Ways You Can Be More Assertive With Attractive Professional Skills

IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING (TO SAY THE LEAST!) WHEN IT COMES TO SHARING YOUR IDEAS WITH COLLEAGUES AND HIGHER UPS — ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE MORE INTROVERTED SIDE. THE GOOD NEWS: YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR PERSONALITY IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH SARA GARIBALDI, SVP, DIRECTOR OF BRAND AT KETCHUM — WHO WAS ALSO RECENTLY LISTED ON PR WEEK’S 40 UNDER 40! — TO GET HER TIPS ON HOW TO BETTER ASSERT YOURSELF IN THE WORK PLACE.

“NOBODY EXPECTS YOU TO BE SOMEONE YOU’RE NOT, SO DON’T CHANGE YOUR PERSONALITY,” SAYS GARIBALDI. “HOWEVER, AS YOU ADVANCE IN YOUR CAREER (IN SOME FIELDS MORE THAN OTHERS) BEING VOCAL IN MEETINGS, SHARING A VALUABLE OPINION AND ENSURING IT’S HEARD AND EVEN BEING SOCIAL WITH COLLEAGUES AND CLIENTS, EXUDES CONFIDENCE, ASSERTIVENESS AND GIVES THEM A BETTER GLIMPSE OF WHO YOU REALLY ARE.”

UNFORTUNATELY BEING QUIET CAN OFTEN GET MISCONSTRUED AS BEING DISENGAGED OR UNINTERESTED. DON’T LET A NATURALLY QUIET DEMEANOR SEND A MESSAGE THAT ISN’T FAIR OR ACCURATE ABOUT YOU, ADVISES GARIBALDI. WELCOME A LITTLE DISCOMFORT AND MOVE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE… EVEN IF YOU BEGIN WITH SMALL STEPS!

HERE ARE SIX TIPS TO REFER TO WHEN YOU’RE READY TO BREAK OUT OF THAT SHELL.

• SPEAK IN HEADLINES. WHEN SHARING AN IDEA OR EXPRESSING YOUR THOUGHTS, TRY TO THINK OF THE HEADLINE YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE IN ADVANCE AND STICK TO THAT WHEN RELAYING YOUR MESSAGE. THIS LITTLE TRICK WILL HELP YOU TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS CONCISELY AND CLEARLY, WITHOUT RAMBLING. IT ALSO HELPS YOU TO MAKE YOUR POINT WITH MORE ASSERTION. ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER IS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO END A STATEMENT WITH A QUESTIONING TONE, AS THAT COMES ACROSS AS YOU HAVING DOUBT IN WHAT YOU’RE COMMUNICATING.
• BODY LANGUAGE SPEAKS VOLUMES. MAINTAIN GOOD POSTURE AND KEEP EYE CONTACT WITH WHOMEVER YOU’RE COMMUNICATING WITH AS IT EXUDES AN OVERALL FEELING OF CONFIDENCE BOTH IN WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE.
• BE PRESENT. BEING THERE DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN YOU’RE PRESENT AND IN THE MOMENT. DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU’RE COMPLETELY IN THE MOMENT BY FEARLESSLY LISTENING, ACKNOWLEDGING CUES IN A CONVERSATION, AND ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION WHEN YOU NEED IT. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS. IT SHOWS YOU’RE UNAFRAID TO BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE YOU DIDN’T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING AND GET THE INSIGHT YOU NEED.
• EXPRESS MEA CULPA. THERE’S NOTHING THAT EXUDES MORE CONFIDENCE THAN BEING HONEST IN YOUR MISTAKES OR MISHAPS. ACKNOWLEDGING WHEN YOU’VE MADE A MISTAKE DEMONSTRATES YOUR SELF-ASSURANCE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LEARN FROM IT.
• BE PROACTIVE. DEMONSTRATING YOU CAN THINK AHEAD CONFIRMS TO EVERYONE AROUND YOU THAT YOU’VE GOT THE PRESENT WORK UNDER CONTROL AND ARE A CAPABLE EMPLOYEE.
• WELCOME THE UNCOMFORTABLE. DON’T SKIRT AROUND ISSUES — ADDRESS DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS HEAD ON AND DON’T MISDIRECT BLAME. BEING REAL AND DOWN-TO-EARTH IN HOW YOU CONFRONT AN ISSUE WILL LEAD TO A LOT OF SUPPORTERS AND IS A TRUE DEMONSTRATION OF SELF-ASSURANCE.

