860.jpg%3Fv%3Dd69cab1c4b5db6a2b763837cb85432797c179beee60fc3bbc648fe2a0a01052d&prog=1&w=780" />Infographic design by Milkwhale <h2>1. Do Be Respectful</h2>Avoid attacking others, and use your best judgment about your own posts. Could they be viewed in a negative manner? Would you shout what you’ve just typed into a crowd? Think before you post, and of course, steer clear of profanity. “Once you’re an adult, that’s not cool,” says Jason Patel, founder of Transizion, a college- and career-prep company. “It means you can’t control yourself.” <h2>2. Don’t Post About Politics or Religion</h2>Unless you work in politics, it’s best not to take any sort of controversial stance on public social media, especially if you’re applying for a job in a sensitive position where you need to protect data, protect client information, or be someone that others go to for advice. “If someone’s trying to hire you for a job, don’t let them think all your advice is going to be biased from the get-go,” Patel says. <h2>3. Do Have a Presence on LinkedIn</h2>LinkedIn is an important tool for networking and professional brand building, so you should have a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-31-best-linkedin-profile-tips-for-job-seekers">complete profile</a> there—with professional headshot. (Please, no selfies.) “It’s really your electronic resume now, and a lot of the same rules apply,” says Susan Hosage, senior consultant and executive coach with OneSource HR Solutions. “Make sure the content is grammatically correct and spelled correctly, and that all the jobs and titles and dates are accurate.” <h2>4. Don’t Overshare Personal Information</h2>You don’t need to post everything that happens to you. “I have a friend who posts every time she’s in the ER,” Hosage says. “You don’t want to say that discrimination exists out there, but discrimination exists. If somebody does a search and they see something that isn’t appealing to them, it could affect a hiring decision.” Before you share, consider: What would a potential employer think if they read this? <h2>5. Do Learn to Love Your Privacy Settings</h2>We know what you’re thinking: How are you supposed to have any fun online if you can’t be yourself? It’s fine to be a little looser on Facebook or Instagram—if you keep those profiles private. Either lock down your privacy settings (you can also change your profile name to a nickname or first-plus-middle for extra anonymity) or keep your posts aboveboard. <h2>6. Don’t Trash Talk Your Employer</h2>“We’ve seen this occur on multiple occasions where an offer letter is rescinded due to a candidate’s bad-mouthing of a current or former employer on social media,” says Robert Moses, founder of The Corporate Con/noisseur. Doing so makes you look unprofessional and negative—qualities most hiring managers aren’t eager to add to their teams. <h2>7. Do Keep Sensitive Company Info Under Wraps</h2>It’s natural to want to brag about your work accomplishments. But remember that what you do at work may be proprietary information, and if you’ve signed any nondisclosure agreements, you could be jeopardizing your job by posting. Even if there’s no NDA in the mix, it may just bug your boss to see you posting work information online. When in doubt, skip it. “There’s more to lose by bothering your supervisors than there is to gain,” Patel says. <h2>8. Don’t Post During the Workday</h2>It’s one thing if you’re sharing professional posts on LinkedIn that promote the company or publicize a big company announcement. It's another if you’re tweeting about your fantasy football team at 10 AM. “It starts to cause your employer to think about how committed you are,” Hosage says. <h2>9. Do Contribute to the Discussion</h2>Participating in industry-related discussions on social media can elevate your personal brand. You can post interesting or relevant articles, respond to the latest news, and connect with other experts in your field.That said, take a beat before you post or respond to something super-contentious. “You’re probably better off keeping hot takes to yourself,” says Jason Myers, a senior executive with The Content Factory. “We live in an extremely polarized society where many people are quick to react to posts or stories without taking a moment to evaluate whether their opinions are adding any actual value.” <h2>10. Don’t Feel You Must Post Constantly</h2>You know that person in your network who somehow manages to post professional content five times a day every single day? Don’t worry about competing with them. You don’t need to post every day, or even every week, if you don’t have something to say.“As a matter of fact, if you seldom post, but you really put thought and attention into the posts you do make, the audience you’re posting for could pay more attention,” Patel says. “Because you’re not someone who opens your mouth all the time. You’re someone who picks and chooses your words, and people respect that.” 

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4 Types of Questions You’ll Be Asked in a Brand Management Interview (and How to Answer Them)

Congrats on landing a brand management interview! Now that you’ve got one toe in the door, I’m here to help you make your very best impression.
As an MBA student, I spent hours prepping and interviewing for brand management positions. Now a brand strategist, I work as a consultant to develop business brands and help corporat... read more

credits to: Rebecca Horan

category: Career Advise

published: Feb 24, 2020|488 views

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4 Types of Questions You’ll Be Asked in a Brand Management Interview (and How to Answer Them)

written by: richill artloe

created: February 24, 2020 | 11:32 AM

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Blog Content: Congrats on landing a brand management interview! Now that you’ve got one toe in the door, I’m here to help you make your very best impression.As an MBA student, I spent hours prepping and interviewing for brand management positions. Now a brand strategist, I work as a consultant to develop business brands and help corporate professionals polish their personal brands so that they shine in their chosen field.Let’s take a look at how you can put your best foot forward when you’re interviewing for a brand management role. We’ll explore some of the key responsibilities of a brand manager, the skills you need to demonstrate to succeed in an interview, the four types of questions you’ll likely be asked (with sample questions and answers), and some tips and strategies to help you showcase your expertise, emotional intelligence, and enthusiasm. <h2>What Does a Brand Manager Do?</h2>The brand manager or brand director is, in many ways, the “owner” of the brand. They’re tasked with driving brand growth and are typically responsible for the brand’s profit and loss statement—meaning the brand’s successes and failures fall at their feet. Brand managers are also often charged with leading innovation as well as deploying the brand’s marketing plan and overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets.More specifically, a brand manager’s role will span any or all of the following activities: conducting market research; monitoring and forecasting market trends; planning brand extensions and new product innovations; managing large budgets; developing, overseeing, and analyzing marketing campaigns; and organizing high-profile events for launches or ad campaigns. <h2>What Are Interviewers Looking for in a Brand Manager?</h2>Brand management is a highly visible and very important strategic role in a company, so recruiters and hiring managers want to know that you’ve got the chops for it. That means they’re evaluating candidates based on:<ul><li>Leadership ability: As a brand manager, you’ll need to be comfortable and effective when leading cross-functional teams internally and when working with external vendors.</li><li>Interpersonal skills: Because you’ll be leading initiatives that involve people throughout the organization, you’ll be asking for things from colleagues who do not report to you. Your ability to develop positive relationships and motivate and influence others will be key to getting things done.</li><li>Excellent organizational and project management skills: Brand managers typically have many balls in the air at once. Because you’re overseeing so many projects—and juggling all the steps and parts of each project—strong planning and organizational skills are critical to keeping everyone on task and making sure that nothing slips through the cracks.</li><li>A combination of analytical and creative thinking: Brand management requires you to be just as comfortable working in a spreadsheet (analyzing market data, forecasting, budget setting) as you are overseeing new product innovation, packaging design, or creative development of an advertising campaign. The best brand managers are able to switch seamlessly between deep analysis and innovative thinking—and use both to solve problems.</li><li>A deep expertise in—or a passion for learning about—the specific industry: You’re going to live, breathe, and sleep your brand and your market, so passion, knowledge, and curiosity about your industry and products go a long way in terms of your effectiveness and happiness on the job. Whether you’re a brand manager for a hip new cosmetics line or a decades-old cleaning supply company, you’ll have to become an industry expert, and it helps to be fired up about learning.</li><li>Stellar communication skills: Because brand management is such a high-profile position within an organization, you’ll likely be giving a number of presentations to senior leadership. You’ll also be a liaison between many different departments, including research and development, marketing, finance, production, and more, so your verbal communication skills are just as important as your written ones.</li></ul> <h2>4 Types of Questions You’ll Get in a Brand Management Interview</h2>The exact questions you’ll be asked in a brand management interview will of course vary depending on the scope and seniority of the role, the industry, and the specific company’s culture, but here are four types of questions you should be prepared to answer in almost every scenario—plus sample questions and answers in each category.(And for more prep help, make sure to review other common <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers">interview questions</a> that are likely to come up no matter what kind of job you’re interviewing for.) <h3>1. Case Questions</h3>This genre of interview question typically presents candidates with a fictional scenario and tasks them with solving a business problem. The more senior the brand management role you’re applying for, the less likely you are to be asked a case question. But if you’re interviewing for a post-MBA brand manager role and preparing for an interview with a recruiter from a large consumer goods company, for example, you might have to tackle one or more of these.When it comes to case questions, it’s less about getting the “right” answer and more about showing people how you think. The interviewer will want to see that you approach this type of question logically and methodically. In other words, your analytical and creative thinking skills will be on full display. This is also your chance to demonstrate your ability to apply frameworks (such as the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/70824">7 Ps of the Marketing Mix</a>, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://hbr.org/video/3590615226001/the-explainer-porters-five-forces">Porter’s Five Forces</a>, or the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/customer-segmentation-targeting/segmentation-targeting-and-positioning/">Segmenting, Targeting and Positioning (STP) Process</a>) to help you organize your approach and your answer. And finally, case questions give you an opportunity to showcase your knowledge of the company, industry, and competitive landscape.If these questions make you sweat, allow yourself a deep breath and take your time answering. Jot down some notes while the question is being presented. Ask follow-up questions for clarity. Explain your thinking along the way. Don’t rush headlong into an answer and don’t just assume that your interviewer is following your logic—the more precise you can be in your explanation, the better.<h3>What It Might Sound Like</h3>Suppose your interviewer says: “Our company is considering entering a fast-growing new market. How would you evaluate this market opportunity given our current brands’ reputations and resources? What would you need to know before making a decision?”Your answer might sound something like this:“‘I’d first try to understand all the external pieces of the equation, such as the size, growth, and potential profitability of the new market; the consumers we’d be targeting; and our competition in this market. Then I’d evaluate internal factors such as our strengths and weaknesses, our pipeline and resources, and brand positioning.“So first, I’d analyze the market to determine the rate of—and reasons for—growth. Is it a brand-new, uncrowded market? Is it growing rapidly because more brands are entering the market or because consumer demand is increasing? Is it based on a disruptive new innovation, and if so, do we have the technology needed to compete in this area?“I’d then look at it from a customer standpoint. Would we be serving the same target market in a different way, in which case our brand equity would help pave the way, or would we be trying to reach a completely different consumer? If it’s a different consumer, are they near or somehow connected to our target market—for example, are they the children or spouses of our target market? Would we be able to leverage our brand heritage in order to win over consumers in this new market?“Next, I’d evaluate the competition. Have our leading competitors already entered this market, or would we be among the first in our category? Will it hurt us if we are a ‘late’ entrant into this fast-growing market, or will it help that a top competitor has already paved the way?“Then I’d look at internal fit: If the size and health of the market make it a compelling opportunity for us, would a new product in this market align with our brand’s values and vision? Does it make sense to the general public and feel like a natural extension of what we’re already doing, or would our roll-out campaign require repositioning, lengthy explanation, or consumer education?“I’d also want to understand what would be involved from a resources standpoint. I’d look at our current strengths and weaknesses to see how much of a leap it would be. Would our brand (and team’s) core competencies make for a smooth and profitable entry into this new market without draining our resources? Would reaching into this new market fill a gap that was previously a competitive weakness? Can we leverage our current manufacturers and suppliers, or would we need a whole new distribution pipeline?“These are the primary factors I’d consider when evaluating a new market opportunity, and the answers to each would help determine our entry strategy, positioning, and rollout.” <h3>2. Behavioral Questions</h3>Behavioral questions are based explicitly on real stories from your experience. They typically begin with “Tell me about a time when…” or “Give me an example of…” Some common ones include <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-steps-for-answering-tell-me-about-a-time-you-failed">“Tell me about a time you failed”</a> and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/demonstrated-leadership-skills-job-interview-question-answer-examples">“Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.”</a>With a behavioral question, the interviewer is looking to see how you’ve previously handled yourself in various situations as an indicator of how you’ll do so in the future. They’re seeking depth of experience, as well as self-awareness, problem-solving ability, and a willingness to learn from the past.Use the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/star-interview-method">STAR method</a> to structure an effective response:<ul><li>Situation: Set the scene, and provide details of where, when, and what.</li><li>Task: Describe your role and responsibility.</li><li>Action: What actions did you take to address the situation?</li><li>Result: What was the outcome of your action? If you can quantify your positive results, this is an excellent opportunity to do so. In some cases, the outcome might not have matched your expectations. In the case of a “failure,” be sure to address what you learned from the experience and what you would do (or have done) differently the next time.</li></ul>Prepare in advance for behavioral questions by mining your past experiences for wins, losses, tricky situations and lessons learned (read <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-types-of-stories-you-should-have-on-hand-for-job-interviews">this</a> for six types of stories you should have on hand). Practice telling these stories using the STAR framework and don’t ever lose sight of the main point you’d like to convey for each.<h3>What It Might Sound Like</h3>Behavioral questions can be very general and open-ended, no matter the type of position you're interviewing for. Even when they are centered around marketing or branding, such as, “Tell me about a time you’ve run into a challenge while launching a new brand initiative,” you’ll find that you can go in a number of directions with your response.Here’s what one of many possible answers could sound like:“I began my career at a small, but fast-growing startup. It was the kind of environment where we each wore a lot of hats. We worked very hard, but we enjoyed a culture of true collaboration and we all felt passionate about the brand. We were about to roll out a big marketing campaign—we’d planned for months and needed to make a big splash. In order to meet our intense timeline goals, we realized we needed to bring on more team members and we needed to hire them quickly.“I was tasked with the role of bringing on two new team members who could jump right in and help. I’d never hired anyone before, but I ended up finding two candidates who seemed great. One of them blended seamlessly into our team and got up to speed on new projects so quickly that it felt like they’d always been there. The other new hire was a different story. Things seemed fine for the first week, but they quickly started falling behind on tasks. They’d grumble when given assignments that would keep them at the office late and they rarely delivered on time. Their attitude began to affect morale on the team. Not only that, but it was starting to look like various pieces of our brand campaign wouldn’t be ready for the big rollout.“I decided to speak with the employee to ensure that they understood what was expected of them. It quickly became clear that they hadn’t understood our startup company culture or bought into our brand’s mission—in fact, they weren’t entirely sure what it was! With our campaign deadline looming, I convened the team for a strategic conversation. We realized that we’d have to take action quickly, but immediately firing and rehiring at this late stage of the game didn’t seem feasible or fair, so I reassigned the employee to other, less mission-critical tasks. The rest of us came together and worked extra hard, burning the midnight oil to meet our brand deadlines.“While we eventually had a successful rollout from a marketing standpoint, our team was burned out and I had to acknowledge my hiring misfire. It wasn’t entirely the new employee’s fault; in my hurry to get a competent extra set of hands on board, I hadn’t taken the time to fully explain what it’s like to work on our team. They didn’t know what they were getting themselves into—and a lot of that responsibility fell to me.“I now understand the importance of having employees buy into a brand’s mission and embrace its core values. If you don’t feel aligned with a company’s mission or culture, you’re not going to feel as motivated to give it your best every day. Just as a brand needs to communicate clearly who it’s for, and who it’s not for, a company should do the same for its potential employees. When I hire now, I always take the time to give the candidate a clear look at our team culture and I make sure to look beyond core competencies to be certain it’s a fit all around.” <h3>3. Situational Questions</h3>The situational question is a close cousin to the behavioral question. But whereas behavioral questions directly ask about your experience, situational questions veer more toward the hypothetical. Think: “What would you do if...?” In a brand management interview, for example, you might be asked: “What first steps would you take if the biggest influencer in our category began making disparaging remarks about our brand?”As with behavioral questions, situational style questions are used to evaluate your emotional intelligence, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills. They may also, much like a case question, showcase your ability to think on your feet and put your business knowledge to work.Interviewers want to see how’ll you react in difficult situations. Do you stay calm under pressure? Act with integrity? Know when to escalate matters and when to address them yourself? Your response should demonstrate that your decisions aren’t directed by emotion or fear, but rather by a desire to do the right thing, act in a transparent manner, and find a solution that aligns with the company’s vision and values.Depending on the situation, you may have experienced a similar event in your life. If you can think of a relevant situation you’ve faced that you successfully navigated or at least learned from, this is another good time to employ the STAR method.If the question touches on an issue you’ve never encountered, you’ll need to engage in some on-the-spot creative problem-solving. You can approach it as a case question and methodically apply a logical framework to address it, explaining your reasoning as you go. Or you can point to a real-life example in the business world, describe how it was handled, and explain why you’d take the same approach or do things differently. (One caveat: Be careful when selecting an example. If you’re being critical of a brand team’s approach, you want to be sure that neither your interviewer nor the company were involved with it in any way.)<h3>What It Might Sound Like</h3>If you got the question above about an influencer making disparaging remarks, your answer might sound something like this:“I would first assess the need for a response. Is the influencer and/or their followers outside of our target market? If they’re within a market that our brand is looking to repel rather than attract, then we may not need to do anything at all. If, on the other hand, they’re a major voice for our target demographic, then a response might be needed, but first I’d want to know what they’re actually saying in order to assess the urgency of the situation.“The urgency of our response would depend on whether or not the influencer was making damaging claims about our brand or was simply putting it down in favor of a competitor brand. For example, are they accusing our brand of acting unethically, or in a way that violates our company’s core values? Are they claiming that our product doesn’t work—or worse, that it harmed someone? If the answer to any of these questions is, ‘Yes,’ then I’d make sure to alert the senior leadership on our brand team, so that we could consult with our legal and communications departments in order to plan out an appropriate response.“The type of response may depend on whether or not the influencer’s remarks have merit; if our brand has hurt someone with a faulty product or offended a group of people with a poorly conceived ad campaign, then it’s important that we get out in front of the problem and course correct right away. If the influencer’s claims are without merit but are gaining traction with our core users, then we still might want to respond, but it may not be as critical to do so immediately and the message itself would be different, of course.” <h3>4. Brand- and Industry-Specific Questions</h3>These questions can run the gamut from “What do you know about our company/brand?” to “Give me an example of one of your favorite brands. What are they doing right?” to “Who is your favorite clothing designer and why?” to “Give me an example of an excellent marketing campaign.” This is your chance to show that you’ve done your research, you’re engaged in the industry, you’re curious about other industries, and you have opinions and a point of view that you’re willing to express.Remember that your interviewers have likely asked these questions dozens of times, so don’t go straight to the obvious. In other words, don’t just pick the major brands that are currently getting all the buzz. Try to come up with brands that are doing something different and are really changing the game in their market. This will demonstrate that you’re paying attention to what’s going on and that you have more than a surface-level understanding.Not only do you want to have a well-considered perspective on other brands, you should be able to speak knowledgeably about the brand you’re interviewing with. Without being overly critical or unimaginatively flattering, be prepared to express an opinion. “Do your research on the company/brand you are interviewing for,” says Damian Chiam, a partner at creative and marketing executive search firm Janou LLC. “Have a point of view of their brand and high-level ideas of where you see opportunities for [it].”<h3>What It Might Sound LIke</h3>Say you were prompted with this: “Give me an example of one of your favorite brands in the personal-care space. What are they doing right?”Your answer could go something like this:“I love what Native is doing, particularly with their aluminum-free deodorant. First, I like that it actually works, which few in the natural deodorant space can claim, and which is probably why I first heard about it through word of mouth! Native’s visual brand identity feels clean, fresh, hip, straightforward, and simple—very much in alignment with its natural, no-frills positioning and its Innocent <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://medium.com/better-marketing/12-brand-archetypes-you-can-use-to-effectively-position-your-brand-75e0bce0adc6">brand archetype</a>. It also photographs well, which is important for the Instagram-obsessed market it’s targeting! The pricing is a bit steep, but I think the brand takes a smart tack acknowledging that fact with their “Invest in yourself” messaging. Native understands its market—consumers who are willing to spend a little more to feel confident about the safety of products they’re putting in and on their bodies. And even though the brand was acquired by Procter & Gamble, it still has that indie-brand feel. I think they’ve stayed very true to the heart of the brand while integrating it into a giant corporation.” <h2>More Tips for Acing That Brand Management Interview</h2>Now that you know how to prepare for and approach the four most common types of questions you’ll be asked, here are a few more tips to making sure you knock that interview out of the park.<ul><li>Be specific. Don’t make the interviewer dig for information. Just as any proposal or claim you’d make as a brand manager would need to be backed up by data, the stories you tell as a job candidate have more of an impact when they’re delivered with specific evidence and results.</li><li>Remember that people respond to powerful storytelling. As a brand manager, you’ll be expected to understand the marketability of a good story. Demonstrate your ability in this area by telling your own stories in a succinct and compelling way. “Tell good stories to keep your interviewer engaged,” Chiam says. “The most memorable interviews are when the interviewee takes the interviewer on a journey of their experience in a way that gives detail and color.”</li><li>Remain calm, gracious, engaged, and enthusiastic. As a brand manager, you’ll be expected to present a polished personal brand, too, and it’s important to convey that during the interview process. Think about how you’d like to be seen and then look and act accordingly. Identify what you want to be remembered for and make sure you convey those key points along the way. Your success is dependent upon more than your specific answers; how you approach the questions and how you conduct yourself are just as important.</li></ul> Good luck!

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How to Build a Career You’ll Love (Through All of Life’s Twists and Turns)

Peering out of the window of a skyscraper in New York City at the people hurriedly rushing to their jobs, I felt a sinking feeling in my gut. Just moments ago, I was one of them, and this had been my routine every day over the course of my career: dash to work to do a job that, even on the best days, felt like I was spinning my wheels. Deep d... read more

credits to: Ariane Hunter

category: Career Advise

published: Feb 21, 2020|526 views

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How to Build a Career You’ll Love (Through All of Life’s Twists and Turns)

written by: richill artloe

created: February 16, 2020 | 07:37 PM

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Blog Content: Peering out of the window of a skyscraper in New York City at the people hurriedly rushing to their jobs, I felt a sinking feeling in my gut. Just moments ago, I was one of them, and this had been my routine every day over the course of my career: dash to work to do a job that, even on the best days, felt like I was spinning my wheels. Deep down I knew something needed to change; I just couldn’t put a finger on it. I sat back in my chair, looked around at the white walls of my office, then back toward the window again. I thought: Is this really all there is?At that point, I had a secure job in advertising backed by advanced degrees, I was making a good amount of money, and I was positioned to keep <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/bosses-tell-us-11-things-that-will-get-you-promoted">moving up within my company</a>. To others, I had “made” it—but to me, I felt disconnected and disappointed day after day.Wow, I thought. I was only five years into my career, and I could already sense that I was headed for crisis. Perhaps you can relate? Or fear that one day you’ll find yourself at that point?Many of us start out our careers with lofty ambitions, high expectations, and optimistic pursuits, yet somewhere along the line we hit a lull of confusion, frustration, and feelings of failure. Although the stereotype is that this crisis hits folks in their mid-40s, it is also known to happen (as was the case for me) in your 20s and 30s. As a career coach to people of all ages throughout the years, I have seen this happen many times to individuals who were able to successfully navigate their way through it.If you’re feeling on the brink of a job crisis or in the midst of one right now, you’re definitely not alone, but there are things you can do to help prevent or mitigate the event. No matter where you are on your professional journey or what age you happen to be, here are four steps I’ve found that will help you avoid the dip or get you through to the other side. <h2>1. Take Time to Build Your Foundation</h2>The best careers are built on a critical foundation that will stand the test of time and can weather the inevitable pitfalls you’ll encounter—things like your core values, passions, and strengths. Unfortunately, many of us dive straight into a job that we think looks good on paper and don’t take the time to build this foundation, which can lead to upset down the road.But it’s never too late to go back to the basics. If you’ve never gone through this process or it’s been some time since you did, start by blocking out some quiet time to hone in on or revisit a few important things about yourself:<ul><li>What are your core values? Or, in other words, what matters to you most in life? Identifying your values can feel overwhelming, but there are plenty of resources to guide you along the way. Two of my favorites: the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://dawnbarclay.com/core-values/">free core values workbook</a> offered by Dawn Barclay of Living Moxie and Danielle LaPorte’s <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.daniellelaporte.com/thedesiremap/">resources for finding your “core desired feelings”</a>—essentially another way of identifying the same thing.</li><li>What are your strengths? Sure, you probably know some of these offhand (hello, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-smart-strategies-for-answering-whats-your-greatest-strength">interview question prep</a>), but sometimes it can be most helpful to get other people’s impressions of you. Try asking 10 friends, colleagues, or mentors what they think your three greatest strengths are, and you’ll likely start to see some patterns. And, truthfully, the answers might surprise you—often our strengths are the things we do so innately that we don’t even recognize them as something special.</li><li>What are your passions? For some, this might seem like the easiest to answer, but a lot of people struggle with it. If you’re not 100% sure, ask yourself questions like: When do I find myself in the zone, both at work and in my personal life? What skills or talents come most natural to me? What gets me out of bed in the morning? What did I love as a child that still excites me?</li></ul>Collect your answers to these questions in one central place so you can start to see a clear vision of yourself. Consider your current job satisfaction (or lack thereof), and see how this foundation relates. If you realize that key aspects of your situation aren’t aligning with your values, strengths, and passions, that’s a clear sign that it’s time to start making some changes. On that note: <h2>2. Make Choices Based Off Your Core</h2>Whenever you find yourself at a crossroads in your career—be it about <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-last-things-to-consider-before-accepting-an-offer">accepting a new job</a>, taking on new responsibilities, handling a conflict at work, or anything in between—remember to return to your foundation to help guide you. This way you’re not making decisions based on whims or out of stress, but on how you intentionally want to build your career for the long haul. Here are a few questions worth asking before you make a choice:<ul><li>How does this decision align with my core values, strengths, and passions?</li><li>How do I truly feel about the decision I am about to make?</li><li>How would the person I want to be handle this situation?</li><li>How would I feel tomorrow if I make this choice today?</li></ul>For example, I worked with a woman who was offered a promotion at a higher salary, but the new position would increase her already intense travel schedule. While she was excited about the idea of moving up, she was conflicted about spending more time away from home. She was able to assess her decision more thoughtfully, with her values and professional aspirations as a guide, and decided to negotiate the terms of her promotion to an arrangement that was mutually beneficial. She is much happier with her decision, and her employer gets to grow the company. Win-win!Without this level of clarity, you may make a decision that will disappoint later on. When making choices from your core, you can even start small: As you face day-to-day decisions, like whether or not to delegate a task, do a quick gut check about whether it aligns with your core before proceeding. <h2>3. Find Ways to Follow Curiosities</h2>Even if you’ve chosen a career, a job, and a company based on your foundation, it doesn’t mean you’ll always feel like that’s the only gig for you. In fact, you’re bound to have other things pop up that spark your interests, and I always encourage people to find ways to pursue them.After all, we tend to want what we don’t have, and ignoring these curiosities or letting them fester could leave you with a sense that there is something missing and cause you to make some drastic career decisions. But by giving them a little bit of attention, you can quiet that sense of FOMO and maybe even become more inspired at your day job. For example, early on in my career, I became curious about photography and took some lessons on evenings and weekends. Picking up the camera and tapping into my creative side satisfied a need I didn’t even know I had. After a couple of months of playing with the camera in my spare time, my co-workers even noticed a change in my mood and overall energy at work. I felt more inspired and less stressed because I had other interests in addition to my main gig.So look for opportunities to explore other interests in your free time. Whether it’s picking up a book, taking an evening class, attending a meetup group, or starting a side project, a few hours each week is usually all the time you need to dip your toe in. Or, you could look for opportunities to bring these activities into your job by taking ownership of special projects and initiatives. If you have an idea for a new sales strategy or a women’s leadership program, for example, follow it! You never know where your curiosity might lead you. <h2>4. Don’t Get Too Comfortable</h2>Even if you’ve built your career based on your foundation, you’re making core-based decisions like a boss, and you’re following your side interests in your spare time, don’t stop there! When things are going well, it’s easy to coast and get a little too comfortable. While you should enjoy the ride, it’s equally important to resist the urge to become complacent and continue to seek out opportunities that will stretch you and keep your mind fueled with inspiration.Continually checking in on your career journey allows you to stay on track or course correct if necessary, as well as explore the areas you want to push yourself to grow in. I recommend bi-annual career check-ins (put it on your calendar to stay accountable!) to think about:<ul><li>Your long-term goals, how you’re progressing toward them, and what next steps will get you even closer</li><li>Your accomplishments from the past six months</li><li>Areas or skills you’d like to learn or develop in the next six months</li><li>What’s working in your career and what’s not (and how you can change that)</li></ul> Of course, even if you’re doing all of the above, you may still find yourself in a place of uncertainty or unhappiness. If this happens, think of this as a great opportunity to slow down, reflect, and re-evaluate some things in your life and career. One way to move through this time is to revisit your core values. You may discover that somewhere along the way, you’ve drifted away from them—or that they’re actually not your values anymore! Set aside time to do a quick inventory: List out what is going really well and what is missing. For the items in the latter category, see if you can create mini goals that will allow you to actively address them.Going through a professional crisis happens to the best of us and is just a sign of being human. For better or for worse, the pain brings with it an incredible gift to re-examine our lives and make better decisions. So while we do our best to avoid pitfalls in our career, rest assured that this period in time is a sign of better things to come.