Negotiating Tips For Career

WHILE LISTENING TO MY 20-SOMETHING ANALYSTS AT KEATING ADVISORS VENT ABOUT THEIR STRESSES, I KNOW THAT NO MATTER HOW SOUND MY ADVICE MAY BE, THERE ARE CERTAIN LESSONS THAT NEED TO BE EXPERIENCED AND NOT HEARD. AS I LISTEN, I FIND MYSELF REFLECTING ON THINGS THAT WERE TOLD TO ME, AND THINGS I WISH I KNEW EARLIER. WHICH IS WHY, ON THIS DAY, I HAVE DECIDED TO WRITE THEM DOWN TO HELP OUT THOSE WHOM I ONLY WISH THE BEST.

MY FIRST AND LONGEST EMPLOYEE AT KEATING ADVISORS TURNS 30 TODAY! I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT SHE IS THE MOST BRILLIANT, SELF-SUFFICIENT,AND CONTINUOUSLY THOUGHTFUL WOMAN I HAVE EVER MET. HAVING WATCHED HER GROW FROM A 22 YEAR-OLD FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE, WITH NO IDEA OF WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO WITH HER LIFE, TO A TALENTED AND PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT HAS BEEN ONE OF MY GREATEST REWARDS. SO IN HONOR OF HER SPECIAL DAY, I OFFER HER WHAT MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HAVE TAUGHT ME AND SERVE AS A TOOL OF INSPIRATION FOR THOSE CONFUSED 20 AND 30-SOMETHINGS TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT:

1. YOU’VE GOT SOME EXPERIENCE UNDER YOUR BELT
FIND COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT THE YEARS WHERE YOU HAVE TRIED, FAILED, EXPERIMENTED, BOMBED, BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT ARE BEHIND YOU! NOW THAT YOU’VE GOT ALL THAT OUT OF THE WAY, YOU CAN FOCUS YOUR INTENTIONS ON YOUR HIGHEST GOALS.

2. YOUR NETWORK IS YOUR NET WORTH
I DON’T THINK IT CAN BE STRESSED ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO NETWORK, ESPECIALLY WHILE YOU’RE YOUNG. THE OLDER WE GET, THE LESS TIME WE HAVE TO NETWORK. CAREERS, PARTNERS AND FAMILY OBLIGATIONS OFTEN TAKE UP MORE TIME, MAKING IT HARDER TO STAY CONNECTED. BUT ALL OF THOSE CONNECTIONS YOU MADE WHILE YOU WERE YOUNGER HAVE GROWN AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE STARTED TO FLOURISH IN THEIR OWN FIELDS. THE RETURNS OF STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THEM CAN PAY OFF IN WAYS YOU CAN’T IMAGINE.

3. EXPLORE THE WORLD
SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS, DRINK TEA IN ENGLAND OR HIKE THE GRAND CANYON. YOU ARE A GLOBAL CITIZEN; TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR PASSPORT BEFORE YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PEOPLE OTHER THAN YOURSELF.

4. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE
BAD HABITS DIE HARD. IF YOU DISCIPLINE YOURSELF EARLY ABOUT SAVING AND SPENDING, CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT MONEY — IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF FINANCIAL ISSUES IN THE FUTURE. THINK OF THE SAYING, “IF YOU CAN’T BUY IT TWICE, YOU SHOULDN’T BUY IT ONCE.” CREATE A BUDGET AND RESPECT IT.

5. DON’T ASK FOR MONEY AND SHOES, ASK FOR STOCKS
WALL STREET MAY NOT BE THE MOST FASCINATING THING TO LOOK INTO, BUT INSTEAD OF DROPPING $400 ON THAT NEW LEATHER BAG, DROP IT IN A HIGH INTEREST SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR PURCHASE A FEW SHARES OF STOCK. THINK AHEAD ABOUT THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM YOU WANT TO HAVE AS YOU GET OLDER.

6. CULTIVATE A BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE
IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU WORK HARD, BUT DON’T NEGLECT YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVE LIFE. TOO MUCH FOCUS IN ONE AREA ISN’T OPTIMAL. THE BEAUTY OF LIFE IS IN ITS DIVERSITY, SO TRY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF EVERY PIECE OF IT.

7. DON’T FORGET HOW TO BE A KID
THIS IS THE DECADE WHERE EVERYONE OFFICIALLY TRANSITIONS FROM SELF-SUFFICIENT YOUNG PERSON TO FULL FLEDGED GROWN UP. BUT AS “GROWN-UP” LIFE SETS IN (E.G., MORTGAGES, MARRIAGE, KIDS, ETC.) AND YOUR OBLIGATIONS BEGIN TO ADD UP, MAKE TIME FOR THE THINGS YOU LOVE DOING. BE A KID — GO FOR AN ADVENTURE IN THE AREA AROUND YOUR HOUSE, MAKE NEW FRIENDS WITH WARMTH AND OPTIMISM AND JUST BE YOURSELF WITH NO HOLDING BACK.

7 Tips For Professionally Successfull

While Listening To My 20-Something Analysts At Keating Advisors Vent About Their Stresses, I Know That No Matter How Sound My Advice May Be, There Are Certain Lessons That Need To Be Experienced And Not Heard. As I Listen, I Find Myself Reflecting On Things That Were Told To Me, And Things I Wish I Knew Earlier. Which Is Why, On This Day, I Have Decided To Write Them Down To Help Out Those Whom I Only Wish The Best.

My First And Longest Employee At Keating Advisors Turns 30 Today! I Can Honestly Say That She Is The Most Brilliant, Self-Sufficient,And Continuously Thoughtful Woman I Have Ever Met. Having Watched Her Grow From A 22 Year-Old Fresh Out Of College, With No Idea Of What She Wanted To Do With Her Life, To A Talented And Professional Consultant Has Been One Of My Greatest Rewards. So In Honor Of Her Special Day, I Offer Her What My Years Of Experience Have Taught Me And Serve As A Tool Of Inspiration For Those Confused 20 And 30-Somethings Trying To Figure It All Out:

1. You’ve Got Some Experience Under Your Belt
Find Comfort In Knowing That The Years Where You Have Tried, Failed, Experimented, Bombed, Been There And Done That Are Behind You! Now That You’ve Got All That Out Of The Way, You Can Focus Your Intentions On Your Highest Goals.

2. Your Network Is Your Net Worth
I Don’t Think It Can Be Stressed Enough How Important It Is To Network, Especially While You’re Young. The Older We Get, The Less Time We Have To Network. Careers, Partners And Family Obligations Often Take Up More Time, Making It Harder To Stay Connected. But All Of Those Connections You Made While You Were Younger Have Grown And Your Friends Have Started To Flourish In Their Own Fields. The Returns Of Staying In Touch With Them Can Pay Off In Ways You Can’t Imagine.

3. Explore The World
Swim With The Dolphins, Drink Tea In England Or Hike The Grand Canyon. You Are A Global Citizen; Take Advantage Of Your Passport Before You Have To Be Responsible For People Other Than Yourself.

4. Save, Save, Save
Bad Habits Die Hard. If You Discipline Yourself Early About Saving And Spending, Create Your Own Personal Philosophy About Money — It Will Save You A Lot Of Financial Issues In The Future. Think Of The Saying, “If You Can’t Buy It Twice, You Shouldn’t Buy It Once.” Create A Budget And Respect It.

5. Don’t Ask For Money And Shoes, Ask For Stocks
Wall Street May Not Be The Most Fascinating Thing To Look Into, But Instead Of Dropping $400 On That New Leather Bag, Drop It In A High Interest Savings Account Or Purchase A Few Shares Of Stock. Think Ahead About The Financial Freedom You Want To Have As You Get Older.