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These 4 Tips Will Take Your Interview Prowess to the Next Level

When it comes to job interviews, you already know all of the standard advice.
You should do plenty of research beforehand, prepare answers for the most commonly asked questions, and show up dressed and ready (please, iron that shirt of yours) to put your v... read more

credits to: Kat Boogaard

category: Job Search

published: Feb 19, 2020|480 views

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These 4 Tips Will Take Your Interview Prowess to the Next Level

written by: richill artloe

created: February 16, 2020 | 07:33 PM

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Blog Content: When it comes to job interviews, you already know all of the standard advice.You should do plenty of research beforehand, prepare answers for the most <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers">commonly asked questions</a>, and show up dressed and ready (please, iron that shirt of yours) to put your very best foot forward.Yes, when it comes to nailing a job interview, those tried and true warnings are undeniably important. But, that doesn't mean that they're all you need to know to make a killer impression.Here are four lesser-known tips to help you ace that interview and stand out from the job search competition. <h2>1. Leverage Small Talk to Your Advantage</h2>Consider this: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://qz.com/406976/heres-how-quickly-interviewers-decide-whether-or-not-to-hire-you/">Nearly 60% of hiring managers</a> make a decision about a candidate within the first 15 minutes of an interview.Every second counts—but, you need to be especially impactful during the first few moments of your interaction with that employer.One piece that's often overlooked? <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-small-talk-tips-thatll-instantly-make-your-interviewer-like-you-more">Small talk</a>.It's easy to think that the interview doesn't actually start until you sit down at that conference room table and begin answering those rapid fire questions.However, leveraging those seemingly insignificant pockets of time for small talk—whether it's with the receptionist while you're waiting or with the hiring manager during your stroll to the interview room—can help you make more of a personal connection (and, as a result, a more memorable impression). <h2>2. Match the Interviewer's Tone</h2>Your goal during the interview is to present yourself as a no-brainer fit for the company and the open position. You know that involves familiarizing yourself with the culture and understanding the major responsibilities of the role you're applying for.But, there's another subtler way to prove that you belong: Being perceptive of the interviewer's tone and overall vibe, and doing your best to match it.If the hiring manager leans back in her chair and is approaching your interview like a casual conversation, don't hesitate to relax a little yourself. You'll only seem more nervous (not to mention more out of place), if you answer questions like a robot with stiff posture and your hands firmly clasped in your lap.Or, if you notice a lot of excitement and buzz in the office, bring that same level of enthusiasm and passion to your interview. That's a refreshing change of pace when people are typically so buttoned up.Of course, you always want to be true to yourself and your own career desires—there's a big difference between tailoring your demeanor and being downright inauthentic. However, if you feel like this is a place you'd really fit in, don't hesitate to subtly mirror your interviewer's approach to prove you'd be a seamless fit with the overall office vibe. <h2>3. Be Conscious of Your Handshake</h2>You already know that your handshake matters in professional settings. There's something about a firm grip that makes you appear that much more self-assured.But, there's another element to a standard handshake that people often screw up: eye contact.We'll admit that maintaining eye contact can be a little uncomfortable—particularly when you're already anxious. However, shifting your gaze before that handshake is finished actually makes you appear that much more nervous (and, subconsciously, even a little untrustworthy).So, make sure to lock eyes with that interviewer and meet him or her with a friendly smile when shaking hands. You don't want your eyes to be what undermines the confidence you've worked so hard to build. <h2>4. Be Prepared With Anecdotes</h2>To prepare for the interview, you've committed thoughtful answers to standard interview questions to memory—you've even recited them in front of your bathroom mirror.That's a solid start! But, what are you going to do when you're presented with a behavioral interview question? When the interviewer asks you to share an example or story that fits a certain circumstance, you need to be able to do more than let your jaw hit the floor and your heart leap into your throat.It's tough to comb through your professional history for the perfect anecdote in the heat of the moment. In addition to being prepped and ready with straight-up answers, it's wise to also have some examples and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-types-of-stories-you-should-have-on-hand-for-job-interviews">personal stories</a> in your back pocket.That way, when the interviewer starts with that dreaded, “Tell me about a time when…" you'll be armed and ready to share the perfect scenario.

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How Big Data Can Make or Break Your Job Search

We've all been there. You pour your energy into a new resume and craft the perfect cover letter. After anxiously pressing “submit" on the online application, you wait—and wait, and wait.
But you never... read more

credits to: Elizabeth Wellington

category: Job Search

published: Feb 17, 2020|478 views

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How Big Data Can Make or Break Your Job Search

written by: richill artloe

created: February 16, 2020 | 07:17 PM

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Blog Content: We've all been there. You pour your energy into a new resume and craft the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-write-an-impressive-cover-letter-from-scratch-in-30-minutes">perfect cover letter</a>. After anxiously pressing “submit" on the online application, you wait—and wait, and wait.But you never hear back about that dream job.There's a reason why, and it may have nothing to do with how qualified you are and everything to do with big data.It can be extremely time consuming for hiring managers and recruiters to wade through the hundreds of applicants for a particular role. So, instead of wading through online applications, many hiring managers and recruiters use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sift through the information in resumes, cover letters, and social media profiles to help identify the strong candidates.How does it that work? A company identifies keywords for each job posting in advance, and the ATS scans and rates every applicant based on how well they match these keywords.So, to get to the top of that virtual stack of resumes, you need a keyword strategy. Here's how you can optimize your application approach to get noticed—and get an interview:  <h2>1. Identify Top Keywords</h2>Here's some good news: Most companies include the keywords they're targeting right there in the job posting. So, start by re-reading the job description. If you are looking at multiple jobs, you should use this same approach for each application.First, identify the key requirements for the position. For example, if you're applying to work as a software engineer, you may notice the terms “Java," “Python," “analytical skills," “2 to 4 years of experience."The more often the company repeats the words or phrases in the job posting, the more important they are for you to include in your own application. Make a list of the top ten keywords based on the responsibilities of the job.  <h2>2. Adjust Your Application</h2>These keywords should serve as a blueprint for your resume, cover letter, and social media profiles—you'll want to build your application around them. If you already have your application materials ready, go through and tweak the language of each document to include the exact keywords.Now, it's important to know that there's no way to cheat the system. Stuffing keywords into every sentence won't bode well for your application. In fact, an ATS is advanced enough that it won't allow a keyword-stuffed resume to match with a job posting. And even in the off chance it did make it to an HR professional, they're sure to pick up your over abundance of keywords quickly. So remember, your resume and cover letter should be an honest representation of your skills and sound natural, rather than forced.An easy way to list keywords in a relevant way? Adding a robust <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/every-basic-question-you-have-about-your-resume-skills-section-answered">skills section</a> to your resume. Include any skills the hiring manager listed on the job posting even if you've already highlighted them in other sections of your application. From there, you can add technical qualifications—especially if they're industry specific.  <h2>3. Use a Simple Format</h2>When it comes to ATS technology, the simpler the format of your materials, the better. Some people love a well-designed resume, but unless you're in a creative field (where design matters), it could zap your chances at getting an interview.For your resume and cover letter, use a basic, black font. Cut any fancy formatting like columns, graphics, and special characters. Work in reverse chronological order on a resume, and whenever possible, stick to generic language for headings (like Education and Skills) so the ATS can easily understand what each section contains.Although you want to stand out as a candidate, for the purpose of this first round, you really need to match the company's language for your skill set, experience, and interest in the job.Word documents, instead of PDFs, are the easiest for this technology to process. So, make sure to submit your resume and cover letters in .docx files.  <h2>4. Double Check Your Work</h2>When you're optimizing an application for an ATS system, the magic is in the details. If the language you use differs (even slightly) from the keywords, the ATS won't know you're a match.Go through the application and make sure you used the right form of each phrase. For example, if the job description says, “3 years experience," write that phrase with numerals, too.A tool like <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.jobscan.co/">Jobscan</a> can also help confirm that your application is ready to go. The software uses the same algorithms as ATS technology and identifies last-minute adjustments that give your application a competitive edge.Once you're confident about each keyword, check your application for any typos or errors. Try running everything through <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.grammarly.com/">Grammarly</a>—it's far more comprehensive than your average spell check. Because misspelled words don't register as keywords (and are a big no-no for job applications in general), it's always worth the extra time. ATS' and big data may play a role in your job search, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. By creating a clear keyword strategy and optimizing every aspect of your application, you're that much more likely to land an interview.

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Acing Your Next Job Interview

“A good rule of thumb to remember when interviewing is that every interview is about the company and how you will fit in.”
Interview preparations are stressful. We google how to prepare for interviews and learn what questions we should be expec... read more

credits to: Lade

category: Career Advise

published: Feb 17, 2020|558 views

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Acing Your Next Job Interview

written by: richill artloe

created: February 17, 2020 | 05:09 PM

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Blog Content: <section><blockquote>“A good rule of thumb to remember when interviewing is that every interview is about the company and how you will fit in.”</blockquote>Interview preparations are stressful. We google how to prepare for interviews and learn what questions we should be expecting, but what makes the difference is in how we answer those interview questions. Our responses continue to make the difference between success and unsuccessful interviews.In this article, I highlight 6 of the most common interview questions I typically come across and my learnings on how to answer each one.<h1 id="5196" data-selectable-paragraph="">1. Why do you want to work here?</h1><ul><li id="7e92" data-selectable-paragraph="">Does the mission align with yours?</li><li id="85ee" data-selectable-paragraph="">What can you do for this company’s mission/vision?</li></ul>The questions above are questions to ask yourself when thinking critically about why you will want to work with a particular organization. Interviewers ask this because they want to understand how hiring you will help further the mission of the organization. Be able to express why you want to work with this company and also give them reasons why they should be interested in you.<h1 id="f562" data-selectable-paragraph="">2. What gap are you hoping to fill?</h1><ul><li id="6455" data-selectable-paragraph="">What skills are required?</li><li id="4886" data-selectable-paragraph="">How do I match up?</li></ul>Make sure to go back to re-read the job description when preparing for your next interview and pay attention to the responsibilities and the required experience/skill sections as these sections will give you an idea of what your day-to-day may look like and what gap your potential employer is trying to fill.<blockquote>💡 Quick tip: Match your application to keywords from the job description.</blockquote>When you are confident about the expectations of the role, you will be better at inferring what your interviewer will be looking for and how you can present yourself as the best fit.<h1 id="7fbe" data-selectable-paragraph="">3. Why are you a good fit?</h1><ul><li id="08f8" data-selectable-paragraph="">What is it about my passion, interests or past experiences that make me the best candidate for this role?</li></ul>Every interviewer is looking for objective reasons to hire you; your job is to show why you are their best fit. During the interview, highlight how your previous achievements in previous roles make you the best fit.Learn to use frameworks to structure your achievements. A good practice to adopt is to regularly document your experiences and revise them occasionally so that you can continue to put your best foot forward.<h1 id="7ffc" data-selectable-paragraph="">4. How do you see yourself growing here?</h1><ul><li id="cf6d" data-selectable-paragraph="">Do you see a future for yourself working here?</li><li id="1375" data-selectable-paragraph="">Will the work you will do here challenge you in the way you want to grow career-wise?</li></ul>When interviewers ask this question, they want to understand your level of self-awareness and your growth mindset. A good employer will want you to grow while working with them. They want to know your growth desires and if the challenges you will face with them will continue to inspire you enough to keep learning with them.You have to be able to communicate how the role you are interviewing for matches your growth desires and how it also benefits the business mission because If you don’t see a future with your future employer, then what’s the point of even trying to get hired?<h1 id="6b7a" data-selectable-paragraph="">5. Why are you leaving your current job?</h1><ul><li id="223e" data-selectable-paragraph="">Are you running away from something or running towards something?</li></ul>This question can also be asked differently: “Are you going to be with us long enough to make an impact?”I will like to stress here that no matter how good or bad you may have it at your current employment, remain positive when answering this question. Everyone changes jobs at some point in this game of life called building a career, including your interview. When responding, focus on the company by reiterating why you want to work with them. Focus your response on how working with them fits your desired career growth and the business mission. Remember that every interview is about the company and how you will fit in.<h1 id="ae7a" data-selectable-paragraph="">6. Any questions for us?</h1><blockquote>“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers” — Voltaire.</blockquote>You have reached the end of your interview, and your interviewer asks you this question, how do you respond? This question is still very much a part of the interview questions and could be the difference between hiring you and other candidates.The types of questions that will make you stand out as a candidate are questions that focus on what you can do for the business. Ask questions that broaden your understanding of the business mission and avoid questions you can google to find the answers.Always be prepared to answer this question because your interview will ask it.<h1 id="b7ac" data-selectable-paragraph="">Bonus: what makes you exceptional?</h1>“Everybody is good; why should we hire you?”While your interviewer may not ask you this question directly, you can be sure that they will be trying to answer this question during your interview. Keep this in mind and make sure to show your interviewer why you are the best candidate when interviewing.</section><hr /><section><h1 id="6df5" data-selectable-paragraph="">Conclusion</h1>These are my learnings from my most recent interviews on how to respond to these common questions. These questions are not exhaustive, and there are resources online that also prepare you for interviews (you can google this). One thing to remember is that the difference between a successful candidate and an unsuccessful candidate is the difference in their preparedness.Good luck at your next interview...</section>

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4 References You Can Nail Down—Even if You Don’t Have a Lot of Experience

Look at you! You’ve got the perfectly polished resume, a cover letter for every job you want to apply to,... read more

credits to: Stacey Lastoe

category: Job Search

published: Sep 27, 2019|700 views

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4 References You Can Nail Down—Even if You Don’t Have a Lot of Experience

written by: richill artloe

created: February 20, 2019 | 08:38 AM

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Blog Content: Look at you! You’ve got the perfectly polished <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-ways-to-make-sure-your-resume-is-selling-you-as-the-one-for-the-job">resume</a>, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-perfect-cover-letter-template-to-show-off-your-skills">a cover letter</a> for every job you want to apply to, and a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-stepbystep-guide-to-building-your-personal-website-in-a-week">personal website</a> outlining your creative pursuits. Your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-31-best-linkedin-profile-tips-for-job-seekers">LinkedIn profile’s</a> complete and you’ve cleaned up your social media accounts. You’ve read up on <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-the-31-most-common-interview-questions">interviewing</a> and have a list of questions to ask at the end.What you don’t have is a solid list of references, not because there’s anything wrong with you, obviously not. You’re a delight: smart, talented, confident.The problem is you don’t have a lot of experience. You had exactly one real job that came with a paycheck, and you wouldn’t know how to track down your former manager even if you thought he’d want to talk about how your sundae-making skills have prepared you for <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/everything-you-need-to-know-to-apply-for-your-first-job-out-of-college">the real world</a>. You’re feeling screwed. Your mother would, of course, love to sing your praises, but you doubt that’d go over well with a prospective employer.What to do then?First, understand that you’re hardly alone. Plenty of people are facing the same dilemma: They had one summer job but focused on their studies throughout the year and didn’t, gulp, have any <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-omg-i-dont-have-a-summer-internship-yet-game-plan">internships</a>. There aren’t any former colleagues to put on the list, let alone former bosses.That’s OK. Any potential employer is going to recognize that you’ve just graduated and aren’t in a position to list a bevy of impressive names.Here’s who to include instead: <h2>1. Your Favorite Professor</h2>Depending on how big your graduating class was, you may have a few professors you can think to ask, or you may have just one.Good news, friends: One is all you need in this category.Is there someone you worked particularly closely with? Did you write a senior thesis or complete a capstone project? Did you have regular meetings with an advisor who counseled you in career direction? Was there simply a professor whose office hours you attended regularly? What about someone you took more than one class with? Or one whose course you participated in without fail each and every week?Of <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-ultimate-guide-to-picking-and-getting-the-best-possible-references">all the references</a> for someone with not a ton of experience, this is the most obvious one for sure, so don’t overlook it. Professors are used to being references. It’s similar but easier and less time-consuming than writing a personalized letter of recommendation. <h2>2. The Family Member or Friend You’ve Done Work For</h2>This, too, is an easy, go-to reference—assuming you’re not thinking you can put your dad on here.My brother used to help my uncle with yard work every summer. He could’ve done it himself or afforded to hire professional help, but he knew my brother could use the cash—and to stay out of trouble—so he enlisted his assistance annually.The pay wasn’t guaranteed until the work was complete. My brother had to show up on time and not mess around. He got good at taking instructions, practicing reliability, and engaging in sometimes tedious tasks. All of these things can speak to how he’d be in a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/dear-job-seekers-stop-apologizing-for-the-experience-you-dont-have">professional work setting</a>.Do you have someone in your life who could fits this description? Obviously, you don’t want to lie or stretch the truth, but if you can think a little bigger, you might come up with someone to add to your list.<h2>3. An Older Student You Shared a Class With</h2>When I was a sophomore in college, I had several seniors in my class. Because I was generally in awe of them anytime they spoke, I made a point to strike up conversation with them after class, complimenting them on the excerpt of the paper they’d shared in class.Think about your own experience. Was there anyone older you connected with? Worked with on a group project? In fact, it’s not even necessary that the individual be older than you. So long as the person can speak to your intellect and capabilities and you’re confident that he’d make a good reference, count him in.Before you ask the reference if he’s cool with it, consider sending him a sample of your work. He might remember you from Philosophy 101 and Logic with Professor Hayes, but you want to give him something to work with. Explain your career goals and the kinds of jobs you’re applying to, and, if it makes sense, send him a copy of the assignment you’re most proud of. Give him something to work with in the event that he’s unaccustomed to serving as a reference for a peer, which he probably is. <h2>4. A Leader From Your Past</h2>Were you in a youth group? A part of the church choir? A boy scout? President of the Environment Club in high school? If, at one point, you were close with a leader or group organizer of this sort, this person could be a great addition to your reference list.Sure, this person may have been in your life a long time ago, but if you’re in touch in any way—Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram—consider re-establishing a relationship. All it takes is a few words about your time together and what you have your sights set on now. If the connection four or 10 years ago was genuine, it won’t come as a huge surprise that you’re reaching out now.But keep in mind that if you do touch base and he or she is willing to give you a reference, you’ll want to loop her in on what you’ve been doing since your time as class secretary. Offer insight as to how that youthful experience has shaped your vision for your future. If you can do that sincerely, and if you made a mark, it shouldn’t matter that some time has gone by. One of the key components to devising a list of job references is to be certain that the person you’re asking has not only good things to say about you, but sufficient items. That might mean providing background or offering gentle reminders about what you’ve done and how and why you came to ask that particular person (<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-email-template-that-guarantees-your-reference-will-say-all-the-right-things">we have the perfect email template right here</a>).Set the stage well, and it’s unlikely that your list will be lacking.

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The Unspoken Rules of Job Searching in January

I don’t have to tell you that January is quite the kick-starting month. Exhibit A: Have you noticed how packed your gym suddenly gets every January due to fitness-related resolutions?
But it’s also a big time of year for careers. See, plenty of us have just spent the holidays reevaluating our goals (and having to talk about ... read more

credits to: Alyse Kalish

category: Job Search

published: Sep 26, 2019|535 views

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The Unspoken Rules of Job Searching in January

written by: richill artloe

created: February 11, 2019 | 08:47 AM

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Blog Content: I don’t have to tell you that January is quite the kick-starting month. Exhibit A: Have you noticed how packed your gym suddenly gets every January due to fitness-related resolutions?But it’s also a big time of year for careers. See, plenty of us have just spent the holidays reevaluating our goals (and having to talk about said goals with <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-2-big-reasons-why-your-loved-ones-give-you-terrible-career-advice">judging family members</a>). As a result, we enter January feeling motivated to make a change—whether it’s to go after a new job, a new company, or a new field completely.But before setting the wheels in motion, it’s important to understand exactly what to expect from a job search this month. Here’s what the experts say: <h2>Mid-January Is Your Best Bet for Applying</h2>Why? As HR executive and Muse career coach <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/angela-smith">Angela Smith</a> points out, most people will still be recovering from the holiday break that first week.“Companies might be kick-starting their annual hiring plans in early January,” she says, so once those processes start to pick up your best bet is to apply toward the middle of the month to ensure your application doesn’t get lost in a sea of unopened holiday mail. <h2>Hiring Is a Big Priority in January</h2>“In sales the end of the quarter is when people don’t take time off. In recruiting people tend to not take time off in the beginning of the year because that’s the busiest time,” says Smith.The reasons why are several-fold, she explains. The new quarter brings new budgeting plans, which can mean more money to hire more people. It also brings new sales forecasts or company-wide goals, which can indicate where a company might be focusing their recruiting efforts and which teams they’re looking to build out. “Companies might be kick-starting their annual hiring plans in early January,” she says.That said, Smith warns that this doesn’t necessarily mean that there are more jobs available in January than other times of the year. <h2>…But There’s Also More Competition</h2>January tends to bring an influx of eager job seekers, leading to more competition for job openings.To state the obvious, “there will be a higher volume of people applying for jobs in January as more people wait until the holidays are over to begin looking for a possible change,” says Jamie Cole, Senior Account Manager at Merritt Staffing, a full-service recruiting agency.Besides the #NewYearNewYou energy, folks may have a financial incentive to wait until January to job hunt. As Cole notes, companies often have a policy where bonuses aren’t distributed until the end of the year, and “people ideally do not like leaving money on the table with their last employer.” <h2>…And the Process May Be Slower</h2>While hiring in January may be more aggressive, it may also be a more drawn-out process.Besides new budgets, January could also indicate other internal changes for companies: “I’ve worked with companies that have implemented a new ATS [applicant tracking system] in the new calendar year, so they’re testing out new systems or processes,” says Smith, which could mean delays in getting recruiting off the ground.And, says Cole, you have to “be aware that not every company may have a finalized budget in place for the year…and this may cause a delay in hiring decisions.”However, she notes, this could also be a positive: Since they haven’t yet filled those roles, you have a shot at locking them down if you apply in January.The bigger reason why the process tends to slow down in January is because there’s no real rush. Simply put, “[employers] take their time because they have the time and the money” to do so, says Smith. “Pace yourself, and don’t expect super quick responses or a super quick process,” she adds. <h2>What Does This All Mean?</h2>The short answer? Treat your job search in January like you would any other month.Keep in mind how your application will <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/beat-the-robots-how-to-get-your-resume-past-the-system-into-human-hands">get through an ATS</a>. <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-is-what-it-means-to-write-a-cover-letter-for-your-resume">Tailor your cover letter</a>and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-it-really-means-to-tailor-your-resume">resume</a>. <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/job-searching-4-email-templates-thatll-make-asking-for-help-so-much-easier">Network</a> to get a leg-up at a specific company. <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-guide-to-when-to-follow-upand-when-to-sit-tight-and-be-patient">Follow up</a> to keep yourself on someone’s radar.Need some more help? Check out our guide to kickstarting your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/hourly-guide-job-search-one-afternoon">job search in one afternoon</a>. <h2>Anything Else?</h2>One more thing worth mentioning is that January isn’t just about job searching. The beginning of the new year provides as much opportunity to grow and develop in our current jobs as it does to land a new one.You can <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/set-long-term-career-goals-worksheet">set goals</a> for yourself. You can start to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-ways-to-prepare-for-your-someday-promotion-now">lay the groundwork for a promotion</a> or raise. You can <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-ways-to-take-on-more-responsibility-at-work">ask your boss for more responsibility</a>.And if you’re not in a hurry to change jobs, you can begin <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-job-hunt-when-you-cant-leave-your-job-yet">preparing materials now</a> so that you’re ready for when the time comes to move on. After all, January isn’t your only shot to make a change.

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Should You Get an MBA? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

To go to B school or to not go to B school—that is the question. Or at least, that’s probably the question you’re weighing in your head right now (or why else would you be reading this?).
Too many times I’ve seen people jump into the business school application process without reflecting upon why th... read more

credits to: Shaifali Aggarwal

category: Career Advise

published: May 14, 2019|694 views

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Should You Get an MBA? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

written by: richill artloe

created: May 14, 2019 | 07:59 AM

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Blog Content: To go to B school or to not go to B school—that is the question. Or at least, that’s probably the question you’re weighing in your head right now (or why else would you be reading this?).Too many times I’ve seen people jump into the business school application process without reflecting upon why they’ve chosen to go down that path. And often it’s prompted by seeing friends and colleagues get their MBA degrees and thinking, Hey, maybe I should get an MBA, too.Let me be clear: That is not a valid reason to go to business school. There are so many better reasons why you might want to go down this road, and just as many reasons why maybe you shouldn’t.While business school could very well be the best next step for you, it’s important to take the time to engage in introspection and delve into the costs and benefits of an MBA. Doing so will help to clarify your own thought process before applying, and ensure you can reap the rewards of whichever decision you make.Here are three questions you should ask yourself before embarking on your MBA application journey. <h2>1. What Are Your Career Goals?</h2>While this answer is crystal clear for some people, rest assured that most people applying to B school don’t know exactly where they see themselves in the next five to 15 years (and that’s okay)! However, you should have a general sense of what you would potentially like to do since this is a key aspect of the business school journey.Connect the dots between what you’ve done in the past and what you’d like to do in the future. As you do this, think about how an MBA fits into the picture (and use your professional network to get more insight into how an MBA could come into play).For instance, what’s your salary now and what do you project it to be in the future—both with an MBA and without an MBA? What’s the total cost of pursuing an MBA (consider not just tuition <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-surprising-mba-costs-you-need-to-consider-before-quitting-your-job-and-going-to-bschool">but other factors</a> such as housing and supplies, plus the fact that you’ll be out of a steady income for a couple of years), and does the return on investment make sense given what you expect your salary will be post-MBA? (Yes, you’ll need to crunch some numbers!)Additionally, consider whether an MBA is even required to enter or excel in the field you’re aspiring to be in. For example, in finance, private equity is a field where an MBA is highly valued, and it can be difficult to transition into it or move up without one. An MBA may easily cost someone $150,000, however, relative to what this person can earn and accomplish as a senior private equity professional after getting their MBA, this is a small chunk to pay.On the other hand, if you’re interested in pursuing a government-focused role in the future, an MPA or MPP may be a more suitable degree that won’t hit your bank account as hard.And if you’re seeking out a career path where the skills you learn and the connections you build in B school won’t be any more beneficial than skills and connections you could build in a job, internship, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-free-online-courses-thatll-teach-you-the-same-skills-youd-learn-in-business-school">online course</a>, or through other less expensive and time-consuming means, it’s probably not worth it. <h2>2. What Do You Hope to Get From Your Business School Experience?</h2>Business schools want to understand why you’re interested in getting an MBA degree—and why now specifically is the right time for you. This will be a key part of getting accepted into your program of choice, so you can’t just brush over it.But it’s also a question that you should be asking yourself to decide if the intangible benefits and costs of business school are worth it.As you formulate your answer, think about the knowledge, skills, and resources that an MBA degree will give you and what you actually want out of the experience. What are you hoping to learn? Develop? Discover? Refine? Build? Better understand?One clear benefit of an MBA is the relationships that you’ll form with peers, alumni, and professors. These can be invaluable throughout your career. Beyond that, getting an MBA degree can also provide more credibility when seeking out leadership opportunities.As an example, I started my career in finance, but always knew that I wanted to do something more entrepreneurial post-MBA. As an entrepreneur today, I wear manyhats, and the cross-functional knowledge that I gained in business school—in disciplines such as strategy, marketing, and operations—has been priceless. Moreover, I’ve been able to reach out to classmates for advice and be introduced to people who’ve been able to help me grow my business. Thus, the ROI for me has been extremely high.On the flip side, if your only reason for pursuing an MBA is because you don’t know what else you want to do in your career, you may want to go back to the drawing board to figure out what you’d want to get out of it before taking the leap. <h2>3. Are You Willing to Invest the Time and Energy Required to Apply and Get the Degree?</h2>Applying to business school requires a large investment of time (and money, applications are expensive!) in order to make yourself stand out in a very competitive pool. This includes time to bolster your skill set and profile if there are weaknesses, study and take the GMAT or GRE, research and visit schools, and of course, craft strong application materials. There are no shortcuts, so you’ll want to be sure you’re ready to take all these tasks on with vigor!Also, think about the time and energy that’d be required to actually pursue your degree once you get in. For example, if you’re a parent, getting an MBA degree means spending less time with your family not only as you study and take classes but also as you immerse yourself in the business school environment and extracurricular activities (many of which will be prime networking opportunities). Or if you’re also working during school, this can mean sacrificing your limited free time after work and on the weekends.On the flip side, one of the biggest benefits with respect to time can be the acceleration in your career. In other words, you may reach higher managerial levels faster with the skills and knowledge that you gain in business school, depending on your field and company. Take the time to assess your particular circumstance to figure out if this will be the case.I recently worked with a consultant who applied and was accepted to one of his dream business schools. In the interim, he got a strategy role at a startup, which is exactly what he’d wanted to do post-MBA. Given that he was already on the path to pursuing the career that he wanted, he decided not to invest the two years in an MBA since he felt that would be redundant and interrupt his momentum. While getting an MBA requires plenty more research and self-reflection than this article can get into, by asking yourself these three questions, you lay a solid foundation for weighing the pros and cons of a degree. Whether or not you decide to go to business school is a very personal choice—you have to figure out if it’s right for your career and no one else’s.