6. Cultivate A Balance Between Work And Personal Life
It’s Important That You Work Hard, But Don’t Neglect Your Family, Friends And Love Life. Too Much Focus In One Area Isn’t Optimal. The Beauty Of Life Is In Its Diversity, So Try To Get The Most Out Of Every Piece Of It.

7. Don’t Forget How To Be A Kid
This Is The Decade Where Everyone Officially Transitions From Self-Sufficient Young Person To Full Fledged Grown Up. But As “Grown-Up” Life Sets In (E.G., Mortgages, Marriage, Kids, Etc.) And Your Obligations Begin To Add Up, Make Time For The Things You Love Doing. Be A Kid — Go For An Adventure In The Area Around Your House, Make New Friends With Warmth And Optimism And Just Be Yourself With No Holding Back.

Building A Career

Building A Career
Today, And More Than Ever, Most People Are Responsible For Building Their Own Careers.

Whether You Are Just Starting, Or You Have Several Years Of Experience, These Paragraphs Might Help You Advance Your Career.

The 9 Most Important Career Planning Tips Is Listed Below:

1. Never Stop Learning
Life-Long Learning Is Your Keyword.

The World Is Constantly Changing, And Everybody Is Looking For New Ways Of Doing Business.

If You Have Decided That Your Current Skills Are Good Enough, You Have Also Decided That Your Current Job Is Good Enough.

But If You Want A Career In The Future, You Should Add Regular Updates To Your Skills And Knowledge.

2. Ask, Listen And Learn
A Good Listener Can Learn A Lot.

Listen To Your Co-Workers, Your Boss, And Your Superiors. You Can Learn A Lot From Their Experience.

Ask About Issues That Interest You, And Listen To What They Say. Let Them Tell You About How Things Work, And What You Could Have Done Better.

Most People Will Love To Be Your Free Tutor.

3. Fulfill Your Current Job
Your Current Job Might Be Best Place To Start Your Career.

It Is Often Very Little That Separates Successful People From The Average. But Nothing Comes Free.

If You Do Your Job Well And Fulfill Your Responsibilities, This Is Often The Best Way To Start A New Career.

Talk To Your Supervisor About Things You Can Do. Suggest Improvements. Offer Your Help When Help Is Needed. In Return Ask For Help To Build A Better Career. It Is Often Possible – Right Inside Your Own Organization – Especially If You Have Proved To Be A Valued Employee.

4. Build Your Network
Your Next Career Step Might Arise From Your Contact Network.

Did You Know That More Than 50% Of All Jobs Are Obtained From Contact Networks?

If You Have A Good Contact Network, It Is Also A Good Place To Discover Future Careers, To Explore New Trends, And To Learn About New Opportunities.

Spend Some Time Building New Contacts, And Don’t Forget To Maintain The Ones You Already Have.

One Of The Best Ways To Get Serious Information From Your Network Is To Regularly Ask Your Contacts How They Are, What They Do, And What Is New About Their Careers.

5. Identify Your Current Job
Your Current Job Should Be Identified, Not Assumed.

Make Sure You Don’t Work With Tasks You Assume Are Important. This Is Waste Of Time And Talent.

When You Start In A New Job, Talk To Your Superior About Your Priorities. If You’re Not Sure About What Is Most Important, Then Ask Him. And Ask Him Again. Often You Will Be Surprised About The Differences Between What You Assume, And What Is Really Important.

6. Identify Your Next Job
Your Dream Job Must Be Identified.

Before You Start Planning Your Future Career, Be Sure You Have Identified Your Dream Job.

In Your Dream Job, You Will Be Doing All The Things You Enjoy, And None Of The Things You Don’t Enjoy. What Kind Of Job Would That Be?

Do You Like Or Dislike Having Responsibility For Other Employees. Do You Like To Work With Technology Or With People? Do You Want To Run Your Own Business? Do You Want To Be An Artist, A Designer Or A Skilled Engineer? A Manager?

Before Building Your Future Career Your Goal Must Be Identified.

7. Prepare Yourself
Your Dream Might Show Up Tomorrow. Be Prepared.

Don’t Wait A Second. Update Your Cv Now, And Continue To Update It Regularly.

Tomorrow Your Dream Job May Show Up Right Before Your Nose. Prepare For It With A Professional Cv And Be Ready To Describe Yourself As A Valuable Object To Anyone That Will Try To Recruit You.

If You Don’t Know How To Write A Cv, Or How To Describe Yourself, Start Learning It Now.

8. Pick The Right Tools
Pick The Tools You Can Handle.

You Can Build Your Future Career Using A Lot Of Different Tools. Studying At W3schools Is Easy. Taking A Full Master Degree Is More Complicated.

You Can Add A Lot To Your Career By Studying Books And Tutorials (Like The One You Find At W3schools). Doing Short Time Courses With Certification Tests Might Add Valuable Weight To Your Cv. And Don’t Forget: Your Current Job Is Often The Most Valuable Source Of Building New Skills.

Don’t Pick A Tool That Is Too Heavy For You To Handle!

9. Realize Your Dreams
Put Your Dreams Into Action.

Don’t Let A Busy Job Kill Your Dreams. If You Have Higher Goals, Put Them Into Action Now.

If You Have Plans About Taking More Education, Getting A Better Job, Starting Your Own Company Or Something Else, You Should Not Use Your Daily Job As A “Waiting Station”. Your Daily Job Will Get More And More Busy, You Will Be Caught Up In The Rat Race, And You Will Burn Up Your Energy.

If You Have This Energy, You Should Use It Now, To Realize Your Dreams.

6 Tips After Graduation

IF YOU’RE A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE, OR KNOW ONE, THE PHRASE “I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO!” MAY BE FAMILIAR. MANY 2014 GRADUATES ARE STILL POUNDING THE PAVEMENT TO FIND THAT FIRST OPPORTUNITY.

AS A PARENT OF A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE AND A CAREER COACH FOR FIVE YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA’S ELLER COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT, MY ADVICE IS TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF YOURSELF: YOUR NEXT STEP IN LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO DETERMINE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. INSTEAD, CHANGE YOUR MINDSET TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN LEARN AND HOW YOU CAN LEVERAGE EACH EXPERIENCE FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS WHAT I’VE DONE IN MY CAREER. IT HAS SPANNED FROM MARKETING TO PROFESSIONAL VOICE-OVER ARTIST TO DOULA TO EVENT COORDINATION TO COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR TO NOW COACH AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. IT’S BEEN A TWISTED PATH FILLED WITH BUMPS AND WRINKLES, BUT A VERY FUN JOURNEY.

AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS EXCITING PHASE OF YOUR LIFE, HERE ARE SIX STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP YOU ALONG:

1. MAKE A LIST OF THE SKILLS YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AND TRAITS YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THROUGH SCHOOL, VOLUNTEERING, WORK, SORORITIES/FRATERNITIES, CLUBS, AND SCHOOL PROJECTS. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ENJOY, THE TIMES YOU GET LOST IN ACTIVITIES, WHERE YOU DERIVE YOUR ENERGY, AND FEEDBACK YOU HAVE RECEIVED. EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHOWN THEY ARE TRAINABLE, ADAPTABLE, GOOD COMMUNICATORS, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS, CAN TAKE INITIATIVE AND HAVE A PERSONALITY THAT WILL COMPLEMENT THEIR TEAM.

2. BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE EXAMPLES OF WHEN YOU USED THOSE SKILLS AND TRAITS. USE THE STAR METHOD TO TELL THE STORY OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. AN INTERVIEW IS A WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOU. RATHER THAN TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU WILL PERFORM IN A JOB, SHARING EXAMPLES OF WAYS YOU HAVE SOLVED PROBLEMS AND CREATED RESULTS IS A MUCH MORE POWERFUL GLIMPSE INTO WHO YOU ARE.