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Why Your Job Search Should Start With Companies, Not Roles—and What That Looks Like

When Kate Gardner was laid off from her job as a magazine editor, she wasn’t sure what to do next. She tried freelancing for a month or so, but the instability of it ultimately made her want to hop back into a full-time job at a company she really liked (and could see herself at for a while).
So she started job searching—but... read more

credits to: Abby Wolfe

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 26, 2019|657 views

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Why Your Job Search Should Start With Companies, Not Roles—and What That Looks Like

written by: richill artloe

created: April 26, 2019 | 09:31 AM

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Blog Content: When Kate Gardner was laid off from her job as a magazine editor, she wasn’t sure what to do next. She tried freelancing for a month or so, but the instability of it ultimately made her want to hop back into a full-time job at a company she really liked (and could see herself at for a while).So she started job searching—but this time she tackled it differently than she had in the past. She decided to take a company-first approach.“Doing this allows me to be more specific in what I’m looking for,” Gardner says. “I can look for the positions I want and am qualified for at companies I already know I like.” And it worked out for her—she recently landed a job at one of her dream nonprofits.“I’m so grateful to have found this work I’m so deeply passionate about,” she adds. “For years I’ve been searching for something that’s made me feel alive and like I have a purpose, and I finally have.”As a career coach, I recommend the company-first approach to almost every client I work with. I believe more people will end up finding great jobs they love, like Gardner, this way as opposed to spending hours and hours scrolling through a job board.Here’s why you should try it—and how you can get started doing it today. <h2>Why Adopt a Company-First Mindset</h2>The biggest benefit of a company-first job search is that it’s more likely to land you a gig that you’ll want to stay in for a very long time. This can be especially important for those who are making a career change (and want the effort they’re putting into transitioning to be worthwhile), those who are tired of job hopping and are looking for a more fulfilling career, and those who just want a job they can see themselves in for years to come.“With the majority of people leaving a company because of culture or people,” says <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/jena-viviano-705da3">Jena Viviano</a>, a Muse master career coach, “finding the company you want to work for first has a higher chance of working out in the long-term.”The idea is that when you pursue a company rather than a job, you’re looking for a more holistic experience. You don’t just care about the day-to-day responsibilities—you care about the mission behind your work, your growth, and your work-life balance. All these factors contribute to a happier (and ultimately more successful) career.And by showcasing when you apply for a job that these things matter to you, you set yourself up to be a better fit for the company—which makes them more likely to hire you.Another point Viviano makes is that companies are calling jobs all different sorts of things these days, so company-first job searching is just strategically more efficient.“No longer can you just type in ‘HR generalist’ and find all the HR positions available,” she says. “Some companies call it ‘culture’ or ‘people’ or ‘happiness department.’ So it’s smarter to see what companies align to your goals and then to dive into their career pages to find specific roles” to ensure you’re actually applying to positions that you’d be happy in and qualified for. <h2>How to Approach Your Job Search Company-First</h2>By no means is company-first job searching an “easy way out.” It takes true inner reflection and time to pull off effectively. But because it’ll likely produce better results, it’s well worth the effort. <h3>1. Figure Out What You Care About Most</h3>The whole goal here is to get you into a job you love that fits not only your interests and experience, but your priorities. In order to do that, you need to know what’s important to you.Reflect on past experience and examine what you liked and didn’t like about each position you held and company you worked for (and write them down). If you’re fresh out of college, this part might be a little harder—so you may consider including volunteer and internship experiences in this exercise to broaden your scope.Here are some possible things you might consider or jot down:<ul><li>Size: The number of people at your company or in your department can affect how much your voice is heard, the amount of work that falls onto your plate, communication between teams, and more.</li><li>Location: Do you have a geographic preference, or will you go anywhere? Also, what are your feelings on a company that has offices all over the country (or world)?</li><li>Stage: At what stage of growth is your ideal company? A startup environment is going to be much different than that of a company that’s been around for decades. (And even “startup” can encompass anything from five people in one room to a nine-figure-revenue, about-to-go-public behemoth.)</li><li>Mission: Is connecting with the purpose of the company important to you? If the answer is yes, you’ll want to dig to find out what each company’s detailed mission is and if the work they’re doing actually aligns with it, as well as decide if you want to work for a specific kind of mission (for example, healthcare or climate change).</li><li>Values: Are there values outside the company’s direct mission that matter to you, such as social responsibility? <a href="https://www.themuse.com/profiles/themuse">The Muse</a>, for example, has a strict “no assholes” policy, which is such a core value that it’s included in every job description.</li><li>Culture: Do you prefer working collaboratively or independently? Do you like strict rules and guidelines or more flexibility to rethink processes? Do you like dressing business formal or business casual (or have no preference)? Do you want to hang out with your co-workers after hours or be able to leave work on time to be with your family? There’s no right or wrong answer for the type of culture you believe you’d thrive in.</li><li>Diversity and inclusion efforts: How important is it to you that the company you work for invests in diversity and inclusion? What does that look like to you?</li><li>Benefits: What types of benefits do you care about most? Some things you could think about are: learning and development budget, health insurance, parental leave, PTO, flexible hours, and remote opportunities.</li></ul> <h3>2. Make a List of Companies That Interest You</h3>OK, you have your list of things that you care about most. Now, how do you find companies to consider? Here are some ideas:<ul><li>Search for the “top” or “best” companies to work for. You can narrow it down further by specifically highlighting the qualities that matter to you, such as “best companies for working parents” or “top organizations to work for as a remote employee.” The Muse actually creates <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/19-awesome-west-coast-companies-to-check-out-now">several lists like this</a> for different locations that may help you identify some good companies in your area.</li><li>Check out B Corporation and Idealist. If you want social responsibility to be a core value of the company you work for, then these are two great resources. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.idealist.org/en/">Idealist</a> is a site that specifically highlights organizations that want to make the world a better place, and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://bcorporation.net/about-b-corps">Certified B Corporations</a> “are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.”</li><li>Browse social media and recent news. We interact with companies day in and day out as consumers, so consider what brands you love and what’s being said about them online. Maybe you found out that a tech company you follow on Twitter recently instituted four weeks of PTO for its employees, or a retail store you constantly shop at invests in volunteer efforts. Those could be great places to apply to because you already know, believe in, and follow them.</li><li>Leverage your network. You most likely know plenty of people who work or have worked at a variety of awesome companies. Ask them about their experience! You may be surprised which companies you’re drawn to.</li></ul> <h3>3. Evaluate Whether or Not They Meet Your Criteria</h3>Once you make a list of say, 10 to 20 companies of interest, double check to make sure they align with the attributes you highlighted in the first step.This will require some more research. You can start with <a href="https://www.themuse.com/companies">The Muse</a>, of course, as well as the company’s own website, and social media and news coverage can fill in everything in between.But your network should be your biggest asset in this step. Lean on old colleagues, friends of friends, or extended family to understand what working at these companies is really like and to ask any and all relevant questions about the things that you care about most.The important thing to note is that you have to learn to let go when a company doesn’t resonate with you. It can be difficult to turn away from a popular brand or flashy corporation when everyone around you is dying to work there. But even a well-known name on your resume can’t make up for a work environment where you won’t be happy or feel challenged. <h3>4. Keep an Eye Out for Job Openings (and Apply When You See a Real Match)</h3>Once you’ve narrowed down and fact-checked your list, make it a point to check in consistently for job openings at those companies. (Pro tip: Set a weekly calendar reminder.)This is a long game. Because you’re looking at the company first, you may not immediately see a position that works for you—but remember that companies are always hiring and talent is constantly shifting. So as roles start to pop up, note the ones that seem most interesting to you and apply as soon as you can.As a reminder, you don’t want to just pick any job you’d remotely be a fit for and apply (putting your name out there too much at one company <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-times-you-think-applying-to-two-jobs-at-one-company-is-the-right-move-and-what-to-do-instead">has its consequences</a>). Rather, choose only the ones you’re truly excited about and that align with your experience and skill set.Here’s some advice on writing a killer <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-31-tips-you-need-to-know">cover letter</a> and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-it-really-means-to-tailor-your-resume">tailoring your resume</a>to show you’re the perfect fit. The key to applying with a company-first approach isn’t just to highlight how great you are for the role—you’ll also want to emphasize your passion for the company and what they’re doing. <h3>5. Find an “In” at the Company</h3>It’s no secret that networking is key to landing a job these days. But networking isn’t just a reactive thing—basically, don’t wait around for it to come to you. You need to be proactive if you want it to reap rewards.So why should you be reaching out to people who work at a company, even if you’ve already applied to a job there? First, you can learn even more valuable information about the company, its culture, and its hiring process. And you might learn that there’s a job open that isn’t posted to the public that would be great for you.Just as important (if not more so), networking gives you that extra boost you’ll need to make it to the next round. You’re much more likely to stand out from the pile and get your application in front of a hiring manager if someone (especially someone internal) refers you.If you don’t have any contacts at the company and decide to reach out to a second or third degree connection, you could connect with them and shoot them the following note <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-tips-for-reaching-out-to-someone-you-admire-on-linkedin">on LinkedIn</a>:Hi James—I hope you’re having a great day. I saw you work in product design and I’m looking to transition into this field. I’m reaching out because I’m extremely interested in the junior designer role at Fun Company. Would you mind hopping on the phone with me to chat about your experience? Thanks! AbbyA few minutes talking on the phone is plenty of time to forge a meaningful connection (here’s how to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-questions-you-have-about-coffee-meetings-but-were-too-afraid-to-ask">make that informational interview</a> go off without a hitch—and get one step closer to a job).For more advice, read this article on <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-find-an-in-at-your-dream-companyfast">finding an “in”</a> at your dream company and this one on <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-actually-use-your-network-to-get-through-a-job-search-even-the-tough-parts">leveraging your network</a> to get through your job search, as well as these email templates to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/help-me-find-a-job-emails-to-send-to-your-network">ask your network for a job</a>. As I said, this isn’t necessarily an easy process, and it requires a lot of time and patience. But if you’re looking to find a job and company you love, this strategy is your best shot.

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Why You Should Never Stop Learning (Especially At Work)

Imagine you have nearly 15 years of experience under your belt and have earned regular promotions throughout your career. Naturally, you’d probably feel that you were up to speed in your field. That’s the situation Toby Barnard found him... read more

credits to: Anne Shaw

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 25, 2019|605 views

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Why You Should Never Stop Learning (Especially At Work)

written by: richill artloe

created: April 25, 2019 | 12:34 PM

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Blog Content: Imagine you have nearly 15 years of experience under your belt and have earned regular promotions throughout your career. Naturally, you’d probably feel that you were up to speed in your field. That’s the situation <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjbarnard1/">Toby Barnard</a> found himself in after working for the Armed Forces for 13 years in professional development.But after joining IBM as their Talent and Engagement Consultant in Europe, where he is responsible for the company’s continuous learning programs for employees, Toby quickly saw how much opportunity there was for continued education.“I realized there was so much more out there that I could learn, and that’s been a key point in my career after landing at IBM—having the opportunity to continuously learn and develop myself,” Toby explains of the past six years.Now, Toby prioritizes his own education, regularly using Your Learning, IBM’s continuous learning platform, and watching TEDx talks that relate to his field. “I use and discuss what I’ve learned, sometimes even writing white papers or giving presentations,” he says.So, why should you put in the effort? Toby explains:  <h2>Why You Should Continue Learning</h2>Beyond keeping things fresh to sustain your professional creativity and passion, learning keeps you relevant in our ever-changing world. And, it’s arguably the best job security tool you could have, not to mention that achieving higher levels and honing new skills is a great argument for seeking promotions and raises at work.“Organizations can’t keep transforming if their employees aren’t learning and their skills aren’t aligned with shifting business demands,” explains Toby, stressing the importance of creating an environment in which learning is encouraged and failure is safe as long as employees learn from it.“All managers should make learning a core goal for their employees. It’s directly related to their team’s and their company’s success,” he says. “Employees should get the time and support to achieve learning–and be recognized for it.”His best advice for professional development? Take personal responsibility for your learning.So, now that you know why you should continue to learn, here are Toby's top tips for doing so on the job.  <h2>Decide What You Want to Learn</h2>First, consider how and in what way you want to develop yourself.Start with broad industry knowledge, which can help you pinpoint areas that most spark your curiosity. Read broadly and often. Your reading list should go beyond regular news. Follow both general business news, like the Harvard Business Review, as well as blogs related to your field. You can also join virtual communities related to your field to read and participate in discussions with your peers.Try to work in at least half an hour of reading and professional networking each day. As specific topics in your field inspire and interest you, explore them further. Once you identify where you want to specialize, try to attend relevant conferences and even take specific courses to further your knowledge.  <h2>Take Full Advantage of Your Company’s Resources</h2>Companies with the most effective continuous learning programs make their resources accessible, personalized, and engaging for employees. Take IBM’s Your Learning platform as an example. Powered with Watson’s artificial intelligence analytics, Your Learning integrates formal, informal and social learning formats and curates content for each individual learner. This Netflix-style development platform offers employees a set of channels to choose from. Employees can see how others have rated the various offerings and there’s also a live-chat adviser, who is available to help them at any time.And, employees earn digital badges based on the level of expertise and experience in specific skills they have completed, which is a great way to empower employees, keep them engaged, and perpetuate the culture of learning.“When you’re allowed to influence your training in this way, following your own interests and even adding material you find on your own, the learning experience is irresistible. You can gain control, create your own learning pathways and develop your skills in a faster and more efficient way,” Toby explains. Customization is something the IBM Learning platform offers by getting to know you as a learner and providing personalized learning recommendations based on not only your job role, but your learning patterns and personal interests.To get started, do some research and ask around. If you’re new to an organization, there may be a learning portal you aren’t familiar with yet. And even if you’ve been somewhere for years, policies may have changed and there could be budget available for online courses or conferences.Once you’ve dug around a bit, check in with your manager and HR about the resources that are available and how you can best fit this into your regular work schedule. It’s not uncommon for organizations to allow employees to make time for professional development during the workweek.   <h2>Ask for More Learning Opportunities at Work</h2>But, if you’re left wanting more when it comes to professional development resources at work, don’t let that deter you, Toby advises. When asked how employees can push for more learning options, he suggests starting by demonstrating how it will help your company.“Have a vision of what your organization wants to look like, and show how employee learning fits into that," he explains. Companies must recognize that the environment is constantly changing, he says, and that their responsibility to clients to stay up-to-date and relevant with the latest knowledge and tools can be best met by empowering their own employees to keep learning.If your company doesn't offer an accessible internal learning platform or have the resources to create one, Toby suggests employees lead the charge by requesting access to readily available external training and learning services.“Be curious," he says. “Go on forums, watch TEDx, be active in LinkedIn communities. And within your day to day, remember that learning happens everywhere. Reach out to your peers and communities both within and outside of your organization,” Toby says. “Continue to stay curious and find the way to always be learning.”And make your own suggestions. If there is a professor from a local university that is an expert in a topic you want to learn more about, see if your company will organize a lunch and learn session with him. Be vocal about what you're interested in, and suggest ways to make it happen. So, take a proactive approach when it comes to your education. And remember, learning can happen in many different ways. Don't discount what you can get out of a podcast on a favorite subject, or email digest focused on your industry. The important thing is you're soaking up the knowledge, and using it to better yourself and your career.

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Daydream About Rage Quitting? Here’s What to Do Instead

If you’ve ever struggled with a condescending boss, difficult colleagues, or work that feels like a soul-destroying slog, you might have fantasized about “rage quitting.” Maybe you even scripted the scene in your head—telling off your manager, cursing out that impossible client, or letting your co-worker know ... read more

credits to: Elizabeth Alterman

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 15, 2019|871 views

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Daydream About Rage Quitting? Here’s What to Do Instead

written by: richill artloe

created: April 15, 2019 | 08:39 AM

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Blog Content: If you’ve ever struggled with a condescending boss, difficult colleagues, or work that feels like a soul-destroying slog, you might have fantasized about “rage quitting.” Maybe you even scripted the scene in your head—telling off your manager, cursing out that impossible client, or letting your co-worker know exactly how you feel about them and then storming out of the office for good.While a dramatic, two-middle-fingers-up tantrum may seem highly appealing in the heat of the moment, you don’t need us to tell you that it can prove disastrous for your career. Even if you’re not flipping conference tables or throwing staplers, gentler forms of rage quitting, like <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-actually-happened-when-i-quit-my-job-without-giving-two-weeks-notice">leaving without giving notice</a>, can have serious repercussions.If you’ve recently been feeling like you want to resign in a way that’ll leave your bosses and colleagues slack-jawed—but know it’s the wrong decision—you may be wondering what you can do instead. Here are some steps you can take that will prevent you from losing your cool and keep you going until you find yourself in a better position (and state of mind). <h2>Step 1: Find Ways to Cope in the Moment</h2>If rage-quitting fantasies are a regular part of your life, chances are you’re frequently in situations that are pushing you to your limit—<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-deal-with-workplace-bullies">abusive emails</a>from your boss, ridiculous demands from co-workers or clients, staggeringly awful meetings that sap your will to live.To keep yourself from snapping and saying or doing something you’ll regret, make a list of things you can do in the moment to cool down and cope. Take a walk, meditate, splash cold water on your face, look at pictures of your puppy, call a friend and vent for 10 minutes—heck, go out into the parking lot and throw a ball against the wall to let out your frustrations. Just taking this pause can help you reset and remember the bigger picture (which we’ll get to in a second). <h2>Step 2: Imagine Yourself in Future Interviews</h2>Rebecca Weiler, a Manhattan-based licensed mental health and career counselor, says clients often come to her after they’ve impulsively quit. “A big question [they have] is usually how they handle telling a prospective employer about their previous job,” she says.Explaining a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-explain-the-gap-in-your-resume-with-ease">resume gap</a> can be challenging even under the best circumstances, such as taking time off to travel. So when you’re feeling tempted to walk out in a huff, imagine yourself interviewing for another role or even trying to network your way to a new job. Won’t it be a heck of a lot easier to make a great impression if your narrative is clean of any unprofessional behavior?And remember: You’re going to need <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-ultimate-guide-to-picking-and-getting-the-best-possible-references">good references</a> to make it through to a job offer. If you leave your boss and colleagues with a bad taste in their mouths now, they’re probably not going to advocate strongly for you to others in your field.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://mcunninghamlaw.com/">Melanie Cunningham</a>, an attorney in New York City, says she fantasized about leaving previous jobs in the banking and litigation industries: “Anything from just going to lunch and never returning to quitting in a more glorious fashion.”What stopped her from actually doing it?“I believe in the principle of ‘you reap what you sow,’” she says. “Before I left my last place of employment, I was preparing and planning to open my own firm. The last thing I wanted to take with me to my new venture was the residue of burned bridges.”As Cunningham notes, it’s a small world out there and you never know who you’ll meet or need in the future. Even if you’d rather never see your current manager again after this job, there’s a high likelihood they’ll pop up—or someone who knows them will pop up—in some way later on. So you won’t want to give them any ammo to use against you. <h2>Step 3: Channel Your Rage Into Action</h2>Marketing expert and writer <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://kenziwrites.com/">Kenzi Wood</a> used to hate her job and came close to rage quitting in response.But she’s grateful she never actually acted on those feelings. Instead, she says, “I channeled the urge to rage quit into action. I recognized that I didn’t want to work for someone else. I spent my nights and weekends growing my own business.” After a year of hard work, she was ready to quit her day job and go all in.Like Wood, you can choose to transform all that pent up frustration into motivation. Focusing on what you can control—like job searching, spending time on projects or with people that you like, pursuing hobbies or activities outside of work that make you happy, or, like Wood, starting your own business or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-smart-people-ask-about-side-gigs-so-they-dont-lose-their-jobs">side gig</a>—will not only help you productively channel all your negative emotions, but it’ll also help you improve your situation faster.If you’re looking for some alternative actions you can take instead of rage quitting, these articles might help:<ul><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/heres-how-to-kickstart-your-job-search-in-30-minutes-and-make-your-life-easier-in-the-process">Here’s How to Kick-Start Your Job Search in 30 Minutes (and Make Your Life Easier in the Process)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-set-up-your-side-hustle-in-24-hours-or-less">How to Set Up Your Side Hustle in 24 Hours or Less</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-find-a-hobby-you-love">4 Ways to Find a Hobby You Love (Because It’s Good for Your Life and Your Career)</a></li></ul> Yes, rage quitting can be tempting, and possibly warranted when your work situation is truly unbearable. But you’re better than that—you’re going to have a successful career, and you’re not willing to let one awful job or person stop you from achieving it. Take your time to plan an exit worthy of you, and enjoy knowing that you’ll be leaving with your career and reputation intact.

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How to Maintain Work-Life Balance When Your Hours Aren't 9-5

Work-life balance can be elusive under the best job circumstances, but when you work non-traditional hours—whether you’re in a client-facing role, you have a busy season (hi accountants!), or you’re facing a big project deadline—finding time for the people and things you love can be even more difficult.
After all... read more

credits to: Erika Janes

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 12, 2019|540 views

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How to Maintain Work-Life Balance When Your Hours Aren't 9-5

written by: richill artloe

created: April 12, 2019 | 10:30 AM

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Blog Content: Work-life balance can be elusive under the best job circumstances, but when you work non-traditional hours—whether you’re in a client-facing role, you have a busy season (hi accountants!), or you’re facing a big project deadline—finding time for the people and things you love can be even more difficult.After all, early mornings, late hours, and limited breaks aren’t exactly conducive to balance. Still, it’s possible to carve out time for what’s important to you even when your work life seems crazy. And adopting one (or more) of these expert tips can help.  <h2>1. Rethink Work-Life Balance</h2>If you feel like you can’t find any work-life balance thanks to your non-traditional schedule, rethink your definition of the phrase, says Samantha Ettus, a work-life balance expert and author of The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction.“Work-life balance is not about having balance every day,” she says. “It’s about creating a balance that feels manageable over the course of time—a week, a month, a year.” The problem comes when you expect balance every day—and judge yourself accordingly. “That’s just not how life works,” Ettus says. “We all know there are days when you start at 7 AM and end with a client dinner at 10 PM.”  <h2>2. Set Boundaries When You're Less Busy</h2>Even the most demanding work schedule likely ebbs and flows—an off season or a time between projects. Take advantage of these slower periods to set personal boundaries, as much as possible, with clients and co-workers.Will you have to stay later sometimes? Yes. Is an occasional 5:30 PM meeting inevitable? Of course. But in general, once you start setting boundaries, people will respect them—and it may be easier to keep them going when things pick up again.  <h2>3. Embrace Micro Actions</h2>If your work schedule doesn’t allow for blocks of personal time, embrace what LoVerde calls “micro actions”—activities that fit into bits of time during your day that are so small it’s easy to discount them. Don’t.For example, LoVerde says, maybe you can’t fit in a 90-minute yoga class when you’re on a project—but can you do 4 minutes of tabata? Or program your wearable activity tracker to remind you to take a 2-minute walk every hour and drink a glass of water?Individually, those don’t seem like much, but when you add them all up, you may find you’ve gotten 20 minutes of exercise and downed 10 glasses of water by the end of the day. Not too shabby!  <h2>4. Think of Your Life as a Pie</h2>Ettus recommends imagining your life as a pie sliced into seven pieces: career, children, health, hobbies, friends, community, and relationship. Write down how much time you spend on each slice (be honest!), and set a goal for each one.If you’re already struggling to balance a couple of “slices” (say, career and children), adding five more can seem counterintuitive—but stick with us. “It doesn’t have to be a hobby that you do every day of your life—a once-a-month book club still contributes to balance,” Ettus says. “People who live in all of their slices are the ones who feel more productive and fulfilled, so make sure you set goals for each area.”  <h2>5. Become a Quitter</h2>As busy as you are, you’re probably wasting time each day on things that don’t contribute to your work-life balance in a meaningful way. LoVerde recommends quitting the things that get in the way of what you want. Who among us hasn't lost 20 minutes mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, when we could have been texting a friend or meditating?  <h2>6. Build in Rituals</h2>The findings of a <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/grantandglueckstudy">75-year Harvard study</a> show that good relationships are the key to keeping us healthy, happy, and successful. Of course, relationships may occasionally take a backseat due to a busy season at work. But if there’s no down time in your future, then you must build in ways to stay connected with family and friends, Mary says—and the way to do that is to build in rituals, such as FaceTiming with your kids when you miss bedtime or a daily lunchtime text with your partner.“You have a limited amount of willpower every day,” LoVerde says, “so building in rituals that help you stay connected to what’s really important will help you when you have to work strenuous stretches.” We can’t promise that you’ll be able to find the perfect work-life balance all the time. But if you follow this advice, you’ll be on your way to creating more time and space for yourself and those who matter most.

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5 Telltale Signs You’re Burnt Out at Work (and What to Do About Them)

I can recall one specific time in my career when things became really—I mean really—difficult.
Trudging to my desk each morning felt like a feat of superhuman strength. Once I actually made it there, I’d stare at my laptop screen for minutes on end, just willing myself to get something ... read more

credits to: Kat Boogaard

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 10, 2019|1066 views

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5 Telltale Signs You’re Burnt Out at Work (and What to Do About Them)

written by: richill artloe

created: April 10, 2019 | 08:43 AM

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Blog Content: I can recall one specific time in my career when things became really—I mean really—difficult.Trudging to my desk each morning felt like a feat of superhuman strength. Once I actually made it there, I’d stare at my laptop screen for minutes on end, just willing myself to get something accomplished. Even if I managed to make a decent dent in my to-do list for the day, I still felt hopeless—like I was stuck on this hamster wheel I’d never hop off of.I vented to numerous loved ones about my workday woes, and they all had the same response: It sounds like you’re burnt out.“Nah, that’s not true,” I’d respond nonchalantly. “Things have just been busy lately and I’m in a funk about it. I’ll bounce back.”As I’m sure so many other people have, I brushed aside these red flags as normal work stress. A little bit of exhaustion, frustration, and anxiety was a standard part of working life, right? That’s why it came with a paycheck.Spoiler alert: What I was feeling wasn’t actually justifiable stress. I really was teetering on the edge of full-fledged burnout, and (ironically) it took a lot of hard work and habit changes to bring myself back.The experience itself was brutal, but it also made me realize that it’s incredibly difficult to identify the signs of burnout at work when they’re actually happening.Despite the fact that “burnout” has become a bit of a buzzword, it’s still a tough concept to wrap our arms around—where’s the dividing line between normal stress and a larger problem? Read on for a guide to exactly what burnout is, the signs it’s happening, and what you can do when you realize you’re sliding down that slippery slope. <h2>What Is Burnout…Really?</h2>Unfortunately, there isn’t one tried and true definition of burnout to point to, and much of that is because burnout isn’t a recognized medical condition (at least not yet)—there’s no formal diagnosis for it.While the medical field has yet to outline specific criteria, there are some common themes that most researchers and experts tend to agree on.“Burnout is when somebody just feels depleted from doing the task at hand,” says <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.dralicedomar.com/">Alice Domar, PhD</a>, Director of the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.domarcenter.com/">Domar Center for Mind/Body Health</a>. “It happens when the demands being put upon you exceed the resources you have. The tank is empty.”Domar points out that burnout is more than a bad day or a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-questions-to-help-you-decide-if-youre-having-a-bad-week-or-about-to-burn-out">tough week</a>—after all, every job has those. “Burnout tends to be when you just don’t have any good days, and it goes on for a long period of time,” she says. <h2>What Are the Signs of Burnout?</h2>Sure, you get the overall idea and understand that it’s something that persists for longer than a week or two. But it can still be challenging to turn the magnifying glass on yourself and recognize when you might be veering straight toward feeling burnt out at work.Take it from someone who’s been there before: I totally get it. So let’s try to make things as black and white as possible by looking at a few of the most common and prevalent symptoms of burnout. <h3>1. You Can’t Get Excited About Work Anymore</h3>Domar explains that one of the telltale signs of burnout is a lack of interest or enthusiasm about what you’re doing.Even the projects that used to make you feel fulfilled now leave you feeling completely depleted. “They don’t get the same level of satisfaction,” says Domar of people who are experiencing burnout. “They don’t get the same thrill if it goes well.”In the worst case scenario, this attitude of indifference can extend beyond your work and negatively impact your interest in various aspects of your life outside of the office.Put simply, if you’re struggling to muster up even a shred of enthusiasm for things that used to energize you, that’s a giant, waving red flag not just for burnout, but for depression. (If you think you might be depressed, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.) <h3>2. You’ve Stopped Putting in the Effort</h3>That lack of excitement often leads directly to a negative and even apathetic attitude.“A lot of it is just not caring anymore,” Domar explains. “You think, ‘Okay, I’m going to go to work and I’m going to complete the tasks that are set in front of me. But I’m not going to put myself into it and I’m not going to go out of my way to improve it. I’m just going to do the bare minimum to get by.”She adds that people who struggle with burnout are often those who have reputations as high achievers, so these signs of burnout on the job are typically a stark contrast when compared with their normal approach to their work. <h3>3. Your Performance Is Suffering</h3>As you might expect, this disinterest in daily tasks often leads to poorer performance—because people who are burnt out simply don’t care enough to do things well.Personally, this was one of the biggest warning signs that I was majorly struggling. I’m normally compulsive about double-checking my work and meeting deadlines.When my editors kept pointing out errors and I was letting submission dates slide by without a single care, I knew I had a far more significant issue on my hands. <h3>4. You’re Totally Exhausted</h3>Fatigue and an overall feeling of exhaustion are commonly-cited indicators of burnout, Domar explains.You’ll not only deal with a lack of energy physically, but you can also feel emotionally depleted and drained.So if getting yourself out of bed and to the office each day is a more demanding challenge than normal, you could be tiptoeing into burnout territory. <h3>5. You’re Dealing With Physical Ailments</h3>Burnout doesn’t have a consistent physical manifestation for everyone. However, there are numerous <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-women/201311/the-tell-tale-signs-burnout-do-you-have-them">physical complaints</a> that have been reported with burnout, including:<ul><li>Insomnia</li><li>Chest pain</li><li>Headaches</li><li>Increased illness</li><li>Heart palpitations</li><li>Shortness of breath</li><li>Dizziness or fainting</li><li>Gastrointestinal pain</li></ul>Of course, there could be a slew of other explanations for these sorts of aches, pains, and issues as well. But particularly if you’re experiencing them along with the emotional changes discussed above, they might serve as a physical indicator of your burnt out state. <h2>You’re Burnt Out...What Now?</h2>Okay, so you recognize several (or even all) of these signs of burnout from work in yourself.Uhh...now what? What can you do to stop this train from speeding down the tracks—and eventually off the rails entirely?Oft-repeated advice would tell you to take some time off, and it’s true that a break can at least give you a bit of breathing room. But Domar explains that if a vacation is all you do, it’s really just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.“If you take a day or even a week off, you’re still coming back,” she says. “You’re still the same person and the job is the same job.”Instead of merely pressing pause and removing yourself from your situation for the time being, you need to do something to actively change it. Domar says that really boils down to two things:<ol><li>Changing your attitude</li><li>Changing your workload</li></ol>To change your attitude, you’ll want to learn to recognize negative habits and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-new-way-of-thinking-about-burnout-could-change-the-way-you-work">thought patterns</a> and work to stop them when they happen. “For example, thinking, ‘I have to do this perfectly or I’ll be a failure.’ You challenge some of these thoughts and get away from that all-or-nothing thinking,” Domar says.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/publications/multidimensional-perfectionism-and-burnout-a-meta-analysis">Research suggests</a> that perfectionism is closely linked with burnout. So recognizing and then removing some of these self-imposed pressures can help you breathe a little easier at work (and hopefully feel a little less stressed on a daily basis).The second change is to decrease your volume of work. Burnout can happen when you simply have too much on your plate, and in those cases what you really need to do is lighten your load.Approach your boss to have a conversation about the fact that you feel overworked (<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/ask-a-career-coach-how-do-i-tell-my-boss-im-overworked-without-complaining">here’s a guide</a> to handling that discussion professionally) and identify ways that you can manage a more reasonable workload moving forward.In my own situation, I finally (after a lot of convincing and cajoling from my loved ones) ended up dropping some of my clients to free up a little more time for myself. That action alone helped to decrease my anxiety, increase my energy levels, and help me feel at least a little bit like my old self again.Finally, to tie this all back to the “changing your attitude” aspect, it’s important that you also recognize those moments when you find yourself saying “yes” to an obligation—when you know <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/when-to-say-no-or-yes-to-additional-responsibilities-at-work">you should really turn it down</a>. Catch your tendency to overload yourself, and you’ll (hopefully) kick that bad habit to the curb and prevent this same situation in the future. Here’s a lesson I had to learn the hard way: Burnout is hard to recognize, and it doesn’t go away on its own. Nope, it doesn’t get better because you finally reached a new week or checked off another item on your to-do list.Identifying and then addressing burnout requires some conscious thought and effort (which, I know, is pretty much the last thing you want to think about when you’re already feeling worn down).However, one final thing I realized is that I was ultimately the only one who could do something about my situation—I needed to settle into my spot in the driver’s seat and take control over what wasn’t working for me in my career.I’m happy to report that I did that. I <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-bounce-back-from-a-burnout-better-than-before">beat burnout</a> and came out on the other side. And with the help of the above advice, I’m confident that you can too.