3. DON’T GET HUNG UP ON FINDING A JOB THAT FULFILLS YOUR PASSION. IF YOU FIND A JOB THAT MATCHES YOUR PASSION, YOU ARE LUCKY. BUT FOR MANY OF US, THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. WHAT IS POSSIBLE IS CONSIDERING HOW THE THINGS YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CAN INFORM THE SKILLS YOU WANT TO USE ON A JOB. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOVE TO GARDEN, YOU DON’T NEED TO WORK AS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT OR AT A NURSERY IN ORDER TO LIKE YOUR JOB. THINK OF WHAT IT IS ABOUT GARDENING THAT GIVES YOU ENERGY AND MAKES YOU FEEL FULFILLED. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN YOU GET LOST IN THE ACTIVITY? PERHAPS, YOU LIKE NATURE, CREATING BEAUTY, WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS OR SEEING THE RESULTS OF YOUR LABOR. NOW THINK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOBS THAT YOU COULD DO THAT WOULD INCLUDE ALL OR SOME OF THOSE PERSONAL PARAMETERS. ALSO, YOUR GREATEST PASSIONS MAY BE THE ACTIVITIES YOU DO OUTSIDE OF WORK THAT ARE AFFORDED BECAUSE YOU COLLECT A PAYCHECK. THEY MAY BE WHAT KEEPS YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT LIFE AND GIVES YOU THE GET-UP-AND-GO TO DO YOUR PAID JOB.

4. MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE FIND JOBS THROUGH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS. MATT YOUNGQUIST, THE PRESIDENT OF CAREER HORIZONS SAYS AT LEAST 70 PERCENT OF JOBS ARE NOT PUBLISHED BECAUSE SO MUCH HIRING IS FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES HIRING OTHER FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES. CREATE A SPREADSHEET AND TRACK YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, COACHES, PROFESSORS, GUEST SPEAKERS FROM CLASS PRESENTATIONS, AND SUMMER OR SCHOOL YEAR EMPLOYERS. YOU’LL BE SURPRISED HOW LARGE YOUR NETWORK REALLY IS. FOLLOW UP WITH EACH ONE AND SEE IF THEY KNOW ABOUT ANY JOBS THAT MAY FIT YOUR INTERESTS AND SKILLS.

FOR ME, MY BEST STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR CAREERS, TELL THEM WHAT I LIKE TO DO, EXPLAIN WHAT I THINK I AM GOOD AT AND ASK THEM WHAT THOUGHTS THEY MAY HAVE FOR ME ON WHERE I MIGHT FIND A JOB FIT. I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ASK WHO ELSE DO THEY THINK I SHOULD TALK TO, WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL CONNECT ME WITH A FEW MORE PEOPLE.

5. KEEP AT IT. IT CAN TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO GET TO THE NEXT STEP. MAKE SURE TO CELEBRATE EACH LITTLE SUCCESS AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT YOU. BE THAT PERSON TO YOURSELF, TOO.

6. DON’T BE AFRAID TO JUMP AND IN AND TRY NEW THINGS. ONCE YOU GET A JOB, KNOW THAT EVEN IF IT IS NOT IDEAL, IT CAN HELP YOU LEARN WHAT YOU LIKE AND DON’T LIKE AND WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT AND NOT. AFTER GAINING EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN LEVERAGE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE YOU OBTAIN TO TRANSITION TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY. THAT’S THE WAY CAREERS PROGRESS AND EACH STEP IS IMPORTANT, SO DON’T BE AFRAID TO SEE WHERE YOUR NEXT STEP WILL TAKE YOU!

10 Basic Career Tips

During The Past Few Months, I’Ve Spoken With Many College Graduates Who Are Just Starting Their Professional Adventure. They Are Looking For A Definitive Path And The Best Way To Build Their Careers. I Also Know Of People Who Have Shifted Career Paths Once Or Twice By Following Unconventional Paths To Perceived Success. As A Young Aspiring Professional, I Probably Would Have Read Sheryl Sandberg’S “Lean In“ And Arianna Huffington’S “Thrive“, As Both Books Offer An Aspirational View Of How To Be A Mindful Businesswoman.

However, I Think I Would Have Also Wanted Something More To Specific To Apply To My Day-To-Day Life. In The Spirit Of Sharing More Practical Advice Based On What I’Ve Learned Throughout My Career, Here Is My Best Advice To My 20-Something Self:

1. Always Show Gratitude. If Someone Has Done You A Good Turn, Take A Moment To Express Genuine Gratitude By Mail, Email, Text, Or A Few Words And Smile. It’S A Gracious Way To Live. As Old-Fashioned As It Seems, Mailing A Hand-Written Card To A Potential Employer Or Dinner Party Host Leaves A Lasting Impression.
2. Remember This, Too, Shall Pass. Whether You’Re Riding High On Good Fortune Or You’Re Wallowing In The Dumps Of Tough Times, Things Move On And So Will You. Be Grateful When Things Are Good. And Be Grateful For The Things That Are Good When Other Things Are Crumbling Around You.
3. Never Expect Someone Else To Advocate For Your Best Interest Or To Navigate Major Life Decisions. While There Are People Who Will Want To Help You, You Know Yourself And What You Need Best. Take Whatever Time You Need To Research, Learn And To Create Your Best Options. From Great Options, Make Good Decisions.
4. Maintain Your Professional Reputation. Avoid Burning Bridges With Those You’Ve Worked With. If Anything, Invest A Little Time To Continue Cultivating Your Past Relationships With Colleagues. You Never Know When You Might Cross Paths Again In Business.
5. Every Night, Think Of Three Positive Things From The Day – No Matter How Minor. This Is Another Way Experiencing Gratitude, But It’S More Introspective. Gratitude Has Been Documented To Generate Success In Individuals.
6. Exude Confidence. You Only Have One Body. So Be Comfortable In It. Confidence In Yourself Will Spur Confidence Others Will Have In You. Don’T Have The Confidence? “Fake It ‘Til You Make It,” As They Say.
7. Surround Yourself With People Who Nurture You And Encourage You. This Is True In Both Your Professional And Personal Life. Anyone Else Can Be A Distraction At Best And An Energy Drain At Worst.
8. Be Generous With Yourself. I Don’T Mean That You Should Go On A Buying Spree. Be More Practical Than That. For Example, Make Your Bed In The Morning As A Small Comfort For When You’Re Tired After A Long Day. You Will Feel A Little More Cared For. In Addition To Investing In As Much As You Can In Your 401(K), Set Aside Savings For The Opportunity To Advance Your Education. Even If You Don’T End Up Going Back To School (Graduate School Or Otherwise), You Will Have A Safety Net If The Economy Goes South. Spend 150 Minutes A Week On Yourself By Incorporating Cardiovascular Activity. If You Don’T Have Your Health, Everything Else Falls Away Pretty Quickly.
9. Understand That Job Interviews Are A Two-Way Street. View Them As Career Interviews. The Company Is As Much Of A Candidate For You As You Are For Them. After All, If You’Re Going To Be Spending 40+ Hours Per Week Somewhere, It’S Important To Be Fully Informed About How Much They Will Enable Your Career Growth. I Always Ask Job Candidates If They Have Any Questions For Me. What You Ask Is Sometimes As Important As What You’Re Answering.
10. Mistakes Can Be Gifts. Whether A Learning Experience, A Happy Accident, Or A Humbling Experience, Mistakes Can Serve Us Well. Don’T Be Afraid To Make Them. Just Try Not To Make The Same One Twice.

KEY OF SUCCESS

To build a good career takes dedication… you can get there with proper career planning and self-
reflection. On the contrary, a miss-step in choice may lead to a frustrating life without meaning.

The earlier you begin to plan for a career, the more likely you are to succeed. College is an ideal

time to begin. And you don’t even need a major or specific career direction in mind, yet. The

key… is to get started!

Here are 50 can’t miss tips to help your initial career planning:

 

1. Go to the Career Center on campus at least once a semester and then every month when you

are a senior.

2. Believe in yourself, believe in something and have someone believe in you.

3. Success comes from inside of you.

4. In addition to your college degree, employers will want to see multiple internship experiences.

Your competition has them.