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These 4 Tips Will Take Your Interview Prowess to the Next Level

When it comes to job interviews, you already know all of the standard advice.
You should do plenty of research beforehand, prepare answers for the most commonly asked questions, and show up dressed and ready (please, iron that shirt of... read more

credits to: Kat Boogaard

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 09, 2019|547 views

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These 4 Tips Will Take Your Interview Prowess to the Next Level

written by: richill artloe

created: April 09, 2019 | 08:46 AM

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Blog Content: When it comes to job interviews, you already know all of the standard advice.You should do plenty of research beforehand, prepare answers for the most <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-the-31-most-common-interview-questions">commonly asked questions</a>, and show up dressed and ready (please, iron that shirt of yours) to put your very best foot forward.Yes, when it comes to nailing a job interview, those tried and true warnings are undeniably important. But, that doesn't mean that they're all you need to know to make a killer impression.Here are four lesser-known tips to help you ace that interview and stand out from the job search competition. <h2>1. Leverage Small Talk to Your Advantage</h2>Consider this: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://qz.com/406976/heres-how-quickly-interviewers-decide-whether-or-not-to-hire-you/">Nearly 60% of hiring managers</a> make a decision about a candidate within the first 15 minutes of an interview.Every second counts—but, you need to be especially impactful during the first few moments of your interaction with that employer.One piece that's often overlooked? <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-small-talk-tips-thatll-instantly-make-your-interviewer-like-you-more">Small talk</a>.It's easy to think that the interview doesn't actually start until you sit down at that conference room table and begin answering those rapid fire questions.However, leveraging those seemingly insignificant pockets of time for small talk—whether it's with the receptionist while you're waiting or with the hiring manager during your stroll to the interview room—can help you make more of a personal connection (and, as a result, a more memorable impression). <h2>2. Match the Interviewer's Tone</h2>Your goal during the interview is to present yourself as a no-brainer fit for the company and the open position. You know that involves familiarizing yourself with the culture and understanding the major responsibilities of the role you're applying for.But, there's another subtler way to prove that you belong: Being perceptive of the interviewer's tone and overall vibe, and doing your best to match it.If the hiring manager leans back in her chair and is approaching your interview like a casual conversation, don't hesitate to relax a little yourself. You'll only seem more nervous (not to mention more out of place), if you answer questions like a robot with stiff posture and your hands firmly clasped in your lap.Or, if you notice a lot of excitement and buzz in the office, bring that same level of enthusiasm and passion to your interview. That's a refreshing change of pace when people are typically so buttoned up.Of course, you always want to be true to yourself and your own career desires—there's a big difference between tailoring your demeanor and being downright inauthentic. However, if you feel like this is a place you'd really fit in, don't hesitate to subtly mirror your interviewer's approach to prove you'd be a seamless fit with the overall office vibe. <h2>3. Be Conscious of Your Handshake</h2>You already know that your handshake matters in professional settings. There's something about a firm grip that makes you appear that much more self-assured.But, there's another element to a standard handshake that people often screw up: eye contact.We'll admit that maintaining eye contact can be a little uncomfortable—particularly when you're already anxious. However, shifting your gaze before that handshake is finished actually makes you appear that much more nervous (and, subconsciously, even a little untrustworthy).So, make sure to lock eyes with that interviewer and meet him or her with a friendly smile when shaking hands. You don't want your eyes to be what undermines the confidence you've worked so hard to build. <h2>4. Be Prepared With Anecdotes</h2>To prepare for the interview, you've committed thoughtful answers to standard interview questions to memory—you've even recited them in front of your bathroom mirror.That's a solid start! But, what are you going to do when you're presented with a behavioral interview question? When the interviewer asks you to share an example or story that fits a certain circumstance, you need to be able to do more than let your jaw hit the floor and your heart leap into your throat.It's tough to comb through your professional history for the perfect anecdote in the heat of the moment. In addition to being prepped and ready with straight-up answers, it's wise to also have some examples and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-types-of-stories-you-should-have-on-hand-for-job-interviews">personal stories</a> in your back pocket.That way, when the interviewer starts with that dreaded, “Tell me about a time when…" you'll be armed and ready to share the perfect scenario. Think you know everything there is to know about job interviews? Think again.Sure, there's tons of standard, oft-repeated guidance out there that you probably have engrained in your memory. But, when everybody is implementing that advice, it's actually the lesser-known tips (like the ones above!) that can help you really stand out.Put these to work for yourself, and you'll be that much closer to landing that job.

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Want to Change Career Paths? Here's How to Make a Pivot

Many of us start at our first job out of college thinking it will set us up for the rest of our career. And stepping off that path seems like a huge risk. When you’re on a straight and narrow career path, it’s easy to panic if you want to make a change.
The good news is that these kinds of pivots can make ... read more

credits to: Elizabeth Wellington

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 08, 2019|520 views

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Want to Change Career Paths? Here's How to Make a Pivot

written by: richill artloe

created: April 08, 2019 | 10:18 AM

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Blog Content: Many of us start at our first job out of college thinking it will set us up for the rest of our career. And stepping off that path seems like a huge risk. When you’re on a straight and narrow career path, it’s easy to panic if you want to make a change.The good news is that these kinds of pivots can make you a better professional. And even in industries like consulting and banking, it’s becoming quite common to grow your expertise across industries.With a positive approach and an open mind, you can take big strides in the right direction—even if that direction seems way off your original course. Here’s some hard-earned wisdom on how to make a pivot, no matter your industry or experience level.  <h2>Lean Into a Growth Mindset</h2>If there’s one thing you need in order to embrace change, it’s a growth mindset. Approaching the challenges of breaking into a new career path with a focus on learning (rather than perfecting) new skills makes it a lot easier to make headway.Also, remember that everyone starts somewhere, and switching specialties doesn’t mean you’re setting yourself back. Serena Chan, a partner at IBM Canada, will tell you the opposite is true. She started her career in financial services in the 1990s before drawing on her passion for solving complex problems as a consultant. Since that first change, Serena has built up breadth and depth with over 18 different professional certifications and countless projects across many different industries.“Throughout my career, I’ve always tried to stretch myself,” Serena says. “If you feel that the work is easy and you’re not be challenged, it's a sign that you're not learning something new.” Serena recognizes any hints of boredom with her job as an opportunity to take on something new and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www-03.ibm.com/services/learning/ites.wss/zz-en?pageType=page&c=K016977I39091C86">expand her professional arena</a>.Likewise, German Sanchez Cousco, Scrum Master at IBM’s blockchain program in Madrid, Spain, shifted gears to his dream job by developing new skills. German built a nine-year career in consulting, first, as an analyst, and second, as a senior consultant project lead. Despite his strong skills as a consultant, German really wanted to learn about blockchain technology.He took advantage of IBM's Digital Badges—courses that allow you to learn new skills and earn corresponding badges to verify them—to further his understanding of blockchain. With his newly acquired knowledge, German was able to make the switch to blockchain when an opportunity presented itself.Tip: Look for a certification program or online training that can empower you to work across different industries.  <h2>Build Your Network</h2>The deeper your network, the easier it is to find opportunities beyond your immediate field. Think about who might be a good resource for you in your personal and professional circles. Is there a supportive colleague who shifted careers to the industry you’re looking to enter? Or a friend from college who works in a role you’re interested in? Make a long list.Once you’ve got your list, it’s time to do some research. Prior to reaching out to people, learn about their backgrounds on LinkedIn, personal websites, and company profiles. When asking for people’s time and advice, showing that you’ve put in the effort to prepare beforehand goes a long way.And don’t forget about your social networks. Alumni groups, online associations, and even Facebook forums are a great way to get your foot in the door. Take those virtual connections a step further by meeting over coffee.Opening up to your network is the key to linking your interests with opportunities out in the world. There are layers of communities you can tap into from your next-door-neighbors to old college professors and former colleagues. The more people you reach out to, the more likely you are to connect with someone in the industry you’re trying to break into—so don’t count anyone out.Tip: Set a goal to reach out to one professional you admire a week. Over a phone call or coffee, talk about your aspirations and ask for their advice on how to move forward.  <h2>Choose a Company That Helps You Grow</h2>When you’re making a career change, think big about your dream job, but don’t assume that you’ll have to leave everything behind. If you can find a company, team, and manager that will help you evolve, you could stay at the organization for the long haul even while changing your career path multiple times.When German decided he was ready to make the change to blockchain, instead of hiding his interest in a job change, he was transparent with people about it. “IBM is a very huge company with a very big and open network. You can connect with everyone” says German. That candor made the difference: German’s manager tapped his network and found out IBM was starting its first blockchain project in Spain. German’s been working on the project ever since.German’s manager helped him find a new role, even though it meant he was losing a valued team member. By shifting directions within an organization that supports personal and professional growth, you can carve out your own path while building continuity.But, if your employer isn’t psyched about supporting your professional growth, that’s all the more reason to pick a new path. As you weigh your options, prioritize roles that give you exposure to different experiences, a ton of professional development, and multiple promotion tracks. After all, we’re always growing—we want to work for an organization that recognizes our change as an asset.Tip: While interviewing for a position, ask upfront about how the hiring company supports horizontal collaboration and growth. By pivoting on your career, you bring a level of dynamism to your work. No skill or expertise is ever lost in the shuffle. So remember: Everything you’ve learned will help you along the way, even if you’re working in a very new context.

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7 Ways to Find the Answer to "What Should I Do With My Life?"

What should I do with my life?
Unlike so many other questions you have about your career, this one’s not quite as easy to Google. (Or—shameless plug—to look up on The Muse.)
The good news is, you’re not alone—in fact, I’ll guarantee that everyone has pondered their read more

credits to: Lily Herman

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 05, 2019|473 views

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7 Ways to Find the Answer to "What Should I Do With My Life?"

written by: richill artloe

created: April 05, 2019 | 09:28 AM

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Blog Content: What should I do with my life?Unlike so many other questions you have about your career, this one’s not quite as easy to Google. (Or—shameless plug—to look up on The Muse.)The good news is, you’re not alone—in fact, I’ll guarantee that everyone has pondered their <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-questions-to-ask-yourself-if-youre-questioning-your-career-path">career path</a>, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/stop-asking-yourself-whats-my-passion-and-start-asking-this-instead">finding their passion</a>, or what they're meant to be doing at some point. And luckily, many of them are willing to share their advice. If you’re at a loss for what steps to take next, read on for the best pieces of advice from a recent <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.quora.com/What-should-I-do-with-my-life-39?redirected_qid=2937940">Quora</a> thread on this very issue. <h2>1. Talk to People</h2><blockquote>Meet or call at least 50 people. They can be your friends, relatives, friends of friends/references. Call them up, schedule a meeting, go see them and interact with them on what they are doing. Don’t expect anything, don’t ask them to find you a job, don’t ask them to give you a job. Just talk and meet and have a normal conversation. </blockquote>Gaurav MunjalYou’d be surprised at how much you can learn just listening to other people talk. OK, yes, sometimes you might not learn much more than how badly traffic was backed up during rush hour. But other times, if you listen (and listen between the lines), you’ll get insight into people’s motivations, hopes, dreams, and ambitions. And when you piece all that together, you can learn how others got to where they are today—and if that’s a path you want to be on, too. (Try these <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/informational-interview-best-questions-to-ask">informational interview questions</a> if you have no idea where to start.) <h2>2. Get Started</h2><blockquote>My suggestion is to do something. Even if it isn’t quite the right thing, it is nevertheless movement that can give you an opportunity to experience. You can spend a lot of time taking tests and getting evaluations for what you might be suited for; ideas always sound good on paper. But words don’t match experience, so acting on something is your best choice. </blockquote>Kathleen GraceRegardless of what you generally want to do, it never hurts to start building something. Really anything. Start <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-secrets-to-building-a-portfolio-thatll-make-everyone-want-to-hire-you">creating a portfolio</a>, launch a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-20minute-weekly-project-thats-turbocharging-my-career">career newsletter</a>, or learn how Periscope works. There are so many things you can do for your career—even if you don’t know what you want to do. And, just like the previous advice, the actual act of doing will help further clarify what paths you might want to be on, and which ones you should rule out. <h2>3. Gather Inspiration From Others</h2><blockquote>Walk into your local bookshop and go straight to the autobiography section. Buy three books from across different industries, societies, and cultures. Focus on biographies that document great and successful people's early lives, before they were great. Read them before bed. Wake up in the morning and write down 10 things you could do differently that day. Do some of them. Do this the next day. And then do it again. </blockquote>David BallNo matter what you do, you probably want to be successful at it. So what better way to get started than by learning how others reached their goals? Keep in mind as you’re reading that these people weren’t born knowing what they wanted to do either. (Get more inspiration from <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-free-ways-to-find-the-answer-to-what-should-i-do-with-my-life">this list</a> of 30 things to read, watch, listen to, and do to help you answer this age-old question.) <h2>4. Prepare for a Long Journey</h2><blockquote>Expect that it is going to take a while and involve several iterations, or so-called “life crises” to figure it out. For most people it’s a long and often unfinished journey. </blockquote>Andrei PalskoiOne huge misconception about figuring out what you want to do with your life is that you will have a sudden, magical moment of extreme clarity and then have your entire life planned.In actuality, lives shift constantly, and you’ll need to regroup and reconsider your journey as you go along. So instead of being surprised when you have to make new decisions, anticipate them, and dare I say it, be excited for them. <h2>5. Leave Your Comfort Zone</h2><blockquote>Try new things and widen your horizons. Try something you’ve always wanted to but never got around to, something that scares you, something that is very different from what you normally do. </blockquote>Can SarMaybe you don’t know what you want to do because you haven’t tried what you’re meant to do yet. And you won’t know if that is true or not until you get out there and start ruling things out.Seriously, it’s easy to get into a rut and feel like you have no options besides what you are you doing right now. However, by taking a step outside your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/why-its-finally-time-to-get-out-of-your-comfort-zone">comfort zone</a>, you might be surprised by how much you end up liking something that you never in a million years imagined you would. <h2>6. Be Okay With Failing</h2><blockquote>Learn the skills that are needed to accomplish what you want to achieve. Most of us fail in [our] first attempt. We keep failing and learning and growing. [The] point to be noted is that this is the time to learn, experiment, grow, and fail without any substantial damage. </blockquote>Anuj KumarNothing will slow you down more in your quest to figure out what to do with your life than being afraid of <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/moving-forward-how-to-overcome-a-career-failure">failure</a>. Yes, you’ve heard this before—but that’s because it’s true. You won’t ever be able to nail down what makes you happy if you rule everything out because it sounds hard. <h2>7. Enjoy Not Knowing</h2><blockquote>Enjoy the meanderings, the soul-searching, the loves lost, the time wasted. All of it will add up to a complex and very unique ‘you.’ The more you appreciate right now, the more the future will become a fantastic reality. Don’t pressure yourself to be in the future. </blockquote>James AltucherYou know how math problems always seem impossible when you first look at them, but then, after taking a break, the answer feels so obvious? Figuring out what you want to do with your life is kind of like that.By focusing on other less-pressing matters, the obvious answer may just come to you when you’re least expecting it—and it will be clearer than you ever imagined it to be. Feel better about not knowing what you want to do with your life? A little? Just remember that you don’t have to have it all figured out. And that even when you do, you might <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/everything-would-be-different-change-career-path-definition">change course</a> a few times. So don’t worry about having all the answers—just thinking about it is a good start.

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Stop Looking for Your Life's Purpose and Do This Instead

For most of my life, I’ve anxiously wondered about my “life’s purpose.”
Why am I here? What’s the greater meaning of my life? What’s the message I’m here to impart? What’s the point of my existence? And so on.
I’ve consulted with astrologers, Tarot card readers, career coaches,... read more

credits to: Alexandra Franzen

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 04, 2019|491 views

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Stop Looking for Your Life's Purpose and Do This Instead

written by: richill artloe

created: April 04, 2019 | 01:37 PM

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Blog Content: For most of my life, I’ve anxiously wondered about my “life’s purpose.”Why am I here? What’s the greater meaning of my life? What’s the message I’m here to impart? What’s the point of my existence? And so on.I’ve consulted with astrologers, Tarot card readers, career coaches, hypnotherapists, partners, and lovers. I’ve taken long walks through the woods. I’ve stared into the night sky. I’ve drunk too many cups of coffee. I’ve read biographies of my heroes looking for clues. I’ve tried to tease, prod, stimulate, and extrapolate “the answer” in a million and one ways.Then the other day, while talking with a friend, I realized something: What if I’ve had it all backwards?Let me pause for a moment. I should explain what my friend and I were talking about:Her: I’m 64 years old. I’ve run multiple businesses. I’ve achieved a lot. At this stage in my life, I just want to make a difference. I want to feel like I’m using my life to leave behind a real “legacy.”Me: You love teaching women how to believe in themselves. You specialize in teaching people how to shift their mindset from “I could never do that…” to “I’m capable. I have what it takes. Why not me?”Her: Yes. That’s what I do. Most women feel inadequate in some way or another. Most women just don’t believe in themselves.Me: What if you started a new project? What if you declared, “Over the next 10 years of my life, I will teach 1,000 women how to believe in themselves. I will record each of their stories on my website.” What if you made that your personal mission? Imagine the ripple effect of that project, now and long after you’re gone.At this point, her eyes welled up with tears. I saw those tears and then—zing!—I had an epiphany.Rather than trying to figure out my friend’s “life’s purpose” (which can often feel nebulous, confusing, changeable, or hard to put into words), we came up with an exciting “project”—a project with a specific timeframe (10 years), a specific goal (sharing tools to build self-trust and combat feelings of inadequacy), and a specific way to track progress (1,000 women).For most of my life I’ve been trying to nail down my “purpose” so that I can choose the right types of “projects” to align with it. But what if that’s a backwards approach? What if it’s better, for some people, to choose a project first and let “completing the project” become your purpose?(I’ve just blown my own mind.)What about you? Are you exhausted from roaming the earth searching for your purpose? What if, right now, you chose a big, exciting, slightly intimidating project—and you vowed to complete it before you die?Perhaps that’s all your “purpose” is: a project that feels interesting and significant to you, and that you promise to complete before your time on earth is up. Maybe we’ve been overcomplicating it. Maybe you’re not “born” with a purpose. Maybe you don’t “discover” it.Maybe you just outline a project and then you do it.

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How to Sell Yourself as an Employee After Being an Entrepreneur

Let’s face it—running a business is hard work. And if you decide that your business has run its course, you’ve successfully exited, or you’re just tired of the daily grind, it can be difficult to move on. Plus, the idea of “getting back into the job market” can be even more daunting.
Aside from where ... read more

credits to: Calvin Wright

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 04, 2019|600 views

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How to Sell Yourself as an Employee After Being an Entrepreneur

written by: richill artloe

created: April 04, 2019 | 01:45 PM

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Blog Content: Let’s face it—running a business is hard work. And if you decide that your business has run its course, you’ve successfully exited, or you’re just tired of the daily grind, it can be difficult to move on. Plus, the idea of “getting back into the job market” can be even more daunting.Aside from where to start (a feeling we all have at one point or another when job searching), some of the common issues my clients encounter during this transition involve finding the right role (and subsequently, their fit in the job market), writing a resume and cover letter, and effectively interviewing and talking about their experience.If you’re in the process of moving from entrepreneur to employee, here’s what you should be focused on in your job search. <h2>Finding the Right Role</h2>For many, finding the right role and fit is the most difficult part of the process. I’ve had clients who have run businesses for decades and come into the workforce feeling like they’re out of place. As an entrepreneur, this is expected—you’re used to wearing multiple hats and getting fairly decent at plenty of roles, yet rarely have the opportunity to work toward being an expert at any one position.To find your identity in the workforce, there are a number of methods you can employ (pardon the awful pun). For example, with a previous client who ran a residential real-estate organization, we talked a lot in our initial session about the aspect of his work he loved most: solving problems. We brainstormed what those problems actually looked like, discussed what sort of impact or influence they wanted to have on solving those problems, and sought out both organizations and roles that incorporated and offered this capacity.With another client, we conducted an inventory of all their skills and accomplishments and grouped them into different job areas. From there, we had multiple “skills buckets” that we investigated further through informational interviews to get a sense of what careers they gravitated toward.If you’re still struggling to come up with ideas, you can always take a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-11-best-career-quizzes-to-help-you-find-your-dream-job">career quiz</a> or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/14-free-personality-tests-thatll-help-you-figure-yourself-out">personality test</a>. (That said, I recommend taking these tests with a grain of salt, as they’re often not personalized to you, but rather spitting out a few answers based on a simple algorithm.) Or, you can check out one of these <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-free-ways-to-find-the-answer-to-what-should-i-do-with-my-life">free resources</a> or fill out this <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-find-your-passion-over-your-lunch-break-or-at-least-get-started">worksheet</a> to help find your passion.Regardless of which route you take, it’s best to verify all your hard research on the roles you’ve landed on by meeting with people working in those fields to help figure out if it’s the right option for you (these <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-email-templates-to-make-networking-way-less-awkward">email templates</a>can help in reaching out to people for informational interviews). <h2>Writing Your Resume and Cover Letter</h2>You’re set on a role that you’re interested in and now you need to start surveying your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-simple-formula-makes-highlighting-transferable-skills-easy">transferable skills</a> and building out your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-figure-out-what-exactly-makes-you-a-valuable-hire">value proposition</a>. (If you’re not familiar with what a value proposition involves, it’s essentially about defining and effectively communicating what makes you stand out from the competition—or, what you can offer better than any other applicant.)The primary purpose of a resume or cover letter is to get you in front of an interviewer. So, remember that there are some things you’ve accomplished that are going to be more marketable for the roles you’re seeking and others that aren’t as relevant that you may have to leave out.It helps to look at the “roles and responsibilities” section of the job description. Get a feel for what these jobs are seeking—both for direct and indirectly related skills—and use that as a barometer for evaluating your own skills that you want to present. Don’t worry if you’ve only had one role on your resume, or if it’s been a significant amount of time since you’ve been an employee. Present your experience in a concise and digestible way for the hiring team to see what strengths you bring.In the case of applying for a digital marketing specialist role, here’s an example of what your entrepreneurial experience could look like on a resume. Owner/Digital Media Strategist, Wright Digital  Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2011 - December 2018<ul><li>Built, managed, and grew Wright Digital’s social media presence across multiple channels (Instagram, Facebook page and group, Pinterest, and Twitter), led to an overall increase in monthly web traffic by 34% since October 2018.</li><li>Created Yelp business page that now includes nearly 1,500 user views—up 27% since May 2018; generated over 115 customer leads with a 14% purchase conversion rate.</li><li>Utilized Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel to better understand our ideal audience, retarget website traffic visitors, and create more effective advertisements based on our ideal user personas.</li></ul> In your cover letter, you want to effectively explain the catalyst for making the switch from business owner to this specific job or career. Focus more on what’s drawing you toward your new path rather than on what might have driven you away from being an entrepreneur.For example, if you were applying for a role as a junior UX designer at an e-commerce site, your first few lines in a cover letter might look something like this: When I was an entrepreneur, to ensure the success of my business, I had to learn and take on many responsibilities—marketing, sales, accounting, recruitment, and so many more.What I loved most about my role—and where my true passion lies—is in helping small businesses solve user experience dilemmas so they can do what they do best. What I’m really seeking is an opportunity where I can devote my time to solely understanding customers and their online shopping habits on a deeper level, and leverage that in-depth knowledge to create a flawless user experience for those looking to purchase outdoor and recreational gear for their upcoming summer camping adventures. You’ll then want to build your cover letter body by addressing how you bring relevant skills from your past experience as an entrepreneur. Cover letters are an excellent tool to differentiate yourself in the job market, especially when you’re coming from an unconventional background—so be sure to actually write one, first of all, and spend an extra bit of time making yours stand out.(This article on <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/is-a-skillsbased-resume-right-for-you">skills-based resumes</a> and this one on the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-perfect-cover-letter-template-to-show-off-your-skills">perfect cover letter to show off your skills</a> might help.) <h2>Answering Interview Questions</h2>The first step is familiarizing yourself with the interview process for your industry. There will be standard parts consistent across most industries (like these <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-the-31-most-common-interview-questions">common interview questions</a>), however, more technical roles will have other components, such as answering <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-smart-moves-to-make-in-a-technical-interview-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-coding">technical interview questions</a> or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-steps-to-solving-an-impossible-brain-teaser-in-a-tech-interview-without-breaking-a-sweat">brain teasers</a>, while others may require putting together a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-steps-to-acing-your-interview-presentation">presentation</a> or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-interview-assignment-mistakes-fixable">writing assessment</a>.One of my recent clients was coming off a 12-year stint running their own business. They had recruited, interviewed, and hired individuals before, but had little experience being on the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-go-from-interviewer-to-interviewee">other end of the process</a>. They came to me after struggling through their first few interviews and needed help on where to improve. I took them through an interview prep session and conducted a mock interview to assess their skill level, and determined that their biggest barriers were their ability to nail their <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/perfect-pitch-how-to-nail-your-elevator-speech">introductory pitch</a> and brainstorm proper examples to address the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-behavioral-interview-questions-you-should-be-ready-to-answer">behavioral questions</a> (specifically ones revolving around working with colleagues) that they kept encountering.The key thing to remember is that you always want to find a way to relate your answers to the industry and role that you’re applying for. If you’re asked a question about a time that you disagreed with a supervisor, yet you’ve technically never had a supervisor, it’s best to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-things-youll-be-tempted-to-say-to-compensate-for-a-lack-of-experience-that-you-just-well-shouldnt">acknowledge the gap</a>and walk them through what you would do in that scenario instead.For example: “Thank you for your question. In my experience as an entrepreneur, I’ve frequently been the person who has ‘approved’ all business decisions. However, what I found my employees doing that I responded best to in these situations, and what I would do when faced with this dilemma, is to first put myself in their shoes and ask myself if there’s potentially any information that I’m not privy to that would yield such a decision.If I still found myself disagreeing with the decision, I would come prepared with a logical presentation and sound reasoning why I felt an alternative direction would be more effective. I’d communicate this with an open mind for what I might uncover and come without any expectations of my supervisor reversing their decision.It isn’t about being right necessarily, it’s about gaining greater context into the decision-making process, expressing my opinion in the right environment, and reminding myself that there is often a disconnect between what employees see on the day-to-day and what supervisors are dealing with for the bigger picture.” Reentering the job market after being an entrepreneur is a big career move, and it’s important to acknowledge that throughout the process. Give yourself credit for making the switch, take pride in the small wins, and watch them build toward your overall goal of landing the right role.

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5 Answers From 5 Real People on Why You Keep Getting Rejected From Jobs

Muse readers are constantly asking us: Why do I keep getting rejected from jobs?
It’s a common question without an easy answer—and that’s why we’re so happy that we could get five opinions from five real people on the possible reasons why.

1. Make Sure You’re Prepared
... read more

credits to: Elle Griffin

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 03, 2019|535 views

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5 Answers From 5 Real People on Why You Keep Getting Rejected From Jobs

written by: richill artloe

created: April 03, 2019 | 09:20 AM

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Blog Content: Muse readers are constantly asking us: Why do I keep getting rejected from jobs?It’s a common question without an easy answer—and that’s why we’re so happy that we could get five opinions from five real people on the possible reasons why. <h2>1. Make Sure You’re Prepared</h2><blockquote>The good news is that you’re getting interviews! There are many variables as to why you’re not moving forward. Are you asking for the job? Often job seekers feel that they shouldn’t do so, but hiring managers want to feel you really want the position. Passion a key attribute they’re looking for. Let’s assume all the candidates you're up against are qualified. How do we differentiate ourselves? One way is to demonstrate your knowledge of the company, interviewer, and their challenges. Do your homework and weave this information into your answers. Link their challenges to your experience handling similar challenges. Connect the dots for them so they can grasp how easily you could transition into the role. Companies want problem solvers and you may be one, but are you conveying this on the interview? Engage the interviewer. Like any good conversationalist, you want to have a dialogue with the interviewer. And you want to keep them listening. Use stories to make your point. People remember stories. Your goal is to be memorable. Prepare more. In conducting mock interviews, I find most job seekers didn't do enough prep. Successful interviewing is all about the prep. Good luck.  </blockquote><a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/theresa-merrill">Theresa Merrill, Career Coach</a> <h2>2. Seek Outside Feedback</h2><blockquote>It’s no surprise that practice makes perfect, but what’s important is how you’re practicing. In the final stages of the hiring process, there are many intangibles that come into play, from direct connections to the hiring manager to overall knowledge of the position to appearing to be the best fit for the role.At this point I think it is essential that you seek the help of a friend, industry professional, or coach to identify and combat any weaknesses in the interview. If you go about practicing on your own, it’s possible to make the same or similar mistakes. The goal is for your next interview to be your last interview. </blockquote><a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/ryan-kahn">Ryan Kahn, Career Coach</a> <h2>3. Address Any Concerns</h2><blockquote>When the interview’s over, ask the interviewer if they have any concerns after speaking with you, or any area they’re still unsure about. Mention that since you’re there, you’d like the opportunity to address anything on the spot.That way, there are no lingering hesitations in their mind. It’s bold but it’s worked in my experience. Ask the recruiters who reject you for feedback, more often than not, they’ll provide some sort of constructive criticism that will help you improve. </blockquote>Preet Mehta, Account Executive <h2>4. Ask Your Interviewer for Feedback</h2><blockquote>Handling rejection with no clear feedback as to why you didn’t get the job is tough, but take each rejection as an opportunity to learn as best you can. Asking the recruiter and hiring manager to give you some insight into what you could improve upon either in your skills or interview style is a great way to learn.Another effective way to gain insight is to use tools like LinkedIn to look at the profile of the person the company hires into the position. Compare their profile to yours to ensure you have comparable skills and experiences. If you do, you know you’re pursuing the right positions for your level of experience and skills. </blockquote><a href="https://www.themuse.com/author/toni-thompson">Toni Thompson, VP of People and Talent</a> <h2>5. Make Sure It’s the Right Job</h2><blockquote>I feel your pain! I’ve been on dozens of interviews with no job offers and became self-employed and received no responses from the 50 cold emails I sent to potential clients for contract work. This is what I’ve learned and one (or all) of the below could apply to you as well.1. Wrong job or field of work. Maybe you are looking in the wrong place and going after the wrong jobs. I was rejected for a lot of jobs because I kept going after what I really didn’t like and that was working in the healthcare field (I now work in the tech space).2. I learned how to present myself in interviews and updated my resume. Your resume is getting you interviews so maybe it’s your communication or the way you interview.3. It’s not the right time or the right company. Those jobs are probably not where you want to be. Some of the jobs I was rejected from turned out to be not-so-great companies.4. Change your mindset. Write down what you prefer in an employer, team, and work environment and how you want to feel. Be specific. Now focus on what you have to offer and how you can help that company, team or manager.This helped me because it gave me more confidence. </blockquote>Queen Joseph We hope these answers give you a little more insight into the interview process and how you could improve before the next one.Good luck!

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3 Better Ways to Start a Networking Email Than “Remember Me?”

I’m all about being upfront when you network. It’s helpful to be honest about why you’re reaching out (for example, you’re going through a job search or moving to a new city). It can combat nerves and h... read more

credits to: Sara McCord

category: Career Advise

published: Apr 01, 2019|546 views

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3 Better Ways to Start a Networking Email Than “Remember Me?”

written by: richill artloe

created: April 01, 2019 | 08:10 AM

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Blog Content: I’m all about being upfront <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-is-the-easiest-way-to-expand-your-job-search-network-instantly">when you network</a>. It’s helpful to be honest about why you’re reaching out (for example, you’re going through a job search or moving to a new city). It can combat nerves and help the process <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-mindset-changes-thatll-make-networking-feel-way-less-fake-and-horrible">feel more genuine</a>. In other words, it instantly solves two core issues many people stress about when told to network.That said, as with anything else, you know there’s a difference between being straightforward and being overly blunt. For example, you know to write “I was thinking of approaching the project from a different angle” over “I hate all of your ideas.”Aspiring to find this balance, many people <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/finally-5-email-templates-that-make-following-up-with-anyone-way-less-awkward">begin networking emails</a> with “Remember me?” or even, “You probably don’t remember me…” After all, why not begin with an honest admission so the other person knows you aren’t being fake? Well, unfortunately, this approach often backfires. While you’re coming from a sincere place, it’s pretty audacious to ask for something from someone whom you’re blatantly admitting you barely know.But the fix is simpler than you’d think. Just skip over the line that roughly translates to: “We’re practically strangers.” Here’s how: <h2>1. For Someone You Met Once: “We Met at [Event]”</h2>You had a brief conversation, exchanged business cards, connected on LinkedIn—and haven’t been in touch since. Maybe you even had to think for a minute about exactly how you know each other, so starting your email with “Remember me?” seems totally reasonable.But imagine if you saw that person face-to-face. Would you start by sharing that it took you a few minutes to place them, or wait until you remembered and then reintroduce yourself with how you’re connected? The second option helps conversation flow more naturally (and an ask won’t feel as out of place). It sounds like this:Hi Judy,We met at last year’s Developers’ Conference in Tampa, where we bonded over the fact that we’d both recently given up coffee. (Update: I only lasted three weeks.) I’m reaching out because I remember you work at [Company Name] and they have an opening I’m interested in. Could I email you a few questions about what it’s like working there?Thank you, Marshall <h2>2. For Someone You Haven’t Spoken to in a While: “I See From LinkedIn That…”</h2>If you used to be in touch with someone, then stopped communicating, and suddenly want to reconnect, there’s probably a reason why. Maybe that former contact is the only person you’ll know in your new city, or you’re reaching out as you eye a transition back to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-best-way-to-get-a-new-job-in-your-old-field">your old field</a>.“Remember me” misses the mark in this scenario because obviously your old acquaintance knows who you are. It’s more of a nod to the fact that you haven’t made time to stay in touch—and that’s kind of a sour note to start on. So, skip sounding (and feeling) awkward, and do some internet sleuthing to get up to speed. It’ll seem a lot friendlier. It sounds like this:Hi Garrett,I see from LinkedIn that you’re currently working in [new sector]. That’s awesome. I’ve actually been contemplating a move there and would love to hear what the transition was like for you. Would you have time for a cup of coffee, a brief phone call, or for me to send over a few questions by email?Sincerely, Diane <h2>3. For Someone Important: “It Was Great Catching Up…”</h2>Sometimes, when you’re star struck, you can feel a kind of networking <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/7-proven-strategies-thatll-help-you-deal-with-your-imposter-syndrome">impostor syndrome</a>. So, even if you’ve spoken with the CEO of your company or that networking contact who gives killer keynotes many times, you think, “Why would they remember me?” Even just reaching out to keep them as an active member of your network feels like you’re taking up valuable time.Like you would before other daunting career situations, give yourself a little pep-talk: You’re thoughtful and interesting, that’s why they’ll remember who you are. Now, if you think they’ll need some context because of the sheer number of people they speak to at events, then provide it, but go on to write what you would to other contacts. Try this:Hi Regina,It was great catching up after your speech at the annual gala. I love the point you made about how everyone can find meaningful ways to get involved. I hope you have a great holiday season and look forward to seeing you at industry events in the New Year.Best, Jamie When you don’t talk to someone regularly, it’s understandable that you’d want to put extra thought into how you start your note. But remember, there’s no requirement that you lead with the fact that it’s been a while. If your note is thoughtful and brief, that’s generally all you need. 

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6 Pretty Clear Signs You’re Being Taken Advantage of at Work

One hard truth about being successful is this: You have to go above and beyond. And personally, I’ve always taken this to heart. I’ve worked longer hours than was expected of me, said yes to almost every project, and spent way too much time perfecting assignments.
However, I’m also aware that this work ethic puts me in... read more

credits to: Alyse Kalish

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 29, 2019|800 views

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6 Pretty Clear Signs You’re Being Taken Advantage of at Work

written by: richill artloe

created: March 29, 2019 | 10:19 AM

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Blog Content: One hard truth about being successful is this: You have to go above and beyond. And personally, I’ve always taken this to heart. I’ve worked longer hours than was expected of me, said yes to almost every project, and spent way too much time perfecting assignments.However, I’m also aware that this work ethic puts me in a difficult position—<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/heres-how-you-can-be-a-team-player-at-workwithout-being-a-total-doormat">becoming a doormat</a> for my boss or co-workers to toss anything my way. If you’re unsure whether you’re being taken advantage of in your current job, keep an eye out for these six signs: <h2>1. People Have Stopped Asking Whether It’s OK to Hand You More Work</h2>The caveat with this is that from time to time, your boss is going to give you projects without getting your buy-in. This is normal and part of them being in charge of your goals and responsibilities. What’s not normal is constantlybeing handed extra assignments that significantly increase your workload and aren’t in-line with your job description.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38684.png%3Fv%3D88d6b5a65385cbaed593e7ddd54b52c8b1daa22f802af69e27b5f0aa5ed6e946&prog=1&w=780" /> Especially if these assignments are coming from your co-workers and not your boss.If this sounds like you, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-completely-inoffensive-ways-to-say-no-at-work-because-yes-isnt-always-an-option">read this</a> to learn how to say no to these requests. And <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/ask-a-career-coach-how-do-i-tell-my-boss-im-overworked-without-complaining">read this</a> if you’re looking for a professional, non-whiny way to tell your boss that you have too much on your plate. <h2>2. No One Ever Says Thank You</h2>You can’t expect a “thank you” from your manager every time you do something required of you, but if you’re never recognized for the work you do? That’s not great.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38685.png%3Fv%3D7cdfc5fd85650d809da5be6c855b5b7e5ce2924f73effbdda9e973eefb088f86&prog=1&w=780" /> In an article by Muse writer Larry Alton called <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-reasons-your-boss-doesnt-notice-that-youre-killing-it-at-work-lately">“5 Reasons Your Boss Doesn’t Notice You’re Killing it at Work Lately,”</a> he recommends, “Instead of waiting around for your manager to set a meeting, make an appointment with her—in fact, if you can, make it a weekly one.” Then, use that time to go over everything you’ve completed (and make it impossible for your boss not to acknowledge you).And when it comes to your colleagues, check out <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-subtle-ways-to-get-your-coworkers-to-appreciate-you">this article</a>. <h2>3. You’re Spending a Majority of Time Doing Things That Are Outside Your Job Description</h2>You’re working on things that aren’t your responsibility, and as a result never have time to complete your own projects. This maybe hurts your reputation with your boss or requires you to stay late while everyone else waltzes out at 6 PM sharp.It’s OK to want to help others, but if it’s taking over your calendar you may need to cut down on how much assistance you offer up (<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-ways-to-stop-being-taken-advantage-of-at-work-without-losing-respect">read this</a> for how to do that).<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38686.png%3Fv%3D95030e5ab8ad274a66f47b40a940bea678f11c937ba57e4708fd032901f22aec&prog=1&w=780" /> Or, if you’ve found yourself running non-work-related errands for your boss (when “personal assistant” isn’t your title), it may be time to have a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-to-do-when-your-boss-is-a-workaholic-and-expects-you-to-be-one-too">tough conversation with your manager</a> about this. <h2>4. You’re Doing the Work of Two (or More) People</h2>Maybe someone quit and you’re now doing two different jobs at the same time. Or, you’re working your butt off while the rest of your colleagues sit idly by and slack off.Everyone has slower days and busier days, but if you’re feeling like the only one who’s stressed on a regular basis, it’s worth bringing this up to your boss.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38687.png%3Fv%3D068cf2983e90c6264a25aa3499e7c61c76caca0afa1e474fa04fd6bc1ced1fc9&prog=1&w=780" /> If you’re unsure of how to get the conversation started, start by sending an email that says something along the lines of: I’d love to discuss my workload and priorities with you if you have some free time to meet this week, as I’ve struggled to keep up with all the new assignments sent my way. Is there a time that works best for you? <h2>5. You Haven’t Been Compensated for Your Efforts</h2>If all the signs above hit home, but you’ve yet to receive a raise or promotion for doing the extra work, you’re almost definitely being taken advantage of.The one exception is if you know your company isn’t doing well—if that’s the case, I’d suggest figuring out how much compensation matters to your overall happiness. If it’s not a huge win for you, consider talking to your boss about other benefits you might be able to get in exchange.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38688.png%3Fv%3D70d031f4a8a70c59febf08573c4e7881dbf51e3864345dd3005a900d94a22b8a&prog=1&w=780" /> But if that’s not the case, this is when it’s worth negotiating for a raise or title change. And because we know this is easier said than done, we put together <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-worksheet-you-100-need-to-fill-out-before-asking-your-boss-for-a-raise">this worksheet</a> to help make it easier. <h2>6. You’re Not Allowed to Take Breaks or Time Off</h2>Similar to compensation, when you’re working extra hard you’re most certainly worthy of taking breaks here and there to recharge.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38689.png%3Fv%3D3ccdc5b931a65f797c2c9fcb82ef6fd3b4d431093e99e7e75043d816a2d76048&prog=1&w=780" /> But if your manager yells at you for taking a short lunch break or never lets you go on vacation for too long (or at all), that’s a major red flag. Regardless of what industry you’re in, a good manager (and company) recognizes the importance of taking time off. All <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2014/02/28/take-a-vacation-its-good-for-productivity-and-the-economy-according-to-a-new-study/#c75c9795a337">the research</a> backs up the fact that it’s better for employee productivity and the company’s bottom line. Here’s the hard truth: If you found yourself nodding along to this entire article, you’re in a tough spot. You can either try to fix the situation or you can start to think of your next move.But before you do anything drastic, take a quick look in the mirror and make sure that you’re not part of the problem. That means learning to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-guide-to-setting-boundaries-at-workwithout-making-anyone-resent-you">set boundaries</a>, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/7-email-templates-thatll-help-you-say-no-without-having-to-overthink-it">saying no more often</a>, and initiating those hard conversations with your boss. Because the worst thing would be to leave this job and end up in the same situation because of your habits.

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10 Brilliant Tips for Dealing With a Difficult Boss

In an ideal world, we would all have fantastic managers—bosses who helped us succeed, who made us feel valued, and who were just all-around great people. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. But, whether the person you work for is a micromanager, has anger management problems, read more

credits to: The Muse Editor

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 29, 2019|660 views

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10 Brilliant Tips for Dealing With a Difficult Boss

written by: richill artloe

created: March 29, 2019 | 10:22 AM

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Blog Content: In an ideal world, we would all have fantastic managers—bosses who helped us succeed, who made us feel valued, and who were just all-around great people. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. But, whether the person you work for is a micromanager, has anger management problems, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/12-different-strategies-for-dealing-with-a-boss-who-plays-favorites">shows favortism</a>toward one person, is a flat-out <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-deal-with-workplace-bullies">workplace bully</a>, or just isn't very competent, you still have to make the best of the situation and get your job done.To help out, we've gathered the best advice from around the web for dealing with a bad boss. Try one or more of these tips to find some common ground with your boss—or at least stay sane until you find a new gig. <h2>1. Make Sure You’re Dealing With a “Bad Boss”</h2>Before trying to fix your bad boss, make sure you really are dealing with one. Is there a reason for her behavior, or are you being too hard on him or her?“Observe your boss for a few days and try to notice how many things she does well versus poorly. When she is doing something “bad,” try to imagine the most forgiving reason why it could have occurred. Is it truly her fault, or could it be something out of her control?” <h2>2. Identify Your Boss’ Motivation</h2>Understanding why your boss does or cares about certain things can give you insight into his or her management style.“...if the rules are totally out of control, try to figure out your boss’ motivation. Maybe it’s not that he really cares about how long your lunch break takes; he actually cares about how it looks to other employees and their superiors.” <h2>3. Don’t Let it Affect Your Work</h2>No matter how bad your boss' behavior, avoid letting it affect your work. You want to stay on good terms with other leaders in the company (and keep your job!).“Don’t try to even the score by working slower, or taking excessive ‘mental health’ days or longer lunches. It will only put you further behind in your workload and build a case for your boss to give you the old heave-ho before you’re ready to go.” <h2>4. Stay One Step Ahead</h2>Especially when you're dealing with a micromanager, head off your boss' requests by anticipating them and getting things done before they come to you.“…a great start to halting micromanagement in its tracks is to anticipate the tasks that your manager expects and get them done well ahead of time. If you reply, ‘I actually already left a draft of the schedule on your desk for your review,’ enough times, you’ll minimize the need for her reminders. She’ll realize that you have your responsibilities on track—and that she doesn’t need to watch your every move.” <h2>5. Set Boundaries</h2>Working with someone who seems to have no boundaries means that you have to go ahead and set them.“One of the challenges of unlikable people is that they come with equally unlikable behavior—and it’s important to learn how to distance yourself from that behavior. As Robert Frost said, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’” <h2>6. Stop Assuming They Know Everything</h2>Just because someone has a managerial title doesn’t mean that they have all the right answers, all the time.“I realized then that, just because someone is in a position of authority, doesn’t mean he or she knows everything. From that point forward, I stopped assuming the title ‘manager was equivalent to ‘all knowing.’ .” <h2>7. Act as the Leader</h2>When dealing with an incompetent boss, sometimes it's best to make some leadership decisions on your own.If you know your area well enough, there is no reason to not go ahead creating and pursuing a direction you know will achieve good results for your company. People who do this are naturally followed by their peers as an informal leader. Management, although maybe not your direct boss, will notice your initiative. Of course, you don’t want to do something that undermines the boss, so keep him or her in the loop. <h2>8. Identify Triggers</h2>If your boss has anger management problems, identify what triggers her meltdowns and be extra militant about avoiding those.“For example, if your editor flips when you misspell a source’s name, be sure to double and triple-check your notes. And if your boss starts foaming at the mouth if you arrive a moment after 8 AM, plan to get there at 7:45—Every. Single. Day.”  <h2>9. Use Tips from Couples' Therapy</h2>When dealing with disagreement, pull on some tenants from couple's therapy to work through the issue.“Simply repeat back to him what he said and ask “Is that what you meant?” (a standard trick ripped from couples' therapy). If he agrees to your recap, ask him to tell you more about it. When you repeat someone's perspective back to him, you give him a chance to expound and, crucially, to feel heard.” <h2>10. Avoid Future Bad Bosses</h2>When interviewing with a new company, do your research ahead of time to make sure you're not getting into another situation with a less-than-ideal manager.“Have coffee or lunch with one or more staffers at the new company. Ostensibly, your purpose is to learn general information about the company and its culture. However, use this opportunity to discover as much about your potential boss as possible, without appearing creepy, of course.”

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How to Go Down a Career Path That's Outside Your Speciality (That You Spent Years Studying)

If you find yourself wondering why you majored in psychology, philosophy, or biology, when the truth is, none of those are fields you care to pursue, you’re in good company. The nagging feeling that you’re not suited read more

credits to: Nisha Ahluwalia

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 28, 2019|505 views

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How to Go Down a Career Path That's Outside Your Speciality (That You Spent Years Studying)

written by: richill artloe

created: March 28, 2019 | 09:04 AM

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Blog Content: If you find yourself wondering why you majored in psychology, philosophy, or biology, when the truth is, none of those are fields you care to pursue, you’re in good company. The nagging feeling that <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/dear-job-seekers-stop-apologizing-for-the-experience-you-dont-have">you’re not suited</a> for what you just spent four or more years studying doesn’t often go away—it just continues to grow with time. You can’t ignore it.Early on in my career, I faced this exact dilemma when I graduated with a degree and background in computer science, yet no desire to enter the field. After literally spending years studying one thing, I was dismayed to realize that I didn’t want to go in that direction. <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-spin-typical-college-side-jobs-into-legitimate-work-experiences-on-your-resume">Instead of ditching my background</a>and skills and pretending that I wasn’t knowledgeable in computer science, I found a way to navigate the job search based on what I knew about myself and what I wanted to do with my life.Here are a few things I learned along the way. I hope they’ll help you on <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-ways-to-figure-out-what-youre-good-at-not-just-what-youre-passionate-about">your career path</a>, no matter what you majored in and what you’d like to do instead.<h2>1. Figure Out What Matters Most</h2>When I realized I didn’t want to go into programming, I knew I had to focus on why I felt that way. I liked the work itself well enough. I love solving complex problems, and there’s something really satisfying about sitting down, just you and your computer. But in the programming classes and jobs I’d taken, I never felt very comfortable. The most notable example of this was the warning I received from a hiring manager in an interview. He told me that I’d be working in a quiet lab and probably wouldn’t have a lot of fun when I come into the office, but the job was mine if I wanted it. As hard as it was to resist a ringing endorsement like that, I passed.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38247.png%3Fv%3D377b54e40efe174253e5126d081b8c4024601e5faa5ad6248cb0e15ff6ec46db&prog=1&w=780" />While I definitely know programmers who are team players and development environments that are dynamic and exciting, there’s still a pattern of individualism and relative quiet that doesn’t mesh with my work style. Ultimately, social, collaborative settings are where I do my best work and feel most energized.Have you ever really thought about what kind of environment invigorates you most? It’s critical to identify why you’re unhappy with your current career path to figure out next steps. Whether it’s due to culture fit, day-to-day tasks, or work-life balance, understanding what you need to be happy at work will make it much easier to figure out which positions and workplaces are best for you.<h2>2. Go Lateral</h2>When you don’t have much (or any) background in your desired field, it can be tough to get companies to take a chance on you. Often, you run into a paradox where you need relevant experience to get a job, but you need a job to get relevant experience. Your saving grace is if a company already knows what a bright, hard-working, and talented employee you are since it’ll be a lot easier to get convince it of your value.Near the end of my college career, I took an internship in tech support at a company I really enjoyed. Although the department wasn’t ideal, I loved the people, culture, and product. After the internship ended, I sent personal thank you notes to all of the executives I had met and reached out the recruiter to let her know I was interested in working there full-time, albeit in a different position.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38248.png%3Fv%3Dd1a8705f9e0e80108b5a60b75c9c7264203170e96f1e53e82ae32824a731d04a&prog=1&w=780" />Since I wasn’t sure about which field I wanted to go into yet, I just let her know that I would be interested in any position outside of the engineering department. My familiarity with the company and recommendations from co-workers helped convince her to take a risk—so when a position opened up in marketing, she brought me in.When you want a significantly different experience at work, you might think you need to seek out a new company. But many times, companies are happy to let you explore a new role if it means they get to retain a valued employee. Talk to your manager (and HR department) about your interest in pursuing something else within the organization, and explain why you think you’d be great at it. If you can effectively make your case, there’s a good chance you’ll be considered for a position outside the team you interned with.<h2>3. Embrace Your Past</h2>Diversity in the workplace is critical—and not just when it comes to race, gender, and age. Having people with different backgrounds, skills, and experience guarantees that a team will be able to approach problems from different angles and come up with unique solutions. So when you’re looking for a position in a new field, make sure to use your work history as a selling point.<img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F38249.png%3Fv%3D644f47d672ba0951f606165af1496ec5ddd5f695432315eef7eeead2dc6e57eb&prog=1&w=780" />In the years that I’ve been in marketing, I’ve found a computer science background has not only been helpful, but it’s also given me additional credibility, and the opportunity to work on projects I might not have been considered for otherwise. My education has also helped me understand the needs of technical teams on a deeper level.Whatever you’re bringing to the table, make sure to bring up some examples of how <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-skills-that-will-impress-every-hiring-manager">your skills are an asset</a> for the position you’re after. When you’re competing against dozens of other applicants, it’s a surefire way to stand out and gain an edge of the other candidates.Changing your career is a big decision, and it’s okay to feel nervous or intimidated. After all, it’s a big change. But at a certain point, you need to stay true to how you want to spend your day, which problems you want to solve, and what you want to learn. And if you’re not finding that in your current position, it’s time to make a change. If you can identify what you want, leverage established relationships, and sell others on your past experience, you’ll be that much closer to discovering where you’re truly meant to be and what you’re truly meant to be doing.While it was daunting to essentially start over after four years spent studying one very specialized field, I’ve never regretted my decision. College isn’t about learning the laser-focused skills you need for your future career—it’s about developing and enhancing your critical thinking and problem-solving ability, which is applicable to any number of jobs. And when I look back at the doors my background in computer science has opened, I’m able to confidently say that if given the choice, I’d do the same thing over again.

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7 Qualities That Make a Good Mentor (and How to Find Someone Who Has Them All)

You’ve heard it again and again: Everyone needs a mentor in their career, if not several. Just like you want the kind of friends who can successfully guide you through life’s twists and turns—like how much you should spend on your next apartment or whether or not you should get bangs—you want people who can provide tha... read more

credits to: Alyse Kalish

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 27, 2019|536 views

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7 Qualities That Make a Good Mentor (and How to Find Someone Who Has Them All)

written by: richill artloe

created: March 27, 2019 | 08:17 AM

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Blog Content: You’ve heard it again and again: Everyone needs a mentor in their career, if not several. Just like you want the kind of friends who can successfully guide you through life’s twists and turns—like how much you should spend on your next apartment or whether or not you should get bangs—you want people who can provide that same level of support in your career. And mentors can be valuable in just about any stage you’re in, whether you’re job searching, getting adjusted in a role, looking to move up, or exploring a new and intimidating path.But what exactly makes for great mentorship? We’ll let you in on the secret formula to finding and keeping the perfect mentor for you. <h2>What Is a Mentor?</h2>A mentor is a person who provides you with the tools, guidance, support, and feedback you need to thrive in your career. They’re often someone who’s gone down the same road you’re on currently and is “there to advise you on what they’ve done and what’s worked for them” says Muse career coach <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/brad-finkeldei">Brad Finkeldei</a>.Just about anyone can act as your career mentor—a friend, a friend of a friend, a family member, an alumnus of your school, a co-worker or peer, a current or former boss, someone you got to know through a networking event. A mentor isn’t someone you admire from afar. They should be able to play a consistent role in your life over some period of time.Al Dea, founder of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://careerschooled.com/">CareerSchooled</a> and a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/coaches/al-dea">Muse career coach</a> outlines several clear benefits of having a mentor in your career.First, they’re knowledge and opportunity centers—they can “provide you with insights and context and experiences that either you may not necessarily have at all or you have limited visibility into,” he says. Plus, having a mentor “can help you get unstuck” when you’re struggling to come up with a solution to a problem or can’t seem to make a decision.Having a mentor also helps you build your professional network because they may know or be connected with people who can help you down the road.(Oh, and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-selfish-careerboosting-reasons-you-should-become-a-mentor-today">being a mentor</a> provides plenty of benefits, too, including leadership training, access to new professional contacts and opportunities, and the satisfaction of being a part of someone else’s success. It’s really a two-way relationship!) <h2>What Are the Qualities of a Good Mentor?</h2>Not all mentors are created equal. The best mentors share some important qualities. You’ll want to look for these attributes in anyone you’re thinking about building a mentor-mentee relationship with. And if you’re looking to be a better mentor yourself, these qualities are worth noting. <h3>1. Relevant Expertise or Knowledge</h3>It may seem obvious, but your mentor should, more often than not, have some kind of relevant background. Maybe they’re a few levels or titles ahead of you (say, a VP of sales while you’re an account executive) or have worked in the space you’re interested in for some time. But they should be able to help propel you forward because they’ve been there, seen the landscape, and know what it takes to be successful.“Having some sort of commonality can also be really helpful because that’s usually what can bring that relationship together,” Dea adds.One thing to watch out for: This person shouldn’t be more than five or 10 years ahead of you. Someone who’s 20 or 30 years out has a wealth of experience to share, sure, but they may also be so removed from where you are that they can’t relate to your situation and provide accurate advice. The modern workplace is constantly changing, so what was common practice in your mentor’s prime may no longer be relevant. <h3>2. Enthusiasm for Sharing That Expertise</h3>Just as important as your mentor having expertise is them being willing to share it with you. They shouldn’t be someone who begrudgingly hands over knowledge and expects figurative payment in return, nor should they reveal things in a vague, manipulative fashion. Rather, they should be open and excited to spread the word.The best mentors give advice not because they like to hear themselves talk, but because they genuinely want others to benefit from the hard-won wisdom they’ve learned over the course of their careers. <h3>3. A Respectful Attitude</h3>You don’t want someone who criticizes you harshly and unconstructively, mistreats you or others close to you, and ultimately gives you a bad name. That makes for an unproductive and frustrating partnership.And on the rare occasions when good mentors act in a less-than-respectful manner (look, we’re all human), they acknowledge it and apologize authentically. <h3>4. Eagerness to Invest in Others</h3>“Mentoring is an investment. No one gets paid to do it in their day job,” explains Dea. Because there’s no concrete incentive, you’ll want a mentor who finds genuine joy in helping others.Great mentors realize that they’re playing a long game, and as a result are patient in how they guide others down their path. They don’t expect immediate gains, and they don’t give up easily. More importantly, they care about maintaining and growing their professional relationships. <h3>5. The Ability to Give Honest and Direct Feedback</h3>Finding someone who’s respectful is key, but so is finding someone who will give you some tough love when you need it. A good mentor knows how to deliver feedback in a way that’s constructive, kind, and direct, and doesn’t shy away from being honest because they’re afraid of hurting your feelings.Basically, you want “someone who’s willing to call you out on your BS,” says Finkeldei, because rarely can you get that kind of perspective in the workplace. And you know you’ll make better decisions and come out stronger with someone like that by your side. <h3>6. Reflective Listening and Empathy</h3>These are important qualities in a mentor because “they can have all the answers in their head, but if they’re not willing to listen to where you’re coming from, they’re not going to be able to steer you in the direction that you want to go,” says Finkeldei.What does this look like? Your mentor should be asking questions more often than simply telling you what to do. And, says Finkeldei, they should show that they’re “actually curious about what you’re up to and why you’re up to that.”That curiosity is important because “you want someone who can relate to you from your perspective,” says Finkeldei. Oftentimes people try to impose their own beliefs or ways of approaching things on others, and this can be a good mentor’s downfall. So find someone you can trust to take your values and input into account over their own. <h3>7. Willingness to Be a Sponsor</h3>Not every mentor has to also be a sponsor, but it can be really helpful to have this kind of mentor in your corner.The difference between the two, Dea explains, is action: While a mentor is someone who can guide you with advice and support, a sponsor is an <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-is-an-ally-7-examples">ally</a>who takes it one step further by being someone “who is actively advocating for you…both behind closed doors and publicly.”Basically, he says, they use their political credibility and relationship capital to “get you access to opportunities or titles or roles that you would not be able to get on your own.” <h2>How Do You Spot These Qualities to Find a Good Mentor?</h2>Ask yourself these questions to see if someone in your life would be a good mentor. If you say “yes” to most or all of them, chances are they’d be the right fit for you:<ul><li>Is it clear they have real experience walking the same path as you (or a path you’re interested in)?</li><li>Do they seem to invest in and enjoy being a part of others’ success?</li><li>Are they good at giving and receiving feedback?</li><li>Do they speak in a truthful and respectful manner?</li><li>Are they invested in their own growth and development?</li><li>Do they see the value in investing in growth and development in general?</li><li>Do you respect and like this person inside and outside the office?</li><li>Are they well liked by others?</li><li>Do they have mentors of their own? (If so, that’s a good sign they understand the value and impact of a mentoring relationship.)</li></ul> While it’s great to be intentional about finding a mentor, Dea notes that you shouldn’t try to force it or expect things to fall into place right away. “The best approach you can [take] is to constantly be going out and building relationships with people and learning [from] them. If you’re constantly just in that mindset, you’ll kind of incept yourself into getting mentors,” he says.And remember, says Finkeldei, having a mentor isn’t about becoming the person—rather, “you’re aspiring to have their skills and to gain the knowledge that they have.” Everyone’s seeking their own definition of a successful career, and chances are yours will look much different than your mentor’s. Rely on them for guidance and encouragement, but make sure you’re continuing to do what feels right for you.

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The Risky Steps You Have to Take Today if You Want a Career You Love

No one I know has ever claimed that changing jobs, making a major career transition, and figuring out what it is you truly want to do is a piece of cake. While it may not require blood, sweat, and tears exactly, a career pivot undoubtedly requires deep self-reflection, hard work, and, drumroll, please: risk-taking.
Because you don&rsquo... read more

credits to: Stacey Lastoe

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 25, 2019|464 views

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The Risky Steps You Have to Take Today if You Want a Career You Love

written by: richill artloe

created: March 25, 2019 | 08:36 AM

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Blog Content: No one I know has ever claimed that changing jobs, making a major career transition, and figuring out what it is you truly want to do is a piece of cake. While it may not require blood, sweat, and tears exactly, a career pivot undoubtedly requires deep self-reflection, hard work, and, drumroll, please: risk-taking.Because you don’t know the outcome, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-secrets-to-taking-career-riskswhile-still-paying-your-rent">taking career risks</a> is scary. You have to get over the fear factor though if you really want to carve out a life you love, not merely tolerate.I spoke with Wendy Sachs, author of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Free-Pivot-Relaunch-Careers/dp/0814437699">Fearless and Free: How Smart Women Pivot—And Relaunch Their Careers</a>, about this very thing, and I walked away from the conversation with a fresh outlook and tons of ideas for how this looks in real life.   <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Free-Pivot-Relaunch-Careers/dp/0814437699"><img alt="" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.png?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F23855.png%3Fv%3Dc077989fc0557df207aca1956a0b8684b71d1a45979276ed546d5bbcca43c35e&prog=1&w=780" /></a> The truth is, while a small handful of people may be considered extremely lucky, most of us don’t have awesome professional opportunities and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-omg-i-just-found-my-dream-job-action-plan">dream jobs</a> just falling into our laps. Our success and achievements aren’t handed to us on a silver platter. They are worked toward—and gained by risky behavior. (When you put it like that, doesn’t it start to sound a bit intriguing?)Think small at first. You don’t need to quit your job, apply to MBA programs, or launch a business. You need to share your plans with your friends, family, and your network. You need to meet people who are doing what you want to be doing. You need to find tiny ways to begin moving in the new direction and away from where you’re now stuck.  <ul><li>Want to make a move from finance to healthcare? Volunteer at a nonprofit hospice center and get a feel for the organization.</li><li>Ready to ditch that career in advertising so you can start a wedding planning business? Reach out to a local wedding planner and ask if you can shadow for a weekend.</li><li>Thinking about turning your love of photography into a full-blown career? Take a class, buy a book, start an Instagram account and begin marketing yourself.</li><li>Ready to leave your job in book publishing for a full-time freelance career? Set yourself up to make this transition by taking on freelance assignments you can focus on outside of work.</li><li>Prepared to make the leap from business development to engineering? Excel in a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/7-secrets-for-a-successful-side-gig">side gig</a> first to show you have the skills necessary to make the move.</li></ul>Know that you may experience rejection—a natural part of any endeavor. Not everyone you tell your plans to is going to be excited for you. Not everyone you reach out to on LinkedIn or following a networking event is going to respond favorably; some people may not respond at all. It’s OK. It’s a part of the process. They key is to take those rejections in stride. Move on to the next person or ask, and keep your eye focused on the big picture.The more comfortable you get taking small risks, the more confident you’ll become. And the more confident you become, the easier it’ll get to make those risks bigger and bigger. Plus, as Sachs points out, “confidence begets confidence.” At the end of the day, if you believe in the moves you’re making and you have faith in yourself, you’ll succeed. 