5. Start building your resume early in your college career. Don’t wait until you get back from

spring break of your Senior year.

6. Be nice to your faculty. You’ll need them someday to serve as a reference for graduate school

or a job.

7. Get clarity and focus on the three types of jobs you will pursue: 1) Ideal Jobs, 2) Back-Up/

Realistic Jobs, and 3) Survival Jobs.

8. Come up with your own personal and professional definition of success and don’t let anyone

else define it for you.

9. Your first job is a period of adjustment. It’s like being a freshman all over again. Be patient and

learn the ropes.

10. Think of your first job as a stepping-stone that can help you get closer to your Ideal Job.

11. Show up early and stay late.

12. If you are self-aware, self-confident and self-disciplined you will go very far in life.

13. Take advantage of everything that college has to offer. Suck the life-force out of it. If you do,

you’ll have no regrets.

14. Most jobs today are not for life. The time to start preparing for your next job search is the day

you take your new job.

15. Starting at the bottom is not beneath you; it’s expected.

16. Eliminate poor grammar and slang from your speech.

17. Resist the temptation to use work time to conduct personal business like email, phone calls and

combing the Internet.

18. An employer cares about how productive you are. They don’t really care whether or not you’re

professionally fulfilled.

19. An employer wants to know, “Can you do the job? Are you willing to do the job? Can we stand

you when you do the job?”

20. Don’t get sloppy with your behavior. It can run you into trouble later on.

21. Stay focused and don’t get distracted by Facebook or other social media sites. Cut your

addiction to the Internet.

22. Share your life, but don’t over-share.

23. Know when you need to work independently and know when you need to be a team player.

24. You can never say “please” and “thank you” enough – it goes a long way.

25. If you perpetually smile and look people in the eyes you are likely to get the same in return.

26. Employers hire for attitude and train for knowledge. Enthusiasm is the road to success.

27. Keep your commitments. Habitually cancelling is a C.L.M., Career Limiting Move.

28. Keep in mind that success is the first attempt after failure. We all have made mistakes. Don’t

sweat it; just learn from them.

29. Clean up any “Digital Dirt” that’s on the Internet. Your online reputation IS your reputation.

Create it, build it and protect it.

30. Devote a great deal of time to practicing your interview skills. Have a Mock Interview at your

campus Career Center.

31. You won’t reach your career goals if you let someone else drive your career. Go from passenger

to driver.

32. If you take your career seriously, others will take you seriously. If you care about others, others

will care about you.

33. Ask for help, but don’t suck up too much of anyone’s time.

34. How you dress is a reflection of your self-image. Dress for not where you are, but for where you

want to be. Be neat.

35. Have a clear vision for your life. Set personal and professional goals every year and develop an

action plan to achieve them.

36. It is highly likely you will go on to graduate school. Carefully pick the right degree and program.

It’s expensive if you don’t.

37. Network your brains out and carefully build your LinkedIn Contacts. You will be changing jobs,

and you’ll need their help.

38. Givers Get! It starts with you.

39. Most communication is non-verbal. Pay attention to what you say. Pay closer attention to what

you say when you’re not talking.

40. Have regular meetings with your boss to discuss your progress. This can save a lot of

misunderstandings and headaches later.

41. A person’s most basic human emotional need is to be heard. Listening is a critically important

skill in the workplace. Talk less.

42. Stay in your first job out of college for one year, preferably two to three. Anything less is job

hopping, and it doesn’t look good.

43. The world is very small and increasingly interconnected. Play nice. Don’t burn any bridges.

44. Don’t chase after money. It tends to be a poor long-term motivator. Do what you love and the

money will follow.

45. Pursue meaningful work that makes a difference. The meaning of life is to make a difference.

Do work that you value.

46. Build an emergency fund just in case something goes wrong at work. Find a financial planner

and start investing immediately!

47. Set up a budget and stick to it. Don’t get into credit card debt. Always live below your means.

48. Don’t wait for opportunities. Go out and hunt for them.

49. Where you go in life is up to you.

50. Go be somebody.