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4 Ways Your Perfectionism Is Killing Your Job Search

After months of unemployment, one of my career coaching clients desperately needed a new job, but she wanted to make sure it was in a field she loved. So, we re-did her resume and read more

credits to: Abby Wolfe

category: Job Search

published: Mar 21, 2019|1186 views

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4 Ways Your Perfectionism Is Killing Your Job Search

written by: richill artloe

created: March 21, 2019 | 08:41 AM

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Blog Content: After months of unemployment, one of my career coaching clients desperately needed a new job, but she wanted to make sure it was in a field she loved. So, we re-did her <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/43-resume-tips-that-will-help-you-get-hired">resume</a> and <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-31-best-linkedin-profile-tips-for-job-seekers">LinkedIn profile</a>, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-31-tips-you-need-to-know">wrote a cover letter</a>, talked about potential <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-simple-formula-makes-highlighting-transferable-skills-easy">transferable skills</a>, and reviewed the descriptions of jobs she was interested in.There was just one problem: After two months, she still hadn’t applied to anything. When we talked about why she wasn’t applying, we realized that she was chasing perfection and it was paralyzing her search.Don’t get me wrong—you should do your very best when applying to a job. But if you try to be absolutely flawless, you’ll probably get in your own way.At a certain point, you need to accept that what you’ve put together is good enough. If you don’t, then the whole effort was pointless. After all, it’s hard to get a job if you don’t actually apply.The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the job will no longer be available. In the beginning, my client listed 10 specific jobs she wanted to apply to. By the time she was ready to hit “submit,” most of the positions on her list had already been taken down or filled.Finally, wasting too much time making everything “perfect” subtracts from the time you need to spend on a very crucial part of the job search: networking. Instead of agonizing over every detail, you could be attending events, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-email-templates-to-make-networking-way-less-awkward">reaching out to contacts</a>, or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-questions-you-have-about-coffee-meetings-but-were-too-afraid-to-ask">meeting someone for an informational coffee</a>. These activities will get you much further than an award-winning <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/does-your-linkedin-headline-suck">LinkedIn headline</a>, trust me.If you’re like my client and can’t help but let your perfectionist tendencies get in the way, here are some bad job search habits you need to be aware of and cut out of your process—now. <h2>1. You Only Apply to Jobs You’re the Perfect Fit For</h2>Here’s the cold, hard truth about job descriptions: Hiring managers are describing their dream candidate—one they know they’re unlikely to find. Because the chances of that person existing and just happening to apply for this specific opportunity are pretty small.So why do hiring managers do this? It’s more beneficial for them to create a wish list and hope someone who’s 90% there applies than to list the bare minimum and end up with a candidate who’s missing several crucial skills or qualities.Of course there will be roles you won’t come close to being qualified for. If it’s a nursing role and you never went to nursing school, or it’s a software engineering job and you don’t know how to write a lick of code, or it’s a management position that requires 10 to 15 years of experience and you’re in year one of your first job, it’s not going to happen, so don’t even bother applying.But otherwise, if you can fulfill a majority of the requirements—say 75% of them, give or take—or you fulfill the most important requirements, you should still try. You may be surprised to find that you have some transferable skills that technically apply to that other 25%. Or that some of the skills you’re lacking may not be a priority to the hiring manager. Or even that the hiring manager values passion over skill set (which can often be taught).Worst case? You don’t get a callback. That’s not such a horrible outcome. <h2>2. You Sweat the Small Stuff Way Too Much</h2>There’s a lot of advice out there about <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-3-rules-of-addressing-your-cover-letter">addressing your cover letter</a> that can be scary to anyone who considers themself super detail-oriented.And it usually leads a perfectionist down a rabbit hole desperate to find the name of the exact person they’re contacting, a feat that can often take hours (if not be impossible), depending on how niche the role or company is.But the only rule you really need to live by is this: Don’t start with “<a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/to-whom-it-may-concern-alternatives">To Whom It May Concern</a>.” Or “Dear Sir or Madam” for that matter.Sure, you want to put some effort into finding the person. But a few minutes tops. Ultimately, it’s only a few words on the paper, and while they’re important, the more important words come after it.In your cover letter and everywhere else on your application, that’s the stuff you should spend time on—the substance. Like, say, making sure that you’re highlighting how your experience will help you with certain role responsibilities (oh, hello, transferable skills!) and that your passion for the company and position is clear. At the end of the day, proving why you’re a great fit is 10 times more important than nailing a salutation. <h2>3. You Quadruple Check for Typos</h2>You should spell- and grammar-check your application—of course you should. You want to spell the hiring manager’s name right and your name right, and not mess up “its” versus “it’s” (is that just my pet peeve?).But perfectionists tend to get a little wild when it comes to proofing their materials, spending way too long looking them over for any sign of error.Here’s the thing. Recruiters spend <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/you-have-6-seconds-to-grab-a-recruiters-attentionheres-how-to-do-it">six seconds</a> looking at your resume. Yes, seconds. Not minutes.Given that, it’s pretty unlikely they’ll catch minor typos (unless they have super skimming vision). And even if they do, most people understand that all humans—even job candidates!—make mistakes sometimes.And if you do happen to spot a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-can-you-do-typo-on-job-application">mistake on your application</a> and it’s driving you nuts, you can always follow up once you realize it—yes, really!The point is, you don’t want to let your fear of typos stop you from sending in your materials at all. So trust your proofreading skills. If you’ve gone through everything with a careful eye at least once, you’re probably just fine. <h2>4. You Ask Too Many People to Review Your Materials</h2>Your partner. Your coach. Five friends. Heck, let’s ask the Starbucks barista, too!Having another set of eyes on your materials is incredibly helpful, especially if you’ve been looking at them for way too long and need a fresh perspective. Someone else can catch errors you may have missed and tell you if something is confusing or feels irrelevant to the job.But when you ask too many people for their input, you waste a lot of time waiting for them to get back to you, and risk losing your chance to throw your hat in the ring.And many times you end up with too many (often conflicting) viewpoints. Because each person has different life and work experiences—and different context about your life—that can lead to them giving you advice that’s colored by their particular point of view. And trust me—you do not need three, four, or nine different perspectives on this. You’ll never satisfy everyone, and you’ll start to lose who you are in the process.Stick to two outside opinions, max, and make them people you truly trust and respect. When you find yourself looking for a third person to chime in, just send in the application instead. You need to believe that you’re a solid applicant and that you’re capable of putting together top-notch materials. (Because you are.) Otherwise, you’ll spend way too much time second guessing yourself.The job search is already tedious enough. Don’t spend more time on it than you need to, and definitely don’t let the need to be perfect hold you back. So, please, for the love of job seekers and kittens everywhere, hit submit and move on with your life. (Oh, and good luck!)

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8 Super Motivating Career Books Written by Women—for Everyone

No matter where you are in your career, sometimes you need a little help to really shine at work. Whether you’re looking for friendly advice on meeting a specific challenge or a kick in the pants to totally transform your career, you can often find that help in a great book.
But where to even start? We’ve done the research f... read more

credits to: Suzanne Skyvara

category: Blog

published: Mar 20, 2019|491 views

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8 Super Motivating Career Books Written by Women—for Everyone

written by: richill artloe

created: March 20, 2019 | 09:22 AM

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Blog Content: No matter where you are in your career, sometimes you need a little help to really shine at work. Whether you’re looking for friendly advice on meeting a specific challenge or a kick in the pants to totally transform your career, you can often find that help in a great book.But where to even start? We’ve done the research for you by finding the best books to help you wherever you are in your career (and whoever you are!). In honor of Women’s History Month, they’re all written by women. And bonus: All of them come reader-approved with high ratings on <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/">Goodreads</a>. <h2>1. If You Want to Be a Great Boss (Today or Someday): <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939161-radical-candor">Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity</a> by Kim Scott</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939161-radical-candor"><img alt="best books by women radical candor" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39938%2F97dd1dc1-f8c3-45b1-8e89-3fb210577a7b.jpg%3Fv%3D2e8f74386111decfdb0294b30f0e4f7eab88c672308eaec70b02047a57d9d5d8&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 4.2/5A common challenge for any boss is how to deliver feedback in a clear, motivating way without falling into the trap of being an obnoxious jerk or an overly-empathetic people pleaser. In Radical Candor, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/members/765240/kim-scott">Scott</a> will help you balance this tricky line by sharing the principles she honed as a manager at Google and Apple. Follow her advice to be the kind of boss that creates a place where people do their best work—and feel really good about it. <h2>2. If You’re in Desperate Need of a Mentor: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25310678-playing-big">Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message</a> by Tara Mohr</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25310678-playing-big"><img alt="best books by women playing big" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39939%2F9eaa337c-d7ba-41ae-92b3-97519c883c63.jpg%3Fv%3Dbac7ae1c8baadb66acd2528d0cc1a81f40285c77494d79487cf72d362c06f9c4&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 4.2/5We’ve all heard the advice that we should seek out <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-find-qualities-good-mentor">mentors</a>, but if it’s hard for you to find one, this book is the next best thing. There are some excellent chapters on topics such as how to communicate better so you earn trust, how to deal with fear, and the importance of taking a leap. While this book is aimed at women, many of my male colleagues said they’ve found the advice useful, too, and it’s a great book to read with a friend or partner. <h2>3. If You’re Cursed With the Need to Be Perfect All the Time: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40364335-brave-not-perfect">Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder</a> by Reshma Saujani</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40364335-brave-not-perfect"><img alt="best books by women brave not perfect" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39940%2F0162d97e-a4f0-4db6-b88a-3e2809467052.jpg%3Fv%3Df2c81e1fd51dc5276f4be7a0aba89042feadf9a048d29e205156c1076fc01472&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 4.0/5Feeling like you have to be <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/ways-perfectionism-hurting-job-search">perfect at everything</a> can be a real hurdle in your career. It stops you from <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-3word-strategy-thatll-give-you-the-confidence-to-speak-up-at-work">speaking up in meetings</a> because you’re afraid of being wrong, holds you back from applying for a new role because you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, and makes you spend hours finessing a document you should have submitted days ago. If you’re someone who often doubts themself, this book will provide you with inspiration and encouragement on how to push through those perfectionist tendencies and take the leap. Author Reshma Saujani, who founded Girls Who Code, will show you that bravery is a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it will be. <h2>4. If You Want to Earn What You’re Worth: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/682878.Overcoming_Underearning">Overcoming Underearning: A Five-Step Plan to a Richer Life</a> by Barbara Stanny</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/682878.Overcoming_Underearning"><img alt="best books by women overcoming underearning" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39941%2Fe92e6dd5-c3b7-4d30-aa24-41df8e05fdc6.jpg%3Fv%3D2e7197209f69a09f2b874087e0808fc56c59c4e6a20eaaf2afcc58116c4c86f3&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 4.2/5We all have a personal story that drives how we think about money. Author Barbara Stanny helps you understand and tackle those inner beliefs that may be sabotaging how much you earn—and how much you keep. It’s full of exercises that’ll help you uncover your true money mindset, and is a great book for anyone who wants to make positive changes to how they think about their self-worth and their relationship with money. <h2>5. If You’re Ready to Share the Load: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29243734-drop-the-ball">Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less</a> by Tiffany Dufu</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29243734-drop-the-ball"><img alt="best books by women drop the ball" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39942%2F00d2d725-da3b-4aaa-971c-d0fd07f69364.jpg%3Fv%3Db299c10d6465d42e724a6eb6930d3d968e845e8725329adc1bc2573fcbebbeb6&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 3.8/5<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.springer.com/gp/about-springer/media/research-news/all-english-research-news/household-chores--women-still-do-more-/15086994">Research</a> shows that women do more household chores than their male partners. The result is that women are often working a second shift when they get home from work, which can negatively affect the time and energy they’re able to devote to their careers. In this friendly, learn-from-my-experience book, Dufu shares some of her misguided attempts to get her husband to do more and how they ultimately worked together to develop a better balance in their responsibilities. The same principles in this book can also apply in the office, as women (and especially women of color) are more often asked to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/managers-stop-asking-for-volunteers-give-women-minorities-equal-shot">take on “office housework”</a> than white men. <h2>6. If You’re Constantly Stressed Out: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23281639-the-upside-of-stress">The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It</a> by Kelly McGonigal</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23281639-the-upside-of-stress"><img alt="best books by women the upside of stress" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39943%2F3198b5b0-bc36-4736-ae01-489358944f7e.jpg%3Fv%3D9e760b2e60844641a71559e98758dba79c07028baefc236152cfc1b36368c48e&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 4.2/5Stress is a natural and frequent part of our lives, whether you’re putting in long hours getting ready for a big product launch, preparing for a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/your-5step-formula-to-having-a-difficult-conversation-at-workand-coming-out-ahead">difficult conversation</a>, or figuring out how you’re going to get everything done and still make it out of the office to pick up your kids. Author Kelly McGonigal argues that we can use stress to our advantage if we think about it in a different way. If you feel like all that pent-up emotion is holding you back or you just want to deal with it in a healthier manner, this book is for you. <h2>7. If You Feel Like You’ve Stalled in Your Career: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36204301-how-women-rise">How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back From Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job</a> by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36204301-how-women-rise"><img alt="best books by women how women rise" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39944%2Ffee3950d-8c07-4350-a442-b16950170c9d.jpg%3Fv%3D64235c398669baebda51217d9d6a10ced24f86b2d3a527b4fe40588b914db936&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 4.2/5For women who are wondering why they’re being passed over for advancement while other people (especially men) move ahead of them, business coaches Helgesen and Goldsmith lay out 12 habits that could be derailing your career. I’m a big fan of the chapter on “ruminating” because it’s a very healthy reminder on how to move on from mistakes.This is the kind of book you’ll keep on hand to help you through any tough situation. <h2>8. If You’re Looking to Be a Better Communicator: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21816339-communicate-to-influence">Communicate to Influence: How to Inspire Your Audience to Action</a> by Kelly Decker and Ben Decker</h2><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21816339-communicate-to-influence"><img alt="best books by women communicate to influence" src="https://pilbox.themuse.com/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.themuse.com%2Fuploaded%2Fattachments%2F39945%2F60a4fb55-6307-4671-a0dd-f4cb2edef053.jpg%3Fv%3D423b96ec701203a5eff401a1bd7d9a0f929a02c07c2c5996ce0202e6e4f06a9c&prog=1&w=450" /></a> Rating on Goodreads: 3.9/5Co-authors, business partners, and life partners Kelly and Ben Decker walk you through their method of creating engaging presentations that win people over and lead to the results you want. Each chapter ends with exercises to help you eradicate behaviors that hold you back and adopt a stronger communication style. You’ll learn about the number-one thing you need to do before planning your presentation narrative (hint: it has nothing to do with you), and the power of the rule of three. Make sure you have a highlighter handy once you start reading this one!

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How to Land a Job in Your Dream Industry, From a Woman Who Did Just That

When Marchelle Johnson, a native of Michigan, finished college and received her masters in human resources, most of her friends were getting jobs at the nation’s top automotive companies. When you’re from Michigan, that’s just what you do—cars are part of the state’s bloodstream, for better or worse.
But Ma... read more

credits to: Bill McCool

category: Job Search

published: Mar 19, 2019|546 views

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How to Land a Job in Your Dream Industry, From a Woman Who Did Just That

written by: richill artloe

created: March 19, 2019 | 11:09 AM

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Blog Content: When Marchelle Johnson, a native of Michigan, finished college and received her masters in human resources, most of her friends were getting jobs at the nation’s top automotive companies. When you’re from Michigan, that’s just what you do—cars are part of the state’s bloodstream, for better or worse.But Marchelle wanted to break the mold and work in media. Below, she shares her best insights for landing a job in the industry you really want to work in.  <h2>Be Open to Learning</h2>After graduating, Marchelle started working at Valassis, a media and marketing service provider that, at the time, was a Fortune 500 company. Aside from handling her everyday duties managing HR, she chose to take on additional tasks in order to learn more about the industry.She went through a certification process to learn about the display advertising space and went on client pitches, where she learned that clients wanted to marry digital and print advertising together, which gave her a better understanding of direct sales.Her work eventually took her to the Bay Area for one of the company’s acquisitions. She met her husband there and after a long year of commuting, she knew it was time to look for a new job.She found an HR position at CBS Interactive right off the bat and thought it would be a perfect fit. But she didn’t think she was a lock for the position.“They’re going to find someone from NBC or TNT, or ESPN or one of the big television media brands, and I’m just going to get edged out,” she thought at the time. But, “the senior VP said she appreciated that I had done so many different things at my last company. So while I didn’t have the exact learning curve of being in this media space, I had seen and touched components of it in my last job.”Marchelle says that the best thing you can do for your career is to get comfortable with the idea of “stretch.” That means making yourself available for different jobs or tasks that might be outside of your general duties. And this isn’t just for folks looking for a media job—this is advice that can be utilized by anyone.The lesson: Make sure you seek out as many learning opportunities as possible at every job—you never know where this will take you later on in your career.  <h2>Find Your Cheerleaders</h2>While Marchelle recognizes the importance of finding mentors, she thinks it’s equally as important to find sponsors. “Over my career, I had people in senior leadership who taught me the ropes,” she says. “But I’ve also had sponsors at the company, which I think is even more important when you’re trying to elevate yourself throughout the organization.”No, getting a sponsor doesn’t mean you roam the halls of the office looking like a Nascar driver. Sponsors are people you've worked with, typically high-up, who can advocate and vouch for your performance.At her previous company, she had worked with their CEO and CMO, and they were the ones who were in the room sponsoring her and saying she was a perfect for a job or an assignment. “Those are people that you’ve worked with; they know your work performance,” she says.“They know how you are as an individual and how you perform,” she adds. “They represent you in those scenarios when the opportunities are coming up. I love that, and I think that’s been one of the biggest things in my career that’s helped me. Again, it goes back to the relationships you have where someone feels like, ‘this person gets stuff done, they do a great job.’”And when you’re waiting on that next promotion or opportunity, if you have sponsors, your name is on the shortlist. Finding your dream job can be difficult, but if you have a proven track record of success while wearing different hats in the process, you can get a foot in the door.Sometimes that’s all you need. Just ask Marchelle.

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Getting Fired From My First Job Led Me to Find My Career Path

During Tristan Layfield’s first year after college, he worked as a research technician at a university near Detroit. Eight months in, he took a Friday off to visit Chicago with a friend. Before he left, he submitted his time sheet.
That Thursday, though, there was a glitch in the system. He could only record regular working hours,... read more

credits to: Abby Wolfe

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 18, 2019|497 views

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Getting Fired From My First Job Led Me to Find My Career Path

written by: richill artloe

created: March 18, 2019 | 08:51 AM

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Blog Content: During Tristan Layfield’s first year after college, he worked as a research technician at a university near Detroit. Eight months in, he took a Friday off to visit Chicago with a friend. Before he left, he submitted his time sheet.That Thursday, though, there was a glitch in the system. He could only record regular working hours, not time off. This technological malfunction was a regular occurrence—most university staff had experienced it. Nevertheless, he took a screenshot so he could show his boss when he returned.“Being the naturally skeptical person I am, I decided I needed to start covering myself by documenting things” Layfield explains. (Which, honestly, is never a bad idea.)Despite the evidence, he was <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/8-steps-to-bouncing-back-after-getting-fired">fired</a> the following Tuesday. Well, sort of.Reprimanded for incorrectly logging his hours, Layfield brought up the flaw in the system. But it didn’t really help. In addition to that issue, they also thought his performance wasn’t up to par because one of his recent lab experiments became contaminated.In full transparency, Layfield feels his boss had been looking for a reason to let him go. While he did have the opportunity to present his case to a judiciary panel, HR explained that, if he lost, it’d be really hard for him to get another job there. If he quit that day, though, he’d have a better chance at another university position.Layfield chose option two. After all, it was either resign or risk being cut off from the largest hiring source in the community. As a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/tags/new-grads">new grad</a> with little experience, he couldn’t risk that.He wasn’t sure how to move forward, but he knew he had to—even knowing how unfair his situation was.“I gave myself one day to have a pity party,” Layfield shares. He said to himself, “You can cry as much as you want and have as many feelings as you need. But after you wake up tomorrow, it’s action time.”So, on day two of <a href="https://www.themuse.com/tags/unemployment">unemployment</a> he sat down with his roommates. He wanted—and needed—to be honest with them. <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/a-newly-unemployed-persons-guide-to-severance-pay">Losing his paycheck</a>impacted his ability to pay his rent, and that would affect them, too. Were they willing to help him out? They were.Next, he addressed the conversation happening in his head. The one telling him he was a failure and would never find a job again.“I had to silence it all,” he shares. “These thoughts, issues, and problems weren’t going to pay the bills. I needed to focus on what the goal was. And, in that moment, the goal was to get paid.”Being forthright with his friends didn’t just help him keep a roof over his head—it also helped him get a job. One friend encouraged him to apply to the department store she worked for. He interviewed, and next thing he knew, he was selling men’s furnishings—ties, suits, and other professional wear.Retail wasn’t Layfield’s dream, but it sure took a lot of pressure off. Four months after starting, store leadership promoted him to head of the men’s and kids’ shoe section. And, not too long after that, he became the department head of cosmetics. One day, he looked up and realized he’d become complacent. What he’d planned to be a short-term fix had turned into 18 months.So, he ramped up his search again, hoping to land something that involved science—a topic area he’s been interested in since his grandmother taught him courses in elementary school—talking to people, and selling things. Eventually, he got a hit from Thermo Fisher Scientific, a biotechnology company that supplies laboratory equipment around the world. After interviewing on his lunch break one day, he got a job as a site specialist.“That’s when my career really began to flourish,” Layfield says. “It’s where I started to come into my own and really feel myself as a professional.” He stayed with Thermo Fisher for almost five years, becoming a supervisor and eventually managing 23 people across three different states.Getting fired or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/tags/laid-off">laid off</a> isn’t fun. Not even close. But for Layfield, it all worked out.“If it hadn’t happened, I’d probably still be doing research,” Layfield says. “But my career would be pretty stagnant—there isn’t much room for growth in that field unless you go back to school.”These days, he works as a project manager at IBM Watson Health, implementing health care tools for employers and ensuring clients meet Affordable Care Act requirements. Burnt out from managing a large team and traveling all the time, Layfield wanted a similar role with less management responsibilities. When he found this opportunity on LinkedIn, he knew it would be a good fit and that his skills would transfer well. In addition, he also started <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://layfieldresume.com/">his own career coaching business</a>, where he helps people with resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and more.As for advice he’d give others who get fired? “Swallow your pride and take a job that will pay the bills,” Layfield says. “Sometimes, you have to take a few steps backward in order to move forward.” Full disclosure: Tristan Layfield works for IBM.

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5 Tips for Non-Awkward Informational Interviews

Maybe it’s because the name itself conjures images of your career counselor in high school. Or, maybe it’s the fact that most of us have only been on the interviewee side of the table, and never the interviewer.
Either way, if you haven’t done them before, informational interviews can be one of the more awkward aspects... read more

credits to: Jennifer Winter

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 15, 2019|790 views

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5 Tips for Non-Awkward Informational Interviews

written by: richill artloe

created: March 15, 2019 | 09:48 AM

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Blog Content: Maybe it’s because the name itself conjures images of your career counselor in high school. Or, maybe it’s the fact that most of us have only been on the interviewee side of the table, and never the interviewer.Either way, if you haven’t done them before, informational interviews can be one of the more awkward aspects of your job search.But, as the saying goes, information is power—and informational interviews can be crucial to helping you become well-informed about the industry or company you’re considering joining. Not to mention, they’re a great way to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/21-questions-you-havent-been-asking-your-network-but-really-should">network</a> and develop some contacts in your field.So, don’t let a little fear of the unknown get in your way. Here’s a guide to help you get the most bang for your buck out of your informational interviews—and take some of the awkwardness out of the process while you’re at it. <h2>1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask</h2>Whether you’re asking someone you know and trust or <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-perfect-email-template-for-asking-someone-kinda-random-for-help">emailing a complete stranger</a>, asking someone for an informational interview can be a little uncomfortable.But, keep in mind that this is a request most people would feel flattered to accommodate—hey, everyone likes to feel important!So, don’t look at it as a cold call; rather, picture yourself as a reporter calling an expert to research an article. Send the person a friendly, concise email that gets right to the point. Try something like, “I’m thinking about <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-lines-youll-hear-yourself-say-when-youre-scared-to-go-after-your-goals">a career change</a> and would love to pick your brain about your experience.” A compliment on her accomplishments (“…given that you’ve had so many interesting experiences in the marketing field”) doesn’t hurt, either. <h2>2. Do Your Research</h2>Having been interviewed a time or two myself, I can tell you the most frustrating aspect of these meetings is an unprepared interviewer. Remember that your interviewee is taking valuable time out of her schedule to meet with you, so make the effort to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/effective-and-noncreepy-ways-to-stalk-people-on-linkedin">learn as much as you can about her</a>before the interview.Jot down a few key facts about the industry and her current or previous employer, see if you can find any articles she’s written or interviews she’s done, and try to find a few similarities between the two of you. If you’re well prepared, your interviewee will not only be impressed with the legwork you’ve put into the meeting, but will be flattered you took the time to learn so much about her. And that’s always a great way to start a conversation. <h2>3. Prepare Your Questions</h2>The best interviews, informational or otherwise, are the ones that naturally flow. But truthfully, a natural flow is much more likely to happen if you’re prepared, not grasping for <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-brilliant-networking-conversation-starters">conversation starters</a>.So, prepare a notebook with two lists of questions—one standard and one more abstract—to bring with you. In the standard category, include basic questions such as, “What does a typical day at work look like?” and “What are the most challenging aspects of your job?” In your abstract category, try less conventional questions like, “What’s your first thought when you get up for work every morning?” or “Who has been most influential in your career?”You don’t need to ask everything on both lists, but having a range of questions will allow you to mix up the conversation based on your interviewee’s reactions. For example, if she rolls her eyes at the “typical work day” question, skip ahead to something a bit less traditional and see how she responds.Once you find the right cadence for the conversation, it will become easier for both of you to volley your questions back and forth more naturally. <h2>4. Keep it Short</h2>Even if you’re getting loads of good info and don't want the meeting to end, it’s important to be respectful of your interviewee’s time.So, wear a watch. Regardless of how ubiquitous smartphones are these days, I still cringe when I see anyone in a professional setting <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/7-signs-your-phone-runs-your-life-and-not-the-other-way-around">glancing at her phone</a> during a conversation.When you have about 10 minutes left before your meeting is scheduled to end, casually mention that you want to be “mindful of her time” and note the time you have left. This gives her the opportunity to either extend the interview, or transition to a graceful conclusion. Either way, she’ll appreciate your respect for her time and your professionalism, which is a great way to conclude an interview. <h2>5. Cement the Connection</h2>One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make with informational interviews is <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-following-up-can-help-you-land-the-job">neglecting to follow-up</a>.If you take nothing else from this advice, remember this: Always send a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-write-an-interview-thankyou-note-an-email-template">thank you note</a>. Always. Your interviewee should never wonder how much you appreciated the time she took to share her hard-earned knowledge with you. Remember, you never know what doors she could open for you one day.While a paper thank-you is cute, email is de rigueur. For extra points, go the extra mile and find an article related to a topic you discussed, and include a link with your thank-you, noting how your conversation with her inspired you to read the article. <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/showing-gratitude-at-work-isnt-just-politeits-good-for-you">Expressing your gratitude</a> will not only make your interviewee feel good knowing she had a tangible impact on you, but will keep the door open to developing your relationship with her in the future. That’s it—that’s all you need to know. Now get out there and get some interviews lined up. Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and your friends and family, and don’t be shy about asking anyone who looks interesting to you.And remember, the more informational interviews you do, the less awkward they become.

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A New Approach to Figure Out What You're Meant to Do

Way back in school, when you first thought about the working world, I bet you had a pretty limited view of what kinds of jobs existed: Doctor, teacher, lawyer, and, maybe accountant.
But even though, you eventually learned that there were lots of other careers out there, you probably still had a limited view of read more

credits to: Scott A. Barlow

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 14, 2019|604 views

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A New Approach to Figure Out What You're Meant to Do

written by: richill artloe

created: March 14, 2019 | 01:28 PM

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Blog Content: Way back in school, when you first thought about the working world, I bet you had a pretty limited view of what kinds of jobs existed: Doctor, teacher, lawyer, and, maybe accountant.But even though, you eventually learned that there were lots of other careers out there, you probably still had a limited view of <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/7-ways-to-find-the-answer-to-what-should-i-do-with-my-life">what to do with your life</a>. Based on your education, your upbringing, and maybe how many episodes of “CSI” you’d watched, you began to formulate a vision. Instead of starting with “What do I like to do?” you started at the end, trying to fit your future a box that made sense with your life and learning thus far.The result? The problem? Many of us end up in jobs that aren’t quite right, simply because we didn’t know there were other options.My friend Lisa is a great example. A successful executive at a digital marketing agency for many years, she realized she wasn’t happy. She mulled over a <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/8-steps-to-an-utterly-successful-career-change">career transition</a> and decided that what she really wanted to do was help people. She assumed that meant returning to grad school for a counseling degree.On the eve of her first day of classes, she realized that it wasn’t counseling that drove her per se; it was the “helping” part—something she’d done successfully without a masters. Instead of pursuing this degree, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.happentoyourcareer.com/breadcrumbs">she found a way</a> to put her skills and interest to use, and she’s now a well-respected career coach at my company.What you really need to do if you want to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-risky-steps-you-have-to-take-today-if-you-want-a-career-you-love">carve a new path</a> for yourself is examine what’s brought you joy and fulfillment in the past. You can put together a full picture of the type of activities, work environment, and organization in which you’d be most satisfied—before you commit to an expensive degree or training program.What Lisa did, essentially, and what you can do, too—is “follow the breadcrumbs” to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-steps-to-figuring-out-what-you-want-to-do-with-your-future">figure out what you’re meant to do</a>. Here’s how to get started: <h2>1. Look Behind You</h2>If you’re over the age of 25, your past is full of experiences that are loaded with clues. Think back to previous work experiences, school and volunteer projects, interactions with friends and co-workers, and ask yourself:<ul><li>What do people consistently turn to me for? Help in prepping their presentations? Wardrobe or home styling suggestions? Advice on how to handle sticky interpersonal situations?</li><li>What do I love so much I’d do for free? You may not be able to build a career out of whitewater rafting or cartooning, but think about this information as a jumping-off point.</li><li>What do I do at work that’s not a part of my job, and why do I do it (even when it’s not my job and why)? Do you offer to create presentations, plan the holiday party, negotiate the cell phone bill? What motivates you to do these “extra” things? Is it a desire to help others, learn new skills, solve problems?</li></ul> <h2>2. Look Around You</h2>It’s important to look at your current environment, how you got there, what floats your boat—and what doesn’t. Ask yourself:<ul><li>What do I love about my working environment right now? Friday happy hours, no micromanaging, latest in tech tools?</li><li>What would I change? More professional development, ability to telecommute, more collaboration?</li><li>What can I not do without? Autonomy, <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-flex-hours-work-in-reality-because-its-never-quite-clear">flex hours</a>, involved boss?</li></ul>Review your answers to find patterns. Do you thrive in independent working situations, or do you love being part of a collaborative team? Do you like to research and build to an optimal solution, or do you prefer solving in-the-moment problems and challenges under a deadline? Do you get a lot of satisfaction from helping coach or teach others? You may want to get assistance from a friend or coach at this point, as sometimes it’s tough to find commonalities on your own<h2>3. Look Ahead</h2>Once you’ve got a good sense of what you love (and don’t love) about where you are and where you’ve been, you can apply those findings to your future.If you’ve discovered you enjoy solving urgent problems, especially those involving interpersonal conflict, ask yourself where you could find someone with those skills. Ask others. Investigate. Do a Google search.For instance, a simple Google search on “Great jobs for conflict resolution” brings up several opportunities you might not have considered. You can do the same search with “Jobs for funny people,” “Jobs for good communicators,” or “Jobs for people with great taste buds.”  Don’t rush through this important stage. I’ve noticed that my clients often undergo what psychologists call “<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/baader-meinhof-phenomenon.htm">attention bias</a>. Once you become aware of something, you start to see it in unexpected places. Let this phenomenon work for you, and use this cognitive illusion to your advantage by giving it time and attention.Take your findings and notice how it expands your horizons. Maybe your ears perk up when your neighbor mentions that her cousin works as a contract negotiator. Over dinner with your best friend’s parents, you learn that there’s a huge demand for people with great negotiation skills in the retail industry.The goal is to grow your concept of where your most enjoyable and fulfilling skills and talents can be employed.Once you’ve got a sense of the types of roles that sound interesting and the kinds of companies that appeal to you, it’s up to you to go out and explore more deeply. There’s so much more in the world than our limited view of what “work” entails. Open your eyes to the possibilities. It’s easy to find opportunities when you know how and where to look.

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5 Ways Remote Workers Can Build Their Networks (and Skyrocket Their Careers)

Working from home can be awesome; you have more freedom and flexibility, you don’t have to commute, and let’s be real—an occasional conference call in your PJ’s certainly isn’t terrible.
I’ve been working from home for the past three years—and for the most part, I love it. But when you’re ... read more

credits to: Deanna deBara

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 13, 2019|787 views

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5 Ways Remote Workers Can Build Their Networks (and Skyrocket Their Careers)

written by: richill artloe

created: March 13, 2019 | 11:09 AM

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Blog Content: Working from home can be awesome; you have more freedom and flexibility, you don’t have to commute, and let’s be real—an occasional conference call in your PJ’s certainly isn’t terrible.I’ve been working from home for the past three years—and for the most part, I love it. But when you’re doing the bulk of your work from an at-home office, your day-to-day routine isn’t exactly ripe with opportunities for meeting new people. And no matter who you are—introvert or extrovert, business owner or corporate worker, in the peak of your career or just starting out—that’s crucial for your career (and your sanity!).If you’re a freelancer or remote team member who wants to connect with new people, you have to create those opportunities for yourself. So what, exactly, could you be doing to build your network—and skyrocket your career in the process? <h2>1. Look for Opportunities to Offer Value</h2>People like people who help them. So if you establish yourself as a person who adds real value, you automatically endear yourself to people. And the best part? You can do all that value-adding from the comfort of your own home.Look for ways to help, to support, or to make valuable connections for people in your network. Notice people on your LinkedIn or industry Facebook group struggling to get design work done for their business? Shoot over a list of your favorite DIY design tools. Know someone who’s having trouble hiring a new assistant? Send over a helpful article on how to hire a virtual team. Have two clients you think would work well together? Put them in touch. <blockquote>People like people who help them. So if you establish yourself as a person who adds real value, you automatically endear yourself to people. </blockquote> The key to success with this tip? Be genuine! Don’t just look to help people in the hopes they’ll help you down the line. If you come from a self-serving place, people will pick up on that—and won’t want to connect with you. Instead, make a list of people you want to help and, if the opportunity presents itself, jump on it.If you want to take the whole “adding value” thing to the next level (and reap the rewards!), try hosting a lunch and learn at a local co-working spot (which—bonus—is probably full of other people who work remotely). Whether you’re a virtual assistant who helps organize people’s businesses, a marketing manager who works remotely for a larger company, or a freelance writer (like me!), you have a unique set of skills, talents, and experience that others can benefit from. Lunch and learns give you a chance to help while also showcasing your expertise—which can help turn some of those new connections into new business opportunities. <h2>2. Use the Media to Establish Yourself as an Expert (and Drive Connections)</h2>Getting your name, company, or project mentioned in the media is a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader in your space and drive relevant connections that can not only increase your social network but also give your career a healthy boost. These days, you can usually contribute your expertise from wherever you are (like your home office)—and use it to develop contacts around the world.Sign up as a source on <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.helpareporter.com/">Help A Reporter Out</a> (HARO) and be on the lookout for opportunities that might be a fit (for example, if you’re an expert in a specific field or you’ve had a particular experience you can speak to). Just make sure to only reach out when you can speak from a place of authority; for example, if a writer is putting together a piece on digital nomads building sustainable businesses while traveling the world but you do the bulk of your work from your home office? Probably not a great match. <blockquote>Every time I get mentioned in the media, my LinkedIn gets flooded by people looking to network with me. It’s pretty cool, relatively simple, and offers a lot of juice for the squeeze. </blockquote>Kari DePhillips Kari DePhillips, owner of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.contentfac.com/">The Content Factory</a> and host of the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://workationing.com/podcast-episodes/">Workationing podcast</a>, has used HARO to get quoted or featured in Fast Company, NBC News, and Thrive, and found that it’s done wonders for building her network. “Every time I get mentioned in the media, my LinkedIn gets flooded by people looking to network with me,” she says. “It’s pretty cool, relatively simple, and offers a lot of juice for the squeeze.”Bottom line? The more you get your name out there, the more people will see it—and the more your network will grow. <h2>3. Get Your Slack On</h2>Sure, you can leverage traditional networking groups to connect with people. But if you work remotely, one of the best networking tools in your arsenal is one you’re probably already using—Slack.Slack is one of the best ways for teams—whether that’s an in-house team, a remote team, or a freelancer and client—to communicate and collaborate. But it’s also a great way for people who work remotely to build their networks, find new and exciting projects, and connect with potential new colleagues, clients, and friends.“[Slack] has been a great tool for me to meet people in my field and network with them,” says Sireesha Narumanchi, blogger and founder of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://crowdworknews.com/">Crowdworknews.com</a>. “Having a dedicated channel like #mycity in Slack and having meetups with people in the same field can create many future career growth opportunities [and] collaborations.” <blockquote>Having a dedicated channel like #mycity in Slack and having meetups with people in the same field can create many future career growth opportunities [and] collaborations. </blockquote>Sireesha Narumanchi Search for Slack communities that cater to the kind of people you want to add to your network, such as industry- and location-specific groups (for example, the Portland chapter of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://portland.aiga.org/get-involved/slack-channel/">AIGA</a>, The Professional Association For Design, has a Slack channel for Portland-based designers where they can chat and share local design-related events). Want to build your network with other people who understand the blessing/curse that is being a freelancer? Request to join popular freelance Slack communities, like <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://workfrom.co/chat">Workfrom</a> or <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://digitalfreelancer.io/chat/">#freelance</a>.The point is, there’s a Slack community for everything and everyone (seriously, just do a Google search!)—and for those who work remotely, it’s the perfect way to build a network of like-minded people. And who knows? Those Slack conversations could turn into IRL connections or lead to your next big break. <h2>4. Start a Podcast</h2>Podcasts are having a serious moment. And they’re good for more than entertaining you during a long drive or a workout—they can be a great way to connect with people in your industry.“I’ve been able to build an incredible network through my <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://top1.fm/">Sales Success Stories Podcast</a> where I interview active, quota carrying, individual contributor sales professionals who are either #1—or at least in the top 1%—of performers at their companies,” says Scott Ingram, who, in addition to the podcast, works from home in an outside sales role.Hosting someone on a podcast also sets the stage for a deeper, more personal connection than you’d find at, say, a networking event. “Some of these people I might have been able to connect with at an industry event, but in that scenario, I’d be lucky to get more than a few minutes with them,” says Ingram. “The podcast allows me to be proactive and have deep conversations that are often over an hour that just wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.” <blockquote>The podcast allows me to be proactive and have deep conversations that are often over an hour that just wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. </blockquote>Scott Ingram Now, granted—starting a podcast is definitely a lot more labor intensive than sending someone a helpful article or joining a Slack community. But if podcasting is something you’re genuinely interested in—and if you’re willing to put in the work to develop and market your show (because let’s be real, who wants to be on a podcast no one listens to?)—it can be an incredibly valuable networking tool. A podcast can give you the opportunity to interview interesting people and get your name out there in your industry—which can lead to more opportunities down the road. And because you don’t have to be in the same place (or even the same time zone) as your guest, you can manage the entire process from your home office.Interested in exploring podcasting? Read this article about <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-start-a-podcast-on-top-of-full-time-job-people-stories">starting a podcast</a> on top of a full-time job and check out this <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.podcastinsights.com/podcasting-resources/">list</a> of podcasting resources and tools to get an idea of what you’ll need to get started. <h2>5. Pursue the Hobbies You Love</h2>The best networks are built organically—so if you spend time <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-people-cool-hobbies-make-them-better-at-job">pursuing your hobbies</a> (whether they’re work-related or not), they can help you build the strongest (and most authentic!) connections.“I play intramural sports throughout the season which allows me to meet new friends not only personally but professionally as well,” says India Lott, founder of the web development company <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.graysolemedia.com/">Gray Sole Media</a>. “It is a great, non-structured way of getting to know people that also happen to have professional careers.” <blockquote>I play intramural sports throughout the season which allows me to meet new friends not only personally but professionally as well. It is a great, non-structured way of getting to know people that also happen to have professional careers. </blockquote>India Lott For me, making my passions and hobbies a priority has made the experience of working from home less lonely (I can only talk to my dog for so long!), and it’s been a complete gamechanger when it comes to making new connections—many of which have led to new opportunities. For example, one of my serious passions? Meditation. And while I never planned to use meditation as a way to find clients, I ended up meeting someone at a meditation group who works in an industry I write about—and she referred a ton of new business my way.The point is, when you spend time doing what you love, it puts you in touch with other people who love what you love, too—and building a network of like-minded people is not only essential from a social perspective, but it can also boost your career. It’s a win-win! Working remotely certainly presents some challenges in terms of connecting with new people. But with a little creativity and effort (and a willingness to think outside of the box), you can build just as strong of a network as you could in a more traditional office setting—or maybe even stronger! You can do it (mostly) from the comfort of your own home and yes, on some days, even in your pajamas.

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7 Things Killing Your Productivity Today (That Are Completely Out of Your Control)

You’re having a bad day. A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. You’re not getting anything done, and your self-esteem’s taking a hit. I get it. Alexander gets it. We all have our reasons f... read more

credits to: Alyse Kalish

category: Career Advise

published: Mar 12, 2019|405 views

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7 Things Killing Your Productivity Today (That Are Completely Out of Your Control)

written by: richill artloe

created: March 12, 2019 | 11:00 AM

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Blog Content: You’re having a bad day. A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. You’re not getting anything done, and your self-esteem’s taking a hit. I get it. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Terrible-Horrible-Good-Very/dp/0689300727/">Alexander</a> gets it. We all have our reasons for not being productive at work. Many of them are <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-reasons-youre-so-busy-every-day-yet-not-really-getting-anything-done">in our control</a>. But just to make you feel better, I’m not going to tell you it’s your fault that that report’s not getting done, or that you missed that deadline, or that your client’s impatiently waiting on you to email them back. Blame it on circumstance, on your office, on life itself.In fact, I can name several reasons you’re not being productive today that have nothing to do with you. So you’re welcome. I hope this puts things into perspective and turns your day around just a bit. <h2>1. The Lighting</h2>Imagine an interview room on your favorite cop show. Cold, bare, except for one excruciating ray of brightness from a single light bulb.Sound like the vibe in your office? I’d guess you’re probably about as productive in it as you’d expect someone to be under interrogation.Science backs me up on this one. In a 2013 report published by the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.cass.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/363217/lighting-work-performance-cass.pdf">Centre for Performance at Work</a> in partnership with Philips, it was found that artificial light can affect performance in all sorts of ways, from causing eye strain, headaches, and stress to influencing employee’s moods—depending on if the color of the lighting is “warm” (reddish), “cool” (bluish), or “artificial” (white), that is.Realistically, you can’t swap out the bulbs in your office or go to your boss begging for better lighting (because they’re most likely not going to listen to that). But at least knowing this can influence where in your office you choose to work—maybe by a window or in a well-lit conference room, for example—or, if you <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-to-guarantee-your-workfromhome-days-are-actually-productive">work from home</a>, how you light your remote setting. <h2>2. The Wall Color</h2>Yes, I did just say <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-color-of-your-office-affects-your-productivity-even-if-you-dont-realize-it">color can affect your mood</a>. In <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.informedesign.org/_news/jan_v05r-p.pdf">one early 2000s study</a> it was found that employees working in an office painted red reported higher negative mood characteristics compared with those in an office painted a blue-green shade. Maybe time to advocate for a paint job? <h2>3. The Temperature</h2>It’s well talked about (and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2NNm8MTboA">joked about</a>) that office temperatures <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/science/chilly-at-work-a-decades-old-formula-may-be-to-blame.html">favor men</a>, and thus leave women freezing in the summertime. But we’re all actually subject to inactivity as a result of our company’s thermostat.A 2015 study on <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036013231500089X">“Workplace productivity and individual thermal satisfaction”</a> discovered that when we have greater thermal satisfaction (a.k.a., when we’re more comfortable with our body’s temperature), we’re more productive. So if your office is making you too cold or too hot, you may find yourself desperately trying to Goldilocks your way to more motivation. <h2>4. The Air</h2>Seriously, nothing’s off the table when it comes to complaining about your office. A study published in Harvard Business Review on participants in a controlled workspace found that <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-sciencebacked-excuse-you-can-use-when-youre-feeling-unproductive">poor air quality</a>—based on how much outdoor air they ventilated in, how many chemicals were concentrated in the air, and the levels of carbon dioxide—can lead to worse decision-making performance. <h2>5. The Weather</h2>Is it sunny out right now? Is the sky so madly beautiful and the outdoors so incredibly tempting you would give your left arm to be able to skip work and frolic outside?The weather’s playing a mean trick on you, that’s what’s happening. According to a 2012 <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/blue-skies-distractions-arise-how-weather-affects-productivity">Harvard Business School study</a> tracking the work ethic of employees at a midsize bank in Tokyo over the course of two and a half years, it was found that your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/want-to-get-that-project-done-pray-for-rain">productivity fluctuates depending on the actual weather outside</a> and perceived weather (basically, if you’re exposed to various imagery related to the weather).Researchers found that “the top performers (those who completed the task the fastest and the most accurately) were the rainy-day control group participants, who had seen neither the actual sun nor pictures of the sun before doing the task...Meanwhile, exposure to the sunny-day photographs significantly decreased the performance of participants who came to the lab on rainy days,” HBS’s blog author Carmen Nobel summarizes.(Fun fact: <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/its-not-in-your-head-daylight-saving-time-is-ruining-your-life">Daylight Saving Time</a> also makes you less productive, so you can place extra blame on that day specifically.) <h2>6. Your Work Friends</h2>You probably don’t need scientific proof to tell you your co-workers are a massive productivity killer, from being <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-5-most-annoying-ways-coworkers-waste-your-time-and-how-to-put-an-end-to-it">distracting</a> to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-address-annoying-coworker">annoying</a> to <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-stealthily-motivate-your-lazy-coworkers-to-pull-their-weight">lazy and unreliable</a>. But I’ll provide it anyway for good measure.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/peps.12109">Recent research</a> has found that while having a lot of “multiplex friendships”—friendships with colleagues you share an office with and work closely with—can offer lots of benefits, it can also detract from your performance through “emotional exhaustion.”“You’re playing two roles at once: friend and colleague. Friends unconditionally support each other, but colleagues can’t always do that, especially when their own reputation is at stake. It can be draining to have to decide which role to play, and when,” <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/28/smarter-living/why-office-friendships-can-feel-so-awkward.html">explains New York Times author Melissa Dahl</a>. <h2>7. Sports</h2>Being too into your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/clever-ways-hide-office-fantasy-football-from-your-boss">fantasy football league</a> or rooting heavily for your sports team has its downsides. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.kronos.com/about-us/newsroom/super-bowl-fever-may-sideline-record-17.2-million-workers-monday">The Workforce Institute at Kronos</a> found that 45% of employees ages 18 to 34 believed they were more likely to have anxiety about going back to work the Monday after the Super Bowl. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joop.12155">Another study</a>of football fans found that negative team performance spills over into poor work performance. See, you’re not in the wrong! Life’s just making things more difficult for you today.But, in case you want to take back some control of your productivity—because yes, despite all these factors, you can absolutely get yourself back on track—you can read this article on <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-ways-to-bounce-back-from-a-totally-unproductive-day">bouncing back from an unproductive day</a>, or follow these tips for making your <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-really-annoying-openoffice-issues-plus-solutions-for-how-to-deal-with-each-one">open office</a> a little more bearable to work in.

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9 Steps to Validate a Business Idea in 30 Days with Less Than $500 (My Validation Challenge)

During the month of December 2016, I embarked on a 30-day challenge to validate a business idea, limiting myself to spending less than $500 to make that happen.
I asked you to tell me what idea I should validate, too. The consensus: A hiking guide for California.
The challenge was a maj... read more

credits to: Ryan Robinson

category: Blog

published: Mar 07, 2019|788 views

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9 Steps to Validate a Business Idea in 30 Days with Less Than $500 (My Validation Challenge)

written by: richill artloe

created: March 07, 2019 | 10:07 AM

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Blog Content: During the month of December 2016, I embarked on a 30-day challenge to validate a business idea, limiting myself to spending less than $500 to make that happen.I asked you to tell me what idea I should validate, too. The consensus: A hiking guide for California.The challenge was a major success.In just a few short weeks, I pre-sold 12 copies of a hiking guide (that didn’t even exist yet), generated $108 in revenue without a website and built an email list of 565 email subscribers who wanted to learn more about my upcoming hiking guide.This was all done without using my existing audience, business, website, traffic or any other resources aside from my skills and the system I teach students who want to validate a business idea in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/courses/validate/">30 Days to Validate</a>.Want to find a profitable niche business idea this week? Join my free online course <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/find-business-idea/">Find a Profitable Business Idea</a> today.I even had time to take a week-long vacation and visit my family for the holidays while validating this idea.I’m telling you this because you can do it too.In fact, you can take my system for validating a business idea and be far more successful than this little challenge was. I’ve used this system to generate more than $5,700 in pre-sales of a physical product for a previous business of mine. I’ve used it to pre-launch an online course and drive over $10,000 in revenue in one week without a large audience. I even used this strategy to land a $120,000 consulting contract and validate my <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/freelance-content-marketing/">content marketing</a> business before quitting my day job.If you want to start from the very beginning, read more about the rules of the challenge and dive deep into my weekly updates with an insane amount of detail around the execution of each tactic, click <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/validate-business-idea/#challenge">right here</a> to jump down and begin reading from the day my validation challenge started.For now, I want cover all of the major lessons I learned during my challenge to validate a business idea in 1 month.After analyzing all of the steps I went through during this challenge, looking back at how I built my previous businesses, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/start-business-advice/">interviewing dozens of entrepreneurs</a> on this subject and applying my system from The Launch Formula, I've boiled it down to just 9 simple steps to validating a business idea.But first, let's quickly cover what validation actually is, what it isn't and why it's important. Note: My definition of validation has been formed over years of experimentation myself, from all of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/best-business-books/">best business books</a> I've read and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/online-business-courses/">online business courses</a> I've both taught and taken.Validation is designed to give you you reasonable certainty your business will have a sustainable, growing, paying audience in a matter of days or weeks, rather than wasting months or years building a final product nobody will pay for. It’s as much a way of thinking, as it is a step-by-step process. The end result validation attempts to achieve is most often meeting a desired number of pre-orders or waiting list subscribers who'd purchase a basic proof of concept of your idea—a minimum viable product that solves the most simple form of the problem you're attempting to address.Validation isn't a guarantee of success and it most certainly isn’t easy. It’s not as simple as putting up a waiting list and hoping people miraculously discover your offering & fork over their hard-earned money for something that doesn’t exist yet. It takes work to build confidence, inspire trust and convince a community that you'll be able to deliver enough value in exchange for the price you're asking. Validation is designed to give you your first paying customers and foundation for future growth.I'd recommend reading this post all the way through from top to bottom, but if you prefer to jump around, here's a hyperlinked table of contents that'll take you straight to each stage of validating a business idea.<h1>9 Steps to Validate a Business Idea in 30 Days (With Less Than $500)</h1> 1. Find a Profitable Niche (That You Care About) 2. Leverage Your Strengths and Outsource Your Weaknesses 3. Create an Early Feedback Group 4. Have One-on-One Conversations With Your Target Market 5. Develop a Competitive Advantage 6. Grow Your Email List 7. Build a Proof of Concept 8. Launch and Get Pre-Orders From Your Email List 9. Continue Building and Tweaking With Feedback<h2>1. Find a Profitable Niche (That You Care About).</h2>Business ideas don't just fall down out of the sky. They're not delivered by a magic genie. And while you can find a lot of inspiration on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/best-businesses-start-while-working-full-time-job/">types of businesses you should consider starting</a>, you shouldn't pursue a random idea just because someone told you it's a good idea.In a study by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.cbinsights.com/research-reports/The-20-Reasons-Startups-Fail.pdf">CB Insights</a> covered on Forbes, a whopping <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2016/03/02/top-20-reasons-why-startups-fail-infographic">22% of failed startup founders</a> cite their primary reason for failure as either never having a true interest in what they were building or losing focus on the goal they set out to achieve.Put simply, they were never really interested in their business concept.The best business ideas come from your strongest areas of interest.I'm so adamant about only building a business around a real interest of mine because I've chased pure market opportunities in the past, without really caring about what I was building... <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/how-to-not-lose-6537-and-create-a-product-nobody-wants/">it doesn't end well</a>.When the going gets rough (it will), you need to be motivated beyond just the lure of dollar signs (and more than just a stable of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/motivational-quotes/">motivational quotes</a> to get you through 😉.) If you're only in it for the money, you'll either give up or be quickly pushed out of the market by people who genuinely care about what they're doing and the people they're helping—they'll be more motivated than you.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-step-1.jpg" alt="validate-business-idea-step-1" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-step-1.jpg 960w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-step-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-step-1-768x512.jpg 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-step-1.jpg" />If you're not sure what your interests are, or which of them may potentially lead to a profitable business opportunity, start by answering these questions:<ul><li>What are your hobbies?</li><li>What is the most meaningful part of your day?</li><li>What are some topics you could enjoy writing a 1,000 word article about?</li><li>What do you love doing?</li><li>What is an achievement that'd make you feel particularly proud of yourself?</li><li>Are there any specific aspects or functions that you love about your job?</li><li>How about any childhood dreams you still find intriguing?</li><li>If you had to choose just 1 thing to be remembered by, what would it be?</li></ul>For my challenge to validate a business idea, I went through these questions and landed on 3 general topic areas I knew I could potentially build a business around—I didn't know how or what, but that's not important at this stage.What's important is that I focus on the next incremental step that'd get me closer to my goal of validating my idea. For now, that meant choosing the right niche, not worrying about how I was going to make money with the idea.So, first things first. That brought me to my top 3 options of hiking in California, cooking hacks or long distance running.My favorite personal litmus test for choosing these was whether or not I could write a 1,000 word article about the topic and actually enjoy doing it. To me, that proved I was actually interested in the subject matter and have enough confidence in my knowledge to publicly share about it.If you don't personally identify as a writer, consider Joel Saltzman's thesis in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Can-Talk-Write/dp/0446395072">If You Can Talk, You Can Write</a>, where he teaches people how to become writers by starting them off writing only about the interests they find themselves talking about most—which is also the clearest indication as to what you could potentially build a business around.After choosing these topic areas, I asked my readers to vote in the comments (below) and hiking in California emerged as the winner.If you want more questions and guidance around uncovering profitable niche ideas, there's an entire lesson & worksheet dedicated to this topic in my upcoming course, 30 Days to Validate. You can sign up to get updates and early access right here.Want to find a profitable niche business idea this week? Join my free online course <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/find-business-idea/">Find a Profitable Business Idea</a> today.<h2>2. Leverage Your Skills and Outsource Your Weaknesses.</h2>If you want to become successful as an entrepreneur, you need to be great at what you do—and you must focus on giving yourself as much time as possible to leverage those abilities (in addition to #1, being interested in what you're solving). Here's why.It's proven that focusing on your strengths <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/functioning-flourishing/201411/ten-reasons-focus-your-strengths">makes you more confident</a> in your work (via Psychology Today).Choosing to work with your strengths also helps you <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261249732_Dubreuil_P_Forest_J_Courcy_F_2014_From_strengths_use_to_work_performance_The_role_of_harmonious_passion_subjective_vitality_and_concentration_The_Journal_of_Positive_Psychology_1-15_httpdxdoiorg101080">unlock more creative solutions</a> to the problems you encounter, because you're more comfortable and in your element.Studies have also found that those who engage their strengths on a daily basis <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.viacharacter.org/www/Research/Character-Strengths-Research-Findings-Summary">report higher levels of positivity</a>, which helps create a buffer against the negative effects of stress, fatigue and trauma.When you choose to leverage your strengths within your business, you're maximizing your opportunity for success by setting yourself up to be more confident, creative, positive and less prone to becoming overly stressed.In business (and in this challenge to validate a business idea), you'll constantly be racing against the clock to achieve meaningful results. And when you're operating outside of your core strengths, you'll encounter more unexpected challenges, thus having to account for more of a learning curve along the way.When it comes to validating a business idea, fast and simple is the name of the game.To move as quickly as possible without wasting time and money, you need to focus on the skill set you already have and make it work—which I promise you is possible. This is the foundation for how I <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/opportunity-management/">manage opportunities</a> within my business.If you're not sure what your most marketable skills are, I have a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/download-access-your-skill-assessment-worksheet/">free skill assessment guide</a>that'll walk you through the process of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/discover-strengths-entrepreneur/">discovering your skills</a>. You can pick it up <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/download-access-your-skill-assessment-worksheet/">right here</a>.Focusing on leveraging my strongest skills translated directly into this challenge to validate a business idea, as a clear sign that I wouldn't be investing time in any of these areas outside of my current expertise:<ul><li>Not going to build a website</li><li>Not going to design any fancy visual content</li><li>Not going to create an app</li><li>Not going to make a physical product</li><li>Not attempting anything else far outside of my current skill set</li></ul>That left me with having to lean primarily upon my skill of writing to validate this business idea—which I view as one of my strongest. If I hoped to have any chance of success validating this idea, I didn't have time to go out and learn new skills, take classes or meet with coaches for weeks or months.It's not that investing in new skills is a waste of time—I wholeheartedly believe <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2012/10/22/five-most-effective-ways-to-invest-in-your-career/#4b8482532403">education is always a good investment</a> in your future. However, in order to validate this business idea, I didn't need to build new skills. And you don't either.Delaying this challenge in any way because I felt I didn't have the right skills would've been a major excuse. I'm not into making excuses."But Ryan, you already have clear, marketable skills..."Stop wasting time complaining. Seriously. You need to become the master problem-solver in your business (and life).Today, that means working with the skills you have and doing everything you possibly can to validate your business idea with real, paying customers before going out and investing time or money into building skills for your project.If you decide to really make this happen despite any obstacle ahead, you can build a business that's uniquely suited for you.You can do it without having to go out and learn complex new skills, as long as you're willing to be honest with yourself about what's outside of your expertise. Then, you'll have to actively outsource those tasks to sign a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/freelance-contract/">freelance contract</a> on platforms like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/resources/crew/">Crew.co</a>, by bringing in complementary business partners or hiring the right employees.For this challenge to validate a business idea, I knew I'd have to focus on leveraging my writing skills. No complex tech tools or fancy integrations. All I used was a series of (free) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.google.com/docs/about">Google Docs</a>and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.google.com/sheets/about">Google Sheets</a> that'd allow me to side-step wasting time on anything outside of my wheelhouse.On top of just the hard skills I planned on leveraging for validating this business idea while keeping my core business running at full speed, I knew I'd have to get serious about managing my time in order to make this happen.I'm a morning person (4:30am is a casual wake up time for me), so I turned to some great advice from my friend, Chris Winfield on how to construct a morning routine that'd help set me up for success with this project.Each weekend, I scheduled blocks of time on my calendar for when I'd be dedicating time to working on this project during the week ahead—everything that makes it into my calendar gets done. If it's not in the calendar, it probably won't happen.Now that I had these ground rules set in place, I could move on to the first critical (often neglected) stage of validating a business idea: Creating an early feedback group.<h2>3. Create an Early Feedback Group.</h2>One of the biggest takeaways from my challenge to validate a business idea last month was that sharing your work is hard, even for me still.You're exposing who you really are, making yourself vulnerable and creating opportunities to be judged on the quality of your work.The more people I shared my broad hiking website idea with, the more great things started to happen for me.The goal of creating an early feedback group of people who are within your target market, is to make sure that you're building something they'll actually need—and want bad enough to pay for. That's why <a target="_blank" rel="noopener external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://feedier.com/blog/importance-customer-feedback/">having customer feedback</a> is so crucial.But, before I could start telling people about my idea and asking them to join my feedback group, I had to at least have a rough idea of what I was pitching them—a guess about the main problem I was seeking to address.Crafting a quick elevator pitch.Here's how I did this in-action with my challenge to validate a business idea related to hiking in California.With a focus on value, I sat down and wrote out a list of what I thought was missing from current sites that tried to be hiking guides, adventure manuals and general resources for doing cool stuff outdoors in California.Surprisingly, I found that most of the websites talking about hiking and outdoor adventures in CA had pretty mediocre content—images were often stock photos, the written content tended to be overly generalized and not very helpful for hikers seeking to capture great photos while they're on a hike (a narrow niche I think I can address very well).I thought there could be a serious opportunity for having hiking guides and outdoor adventure resources that have a significantly higher quality of images and other content.So, my hypothesis was that by going into content mediums like drone footage and 360 cam images (that others aren't trying in this space yet), I'll be able to win some readers that appreciate new innovations and higher quality.After 20 minutes of research, I came up with this short elevator pitch that I could customize for each person I'd be reaching out to:<blockquote>Hey [First Name]! I’m building a new site I thought might be up your alley as a fellow adventure junkie.. it chronicles all of the best places to find adventures in California, go on awesome hikes and capture unique photos from each spot while you’re there. I’ll be grabbing photos, videos, drone footage and 360 cam images to make this really awesome. Would you be interested in getting updates on this?</blockquote>Is it perfect? No.But that doesn't matter. I'll refine as I go and tweak it over time as I learn more about what my audience wants.Manual outreach to create your early feedback group.Once you're ready to start reaching out, begin closest to home. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily want your mother and father to be in your early feedback group unless they're actually a good potential customer.To highlight another example, if you're going out and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://founderu.selz.com/sell-workout-plans-online/">selling workout plans</a> as a means to validating a larger personal training business you're considering launching—start by evaluating whether friends, family and co-workers could be a good fit for getting your fitness help.Now, before I started my outreach for my challenge to validate this business idea, I did my best to quickly make sure these friends would be within my target so I wouldn't waste time presenting an idea they wouldn't be interested in.With my specific idea, being within my target market meant that each friend I reached out to needed to (1) live or frequently spend time in California and (2) have a somewhat active lifestyle, which would indicate to me that they'll probably be interested in adventuring and hiking. Protect the quality of your community.Here's a screenshot of my first round of text message-based outreach (by far my highest response rate medium) to start building my feedback group. Note that each of these messages is customized based on my relationship with the person:<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iPhone-Screenshot-Early-Subscribers.png" alt="validate-business-idea-iphone-screenshot-early-subscribers" width="800" height="711" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iPhone-Screenshot-Early-Subscribers.png 800w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iPhone-Screenshot-Early-Subscribers-300x267.png 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iPhone-Screenshot-Early-Subscribers-768x683.png 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iPhone-Screenshot-Early-Subscribers.png" />Working this process for just 1 week netted me 47 email subscribers for my early feedback group. Eventually, you could scale up this kind of outreach by employing one of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/best-crms/">best CRMs for small business</a>, but at this stage, that's overkill.Now, it's your turn.Begin by working your way down this list:<ul><li>Friends & family</li><li>Co-workers</li><li>Former co-workers</li><li>Other professionals you've worked with</li><li>Classmates or former classmates from school</li><li>Teachers or professors you've had</li><li>Fellow members in clubs, societies, groups or meetup networks you're in</li></ul>Scroll through your recent text messages.Browse through your last couple hundred personal emails.Head into your Facebook friend list, LinkedIn connection list and check out your Twitter followers.Look for people you know, who you think may have an interest in what you're building.Then, out of the people who express interest in your idea, ask them if there's anyone else they know who comes to mind—that might be excited about what you're building. Double down and get more qualified referrals so that you can keep <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-have-one-to-one-conversations-with-your-target-audience-as-a-business">having conversations with your target audience</a>.I personally recommend tracking this process rigorously so that you can see the growth of your community and keep their contact information all in one (free) place. Enter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.google.com/sheets/about">Google Sheets</a>.Each time I came across someone from my text messages, emails, and Facebook friend list who I thought could be right for checking out my site idea, I added them to a Google Sheet so that I could easily keep track of all my leads.Here's a snapshot of my tracking sheet (and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1noOxW1AbZ0jR4iG9SzcOQzLJgE9DqxpLL01ynrxAYsI/edit?usp=sharing">here's a template you can grab for free</a>):<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Early-Subscriber-Email-Collection-Sheet-for-Lets-Hike-California.png" alt="validate-business-idea-early-subscriber-email-collection-sheet-for-lets-hike-california" width="1412" height="802" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Early-Subscriber-Email-Collection-Sheet-for-Lets-Hike-California.png 1412w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Early-Subscriber-Email-Collection-Sheet-for-Lets-Hike-California-300x170.png 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Early-Subscriber-Email-Collection-Sheet-for-Lets-Hike-California-768x436.png 768w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Early-Subscriber-Email-Collection-Sheet-for-Lets-Hike-California-1024x582.png 1024w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 1412px) 100vw, 1412px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Early-Subscriber-Email-Collection-Sheet-for-Lets-Hike-California.png" />I stopped after getting to 100 potential people I could ask to join my early feedback group.Expanding your early feedback group beyond your personal network.With my personal challenge to validate a business idea, I didn't need to take it this far. I was able to track down enough people interested in hiking in California that I personally knew by combing through my text messages, personal emails and Facebook friend list.However, if you don't have the right personal network for your project or you don't feel comfortable starting with those whom are closest to you, there are still TONS of ways to manually build an engaged early feedback community.Enter: Online groups and communities.Now, when it comes to actually starting a conversation in these groups without coming across as spammy or too self-interested, keep in mind exactly what your goal is at this stage: to have conversations with your target audience. Nothing more—we're not selling anything to anyone yet.You're going to best achieve this goal of having great conversations by posing a very open-ended, genuine question to the group without asking people to visit a website, fill out a form or complete any action other than replying with comments in the beginning. Keep it simple.Here's a copy/paste script inspired by one of my mentors, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/">Ramit Sethi</a>, that you can use to post in online communities and start meaningful conversations with members:<blockquote>"Hey guys, I'm thinking of [starting a website, creating an app, building a product] around [topic area]. When you talk to your friends about it, what do you say? What do you think is the biggest problem around [topic area]?</blockquote>Here's this posting tactic live in action with one of my <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/courses/launch/">TLF</a> students, DJ who was able to quickly generate 25+ subscribers for his early feedback group by posting a variation of this in 10Facebook Groups:<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-dj-fb-group-post.jpg" alt="validate-business-idea-dj-fb-group-post" width="493" height="850" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-dj-fb-group-post.jpg 493w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-dj-fb-group-post-174x300.jpg 174w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-dj-fb-group-post.jpg" />Depending upon how active the group is, you can get anywhere from zero to dozens of comments with thoughtful replies to your question.Once a few people start responding to your post, nurture those conversations, keep them going, stir up a debate, share your thoughts on the subject matter.After the post begins to lose a little momentum, send a personalized (private) message to the people who seemed most engaged in the conversation—asking them if they'd like to get updates on your project. If they're up for it (some will be, some won't be), ask them for their best email address so you can keep them in the loop and ask a couple more questions.Replicate this process until you've built up an early feedback group of ideally, at least 25 - 50 people so that you'll begin getting some diversity of opinion within your community.Finding the right online communities.From my experience, here are some of the best places and methods for finding potential early feedback group members to give you feedback on what you're building (even if you don't know what exactly it's going to be yet):Standalone Online Communities.<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/explore/">AMEX Open Forum for Small Business Owners</a> (broad)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://angel.co/">Angel.co</a> (focus on startup community)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://inbound.org/">Inbound.org</a> (focus on marketing)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://growthhackers.com/">GrowthHackers</a> (focus on growth & marketing)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://news.ycombinator.com/">HackerNews</a> (focus on startups and more technical projects/news)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.quora.com/">Quora</a> (broad)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.producthunt.com/">ProductHunt</a> (focus on startups and tech)</li><li>Bonus: Amazon Reviews (if you're building a physical product)</li></ul>Facebook Groups (Topical).It's best if you can find topically relevant groups to join—that's where you'll know without a doubt that your target audience already exists.For example, if you're working on validating a photography-related business idea, you should consider joining groups like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/NDCPE/">Nikon Digital Camera & Photo Enthusiasts</a> (26,000+ members), <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/NikonD750/">Nikon D750 Users</a> (27,000+ members) and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/NikonUKPhotography/">Nikon UK Photography</a> (13,000+ members). I found these groups by searching for "Nikon" and clicking the 'Groups' sort tab at the top of the menu.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-photography-groups-1024x515.png" alt="validate-business-idea-photography-groups" width="1024" height="515" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-photography-groups-1024x515.png 1024w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-photography-groups-300x151.png 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-photography-groups-768x386.png 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-photography-groups-1024x515.png" />If what you're building is relevant to anyone with a DSLR camera, you're sure to find enough people who'd be interested in giving you feedback on your concept from within those groups.Facebook Groups (Entrepreneurial).If you aren't able to find many Facebook Groups with a decent number of members (think 5,000+), it might be a sign that your niche market is too small. However, you can still take to building a feedback community by activating members of entrepreneurial Facebook Groups where members are already conditioned to helping each other with projects like this.Start with these ones, which I chose specifically because they're not riddled with spam:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomhackersmastermind/">Freedom Hackers Mastermind</a> (39,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/spicommunity/">The Smart Passive Income Community</a> (28,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheJoyfulEntrepreneur/">The Joyful Entrepreneur</a> (37,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/714631208567627/">Heart-centered, soul driven entrepreneurs</a> (16,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepintothespotlight/">Coaches, Authors, Entrepreneurs</a> (13,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomensEntrepreneurNetwork/">Women's Entrepreneur Network</a> (32,000+ members, women only)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/413283888860005/">Super Hero Entrepreneurs</a> (10,000+ members)</li></ul>LinkedIn Groups (Entrepreneurial).<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2877">On Startups</a> (626,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/145854/profile">Future Trends</a> (474,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/56766/profile">I ❤ Startups</a> (248,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/91749/profile">Entrepreneur's Network</a> (33,000+ members)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1789386/profile">Band of Entrepreneurs</a> (26,000+ members)</li></ul>Reddit Sub-Channels.<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SideProject/">r/SideProject</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/">r/Entrepreneur</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/startups/">r/Startups</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BusinessHub/">r/BusinessHub</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/mutualcollaboration/">r/MutualCollaboration</a></li></ul>Keep in mind as you begin posting in communities and forums, that you need to provide value before asking for anything in return—that's how you build relationships with people and eventually ask them to join your feedback group.Don't expect to get stellar results from simply <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/cold-email">cold emailing</a> a bunch of people you don't really know, asking them to support your idea.If you want my dead simple, step-by-step game plan for creating an early feedback community of 25 - 50 subscribers in a matter of days, sign up right here to get updates on my new course, 30 Days to Validate.Want to find a profitable niche business idea this week? Join my free online course <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/find-business-idea/">Find a Profitable Business Idea</a> today.<h2>4. Have One-on-One Conversations With Your Target Market.</h2><img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-target-market-conversations.jpg" alt="validate-business-idea-target-market-conversations" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-target-market-conversations.jpg 960w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-target-market-conversations-300x200.jpg 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-target-market-conversations-768x512.jpg 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-target-market-conversations.jpg" />Once you've started to build your small community of early feedback subscribers, you need to keep the conversation going with them. And you can continue building the size of your feedback group throughout this process.At this stage however, your goal now shifts to focusing more on determining the right mix of highlights, features and value propositions that'll be most appealing to your target audience.It's time to narrow in on what exactly your business is going to be and you'll solidify this even more in the next stage: Developing a competitive advantage.Again, since we don't want to build a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist, this requires as many one-on-one conversations as possible. Yes, it takes time, but it'll save you countless hours later by getting your solution right on the first shot.During my challenge to validate a business idea, a few conversations with my early feedback members naturally transitioned into brainstorming sessions in which my audience started telling me what they wanted.Check out this text about my hiking site idea, from my friend Michael that lives in Los Angeles, a traditionally very tourist-heavy city.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-mike-text.png" alt="validate-business-idea-mike-text" width="430" height="509" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-mike-text.png 750w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-mike-text-254x300.png 254w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-mike-text.png" />He identified one of his major pain points when it comes to finding good local hikes and adventures to do that aren't touristy like hiking up to the Hollywood sign. He lives in LA, so he's already done all that—now he wants "off the grid, local and culturally interesting experiences."Two other friends of mine, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.balemos.com/">Bryan Lemos</a> who worked with me at CreativeLive and loves photography, and Alan who's an active outdoor enthusiast in his own rite over at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.loveto.camp/">Love to Camp</a>, now work together and talked about my website idea at lunch after I had texted them both earlier in the day.They came to me (in a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.slack.com/">Slack</a> group we have together) with a great idea for a service that they wish existed in the hiking and outdoor market.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-alan-slack.png" alt="validate-business-idea-alan-slack" width="465" height="234" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-alan-slack.png 465w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-alan-slack-300x151.png 300w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 465px) 100vw, 465px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-alan-slack.png" />Providing a monthly subscription service where I line up a curated, local adventure and discounted deal for my subscribers to go on once a month. Dead simple and pretty easy for me to implement each month.Do everything you can to foster this type of idea flow in your conversations. If you listen hard enough, for long enough to your audience, they're going to tell you exactly what they want.While you can have these conversations over text, email, Slack or another digital media, nothing beats meeting up in-person for a quick coffee or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238385">picking up the phone</a> for 15min to get more meaningful feedback from your target audience.Here are a few of the top questions you should be asking your target market, with the goal of learning more about their motivations and needs as it pertains to your business idea:<ul><li>What are you most looking to achieve (as it pertains to your topic area)?</li><li>What are some of the current solutions you're using, or have used in the past?</li><li>What frustrates you most about current solutions out there?</li><li>What features would you most like to see (as it pertains to your topic area)?</li><li>Do you have any fears (as it pertains to your topic area) holding you back?</li><li>Would you be willing to pay for a solution that does XYZ for you?</li></ul>I recommend adding a few additional columns to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.google.com/sheets/about">Google Sheet</a> you already made for keeping track of your feedback group, so that you can add notes with their answers to these key questions.By this point in my challenge to validate a business idea, I was starting to get a more clear picture of what exactly my audience wanted from me in the California hiking space.After thinking more about the two ideas I got from my feedback group—a monthly adventure planning service or a guide to the most under-rated, off-the-grid hikes and adventures in California—and running them by a couple others, I got more votes for the off-the-grid hiking guide.Once you've been able to collect this depth of feedback from at least 10 - 15 people in your early feedback group, it's time to really formulate your competitive advantage and solidify (at least for now) what you're business is going to represent.I pushed forward with the tentative plan of creating the off-the-grid hiking guide.Now it was time to figure out how to make it significantly more unique, useful and better than existing hiking guides.<h2><a data-wpel-link="internal" name="5"></a>5. Develop a Competitive Advantage.</h2>By this stage of validating your business idea, you've had a number of meaningful conversations with your target audience and you've built a small list of people who are interested in getting updates on your upcoming solution—based on the simple elevator pitch you've sent them so far.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-competitive-advantage.jpg" alt="validate-business-idea-competitive-advantage" width="960" height="641" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-competitive-advantage.jpg 960w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-competitive-advantage-300x200.jpg 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-competitive-advantage-768x513.jpg 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-competitive-advantage.jpg" />Now it's time to expand a bit on that elevator pitch and pull some more insights out of the feedback you've been gathering from your conversations with the people in your community.All with the purpose of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/how-to-start-grow-your-business-while-working-a-full-time-job/">developing a competitive advantage</a> that'll make your upcoming solution uniquely valuable to your audience. The worst thing you can do is rush to market with an identical solution to what's already out there.A <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/competitive_advantage.asp">competitive advantage</a> is defined as your unique advantage that allows you as a business to generate greater sales or margins, and/or acquire & retain more customers than competitors.In short, it's what makes your business, your business.Your competitive advantage can come in many different forms, including:<ul><li>Your cost structure</li><li>Product offering</li><li>Distribution network</li><li>Customer support</li><li>Your own personal skill set (like being able to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://relate.zendesk.com/articles/storytelling-superpower/">tell great stories</a>)</li><li>Your experience</li><li>Industry knowledge</li><li>Strategic relationships</li><li>A powerful personal brand</li><li>Large and engaged audience you've built</li></ul>The strength of your competitive advantage will greatly affect your early results in validating your business idea.With my challenge to validate a business idea in the California hiking space, my competitive advantage for my upcoming website (that didn't yet exist, mind you), was that I'd be delivering content in a new medium (VR/360°), with a level of quality and depth that was unmatched in an industry full of web 1.0 style websites with stock photos and short descriptions.To land on the competitive advantage(s) for your <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/side-hustle-ideas/">side hustle idea</a>, start by carefully combing through all of the feedback emails, conversation notes and ideas you've recorded from your target audience conversations so far.Look for commonalities, trends, surprising insights and particularly interesting ideas that catch your eye. Highlight them as potential value propositions to come back to for developing your competitive advantage.<h2>6. Grow Your Email List.</h2>Despite what many profess, growing your email list (further) is actually an optional step in the process of validating a business idea.Here's why: If you've already manually built an email list of 100 or more subscribers through the various audience building tactics we covered in #3 (which you could definitely do given enough time and effort), you likely already have enough people to validate your idea with.Sure, more of the right subscribers would help increase your chances of successfully validating your business idea, but anything more than ~100 or so, is bonus points for the sake of this validation test.Revisiting our initial goal for setting out to validate a business idea in the first place, it's to give us reasonable confidence in the future success of our solution.Put simply, you don't need more than 100 subscribers to validate an idea and get at least 10 paying customers.If you're sitting below that magic number of 100 subscribers or you feel strongly about needing to acquire a larger audience before building a proof of concept, let's get into growing your email list beyond where it's at right now.I've written about a lot of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://convertkit.com/grow-your-list-one-month-email-course/">list building tactics that have worked well for me</a> over the years, but here are a few of my favorites for quickly growing your email list beyond the limitations of manual outreach.1. Guest Posting (to Grow Your List and Validate Your Business Idea).While guest posting is significantly more effective in the long run once you have a live website or of your own already (could be a good reason to learn <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/how-start-blog/">how to start a blog</a> today), it's notnecessary in the context of validating your idea quickly.All you need is a very basic "landing page" that gives you the opportunity to capture the name and email address of any readers who are interested in learning more about what you're planning on building—based on a brief description written on your landing page. This landing page will be a foundation for the proof of concept you'll be building in the next step anyway.Within your guest post that's topically relevant to what you're planning on creating, you'll tastefully link back to your landing page so that readers can click through to learn more and sign up for updates.Here's an example of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://crew.co/blog/10-steps-to-starting-a-side-business-while-working-a-full-time-job/">a guest post I recently wrote for Lifehacker</a>, one <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanrobinson/2017/01/10/6-startups-and-popular-websites-you-didnt-know-started-as-side-projects/">for Forbes</a>, one <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/10-steps-to-start-a-business-while-keeping-your-full-time-job.html">on Inc</a>, another <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://blog.creativelive.com/top-entrepreneurs-share-best-business-advice/">on CreativeLive's blog</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://generalassemb.ly/blog/11-marketing-skills-you-need-to-land-your-dream-job/">General Assembly's blog</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://convertkit.com/grow-your-list-one-month-email-course/">ConvertKit's blog</a>. You'll notice that I always make sure to include at least 1 link back to a specific post, landing page or project I'm seeking to promote (or validate) within the first few paragraphs of the guest post to make sure I'm maximizing my chances of driving back readers who are interested in signing up to learn more.Again, you do not have to build a website before guest posting. Your landing page can be as simple as you allow it to be. I've created basic landing pages from (free) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.google.com/forms/about/">Google Forms</a>, (free) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.google.com/docs/about/">Google Docs</a>, (free) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.gumroad.com/">Gumroad</a> sales pages and through free trials with a more robust tool like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/resources/instapage/">Instapage</a>.What's most important about the basic landing page you build, is that you're able to (1) write a brief description of your upcoming solution and (2) ask readers to sign up with their email address for updates. You can collect their email addresses by using a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.google.com/forms/about/">Google Form</a>, which will store them neatly in a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.google.com/sheets/about/">Google Sheet</a> you'll be able to refer back to later.Here's an example of a guest post I wrote for the Desprenuer blog (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://despreneur.com/side-hustles-for-designers/">right here</a>), a popular website that gives designers the tools they need to grow their businesses.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/despreneur.png" alt="validate business idea despreneur" width="785" height="325" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/despreneur.png 785w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/despreneur-300x124.png 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/despreneur-768x318.png 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 785px) 100vw, 785px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/despreneur.png" />You'll see that I included a link back to the post I wanted to promote on my own blog (about side businesses), within the first paragraph of this guest post. This guest post took me about 30-45 minutes to write and was a shortened derivative of the original post I linked to in that intro paragraph up top.I know, I know... you don't have a ton of blog content of your own, so you "can't" do this, right?Not quite. If you think you don't have the content for writing a guest post, you're mistaken. Take all the bits and pieces of conversations you've already been having with your target market, identify the value propositions they've been resonating with most and start expanding on each of those points.Now, let's talk about pitching a guest post & identifying the right destinations and people to pitch to.All it took to land this guest post on the Despreneur blog, which drove back a couple hundred visitors to my site, was a quick email to the editor, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://tomaslau.com/">Tomas Laurinavicius</a>. I mentioned a recent podcast episode he recorded with another entrepreneur, which showed I took an interest in what he's doing and established relevancy by noting that I'm also a Forbes contributor.Then I pitched him on writing a guest post:<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/validate-business-idea-tomas-email.png" alt="validate-business-idea-tomas-email" width="947" height="487" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/validate-business-idea-tomas-email.png 947w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/validate-business-idea-tomas-email-300x154.png 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/validate-business-idea-tomas-email-768x395.png 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 947px) 100vw, 947px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/validate-business-idea-tomas-email.png" />This worked particularly well for me because the content I referenced on my blog was already performing well and Tomas also had some mutual connections with me (via Forbes), so there were fewer barriers between us.But you probably don't have a strong personal brand or contributorships on major publications... sure, that'll make this more difficult. However, my very first guest post was landed <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://open.buffer.com/meaningful-work/">on Buffer's blog</a> (1 million+ monthly readers) back in 2015 long before I had any semblance of an audience or credibility. I cold emailed one of the writers on their team with a few strong topic ideas I knew she'd be interested in, then she asked to see a draft of one and the rest is history.Success with pitching guest posts begins with choosing realistic targets, but never doubt the power of asking for what you want—tons of other people have also been able to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://blog.contentmarketer.io/how-to-land-a-guest-post/">land high value guest posts</a> without any "street cred" of their own yet.Now let's dive deeper into my 5 step process for cold pitching guest posts.Step 1: Create a landing page (or blog post/proof of concept).Nearly every post I publish on my blog is treated as a proof of concept for a potential course topic I can cover in the future. I choose to use blog posts for all of my proof of concepts because that's what I'm good at and I can do it quickly. For your purposes, this landing page can be in the form of a simple blog post, sales page, product description, video or otherwise—this is the destination that'll serve as home base for when you're ready to go out and pitch guest posts.Step 2: Build a list of publications, brand and blogs.Once I publish a post to my blog, I'll create a shortlist of 10-20 different publications, blogs and brands that I think I can realistically land a guest post with—on a topic closely related to my landing page back on my own website. I'll vet these websites and make sure it looks like they accept content on my topic and that they have engaged readers for the subject matter, otherwise it's not the best utilization of my time. Once I have my list, I'll rank everyone on it based on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/drive-traffic-website/">how much traffic I can drive to my website</a> from a guest post (an estimate).Step 3: Create outlines of derivative works from the original post.Next, I'll break down the sections of my original post and start outlining what a more detailed post could look like—expanding upon each of these sections from my original. For example, from my post on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/how-to-start-grow-your-business-while-working-a-full-time-job/">10 Steps to Starting a Business While Working Full-Time</a>, I could choose #2 on the list (Inventory Your Strengths and Interests) and outline a more detailed post that expands upon actionable strategies for finding your strengths and interests. Now, I'll start to pair up these new post outlines with the target websites I want to get a guest post published on.Step 4: Find the right point of contact at my target websites.This is key. You need to pitch a real person and make sure it's the right person. That's someone who (1) cares and (2) can do something about your guest post idea. For that reason, I always look to target a marketer, writer, editor or blog manager at the destination I'm looking to secure a guest post on—these people will all be on the same page when it comes to the constant need for solid content and they'll either have or know the people with the decision-making power to grant a guest post.Step 5: Reach out with a value-driven approach, then pitch.Most of the time before pitching someone on a guest post, I'll first go back to my original landing page or post on my blog and add in a relevant link to a piece of content on the blog of the target destination I'm trying to get a guest post on. That way, when I reach out to the marketer, writer or editor, I can keep the message related to just my mention of them in the post on my blog—providing value first.I'll ask them to give it a quick look to make sure I'm citing them properly and linking to the best possible destination for them; two things they'll care about and it's not a big ask. That gets them to my website where they can see what the post is about and a bit about me. Then once they respond, I'll pitch them on the guest post topic that I believe to be most relevant to their readers.It's a lot of work and you definitely want to spend some time <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://elumynt.com/the-12-hottest-tools-for-content-promotion-strategy/">promoting the content</a> and making sure your guest post does well. But by building relationships that are founded on delivering value before asking for anything in return, you're going to plant the seeds for a relationship that has the potential to grow and evolve over time.This strategy will also set you apart from the 50 other people that email in every day asking to guest post.If you don't have a website up yet, you obviously can't use this exact approach verbatim. Instead, you'll have to compensate by reaching out to more people. It's a numbers game, but I promise you can make it happen. If you want help strategizing, shoot me an email at ryan@ryrob.com and I'm happy to help.2. Facebook Ads (to Grow Your List and Validate Your Business Idea).If you have a little budget ($50 - $200) for testing paid traffic, Facebook Ads (especially if you can produce high quality <a target="_blank" rel="noopener external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://fitsmallbusiness.com/how-to-facebook-video-ads/">Facebook video Ads</a>) are going to be your biggest bang for the buck, by far. With that budget range, you can generally drive a couple hundred extremely targeted visitors to your landing page and see how they react to your proof of concept.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2017-01-11-at-10.06.29-AM-1024x533.png" alt="validate business idea facebook ads" width="634" height="330" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2017-01-11-at-10.06.29-AM-1024x533.png 1024w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2017-01-11-at-10.06.29-AM-300x156.png 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2017-01-11-at-10.06.29-AM-768x400.png 768w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2017-01-11-at-10.06.29-AM.png 1564w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2017-01-11-at-10.06.29-AM-1024x533.png" />For one of my past businesses, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.caseescape.com/">Case Escape</a>, we were able to validate the concept of offering our Startup Kits—a business in a box style package that helped people start their own <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/start-phone-case-business/">phone case business</a>—by spending around $100 on Facebook Ads for a week to generate leads which led to phone conversations and making our first $5,700 sale.Both <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://adespresso.com/academy/guides/facebook-ads-beginner/">AdEspresso</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-advertise-on-facebook/">Hootsuite</a> have amazing guides to getting started with Facebook Ads that I highly recommend. Facebook has their own deep dive on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/business/a/online-sales/ad-targeting-details">ad targeting</a> as well.3. Giveaways (to Grow Your List and Validate Your Business Idea).In my experience, giveaways are a very mixed bag. Sometimes they work very well and give you a ton of qualified leads, but other times you're left with a worthless list of people who signed up solely to win something cool.My advice: Keep your giveaway item as closely related to your upcoming solution as possible (and keep your costs as low as possible). Spending meaningful amounts of money before you have a clear path to making it back is dangerous.I recommend hitting the pavement to visit local stores, picking up the phone and doing what you can to try and broker discounts on your giveaway items before purchasing—in exchange for some advertising exposure to your audience.Giveaways only make this list because they're a potentially viral <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/marketing-skills/">marketing tactic</a> that's worked well for me in the past. I used one during my challenge to validate a business idea and generated 565 email subscribers in just 6 days for a GoPro and Osprey pack giveaway thanks to the built-in viral sharing that the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://kingsumo.com/apps/giveaways/">KingSumo Giveaways</a> plugin has.<img data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-giveaway-landing-page-1024x648.png" alt="validate-business-idea-giveaway-landing-page" width="1024" height="648" srcset="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-giveaway-landing-page-1024x648.png 1024w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-giveaway-landing-page-300x190.png 300w, https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-giveaway-landing-page-768x486.png 768w" data-srcset="" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://mk0ryrobg0ysk5t06n.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/validate-business-idea-giveaway-landing-page-1024x648.png" />The idea behind a giveaway is simple: Run a sweepstakes and give away an awesome, relevant product or service for free in exchange for asking entrants to sign up for your email list.Incentivize them to share the giveaway on the backend after they sign up by offering a few "extra" entries into the giveaway for every friend they refer to my giveaway, which KingSumo Giveaways does very well.Starting with just 47 people in my early feedback group, I was able to grow that number to 565 in just 6 days thanks to their sharing. That means they referred an average of 12 friends each.For the specific copy/paste email templates I used to kick my giveaway off with a bang and help make sure it succeeded, jump down to my <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/validate-business-idea/#update-3">Update #2 of the validation challenge</a>.Now, once you've built your email list to a size you're comfortable with (I recommend ~100 subscribers), it's time to start building your proof of concept.<h2>7. Build a Proof of Concept.</h2>Now you have a small (but growing) audience. You know the specific offering you want to validate your business idea with. In my case with this validation challenge, that was an off-the-grid hiking guide to the most under-appreciated adventure destinations in California—documented in VR/360°, drone footage and video.But I didn't have the time to go out and shoot all that content, get it edited and HOPE people paid me for it. That'd take months and probably a good amount of money.Instead of pausing here to invest weeks or months into building your course, writing your book, developing an app or creating a complex website to highlight your freelance skills in order to land the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/work-from-home-jobs/">best work from home jobs</a>, we still want to make sure there's a (paying) demand for what you plan on building—before you actually go out and build it.That's where building a simple proof of concept comes into play.A proof of concept is a realization of your method or idea that demonstrates its feasibility.Well constructed proof of concepts are designed to achieve these 3 things:1. Verify that your solution solves the problem you’re attempting to address.2. Confirm that your solution is valued by your future customers.3. Determine whether or not people will pay for your solution.Setting your proof of concept goal.Once you have a more clear picture of what your specific product or service offering is going to be (based on your target market conversations and research) and you've developed a competitive advantage that's going to make your offering unique in some way, it's time to set a goal for what you want your proof of concept to achieve.Only that which is properly tracked and measured, improves.Your proof of concept goal will be unique to your business and it needs to give you relative confidence in the future of the solution you’re building.There’s no definitive, across the board success metric for all proof of concepts, but I alwaysrecommend setting a proof of concept goal of generating a specific amount of revenue from a pre-defined number of paying customers.Here are a few popular examples of proof of concept goals:<ul><li>10 pre-orders for your upcoming product or service</li><li>$100 in affiliate commissions generated</li><li>100 listeners on your first podcast episode</li><li>Getting a book proposal accepted by a publisher</li><li>100 waiting list subscribers</li><li>Fully funding a Kickstarter campaign</li></ul>With my challenge to validate a business idea in the California hiking space, I set my proof of concept goal at 10 pre-orders of the hiking guide I wanted to create. If I could get 10 people to pay me for a book that doesn't yet exist, that'd give me enough confidence to go out and actually shoot the content & create the book.Now that I had the goal I wanted to achieve—10 book pre-sales, it was time to create a (simple) preview of what that would be, so I could start pitching it and asking my subscribers to buy.Here are a few examples of the many different forms a proof of concepts can come in:<ul><li>Google Doc (like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZV8D3fkROt9iQPHfA195gUMpG392xYFWffCyf_hNyAw/edit?usp=sharing">the one I created to validate my hiking guide</a>)</li><li>Blog post (like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/how-to-start-grow-your-business-while-working-a-full-time-job/">the one I wrote to validate my first course idea</a>)</li><li>Explainer video</li><li>Portfolio of your existing work (like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://theryanrobinson.contently.com/">this free one on Contently</a>)</li><li>Hand-built prototype (like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://www.ryrob.com/how-to-not-lose-6537-and-create-a-product-nobody-wants/">my $100 iStash prototypes</a>)</li><li>Simple product sales page or website</li><li>Rough demonstration of your software solution</li><li>Email or email newsletter (like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanrobinson/2017/01/10/6-startups-and-popular-websites-you-didnt-know-started-as-side-projects/">how ProductHunt started</a>)</li><li>Self-published book</li><li>Facebook or Slack group (like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.hashtaginvesting.com/">#Investing</a>, a group created by a reader)</li></ul>So, going back to leveraging my core skills (which we covered the importance of in #2 of this post), I took a couple of hours and wrote out a simple <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZV8D3fkROt9iQPHfA195gUMpG392xYFWffCyf_hNyAw/edit?usp=sharing">Google Doc Proof of Concept</a> that was just a few pages long, to serve as my proof of concept for this hiking guide idea.You can check it out and grab the te

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