5-Day Career Boost

Article originally posted on SharpHeels

You sleep eight hours each night, work out regularly, and eat right to be healthy. You’re conscious about improving yourself and establishing good habits, so keep up that great routine! But what have you done lately to boost your career? This isn’t about simply doing a good job at work. Certainly that’s important for your professional reputation, but what steps have you taken to bring your career to the next level?

You might be in a slump at work or maybe – if you’re lucky — your boss can’t stop giving you praise. Either way, there’s never not a great time to add a boost to your career, and you can easily do this in just five days.

Day 1: Capitalize on Strengths

Everyone has been asked about strengths and weaknesses, but not everyone uses this self-awareness to their advantage. Knowing your strengths and capitalizing on them helps boost your confidence in the workplace, which in turn helps boost your career. When you lead with your strengths, people take notice. You want to be remembered by what you’re good at, not by your shortcomings.

Career-Boost Challenge:

Identify your strengths, then incorporate them into your workday. Are you more productive in the mornings? Use that time to tackle your difficult tasks. Are you a natural leader? Talk with your manager about taking point on a new project. Make a conscious effort to exhibit your strengths at work; even if you only focus on one, it still makes a difference.

 

Day 2: Set Goals

If you haven’t already, determine what goals you want to accomplish in your career, both short- and long-term. Is it a promotion? Do you want to work for a specific company? Or be your own boss? Regardless of what it is or the timeline to get there, goals are vital for your professional success. Without something to work towards, you fall into the trap of career monotony. It’s as if you’re a corporate sleepwalker drifting through each day doing what’s expected and never progressing. Don’t let that happen! 

 

Career-Boost Challenge:

Don’t be afraid to be ambitious. Write out the ultimate goal you want to achieve, and then write out the steps it’s going to take to get there (essentially, mini-goals). Focusing solely on the big goal can make accomplishing it seem daunting, so concentrate on the smaller ones first. Set deadlines for the small goals, and reward yourself along the way. Also, tell someone about what you’re working towards so you have a support system to help keep you on track.

 

Day 3: Know Your Industry

To help you get ahead, you need to become an expert in your industry. You should know any major developments or changes that are happening, be familiar with what industry leaders are doing, and stay up to date with current trends. By establishing yourself as an expert, people will have higher regard for your business acumen. 

 

Career-Boost Challenge:

Get in the habit of checking industry news every day- all you need are a spare twenty minutes to get caught up on what’s happening. Search for any news outlets that cater to your industry and subscribe to their daily alerts/emails, or bookmark a section from a news website pertinent to you.

If you prefer mobile news, use apps like Flipboard or SmartNews that can filter articles based on industry topics.

 

Day 4: Network Effectively

You’ve heard it before: “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Not only that, but whothose people know. Having a widespread professional network pays off. Don’t believe it? Studies show that 40% of new jobs come from referrals, and upwards of 80% of jobs aren’t publicly advertised. Don’t let those statistics scare you, though. Thanks to technology and social media, building a network has never been easier. 

 

Career-Boost Challenge 1:

Find someone successful in your industry or someone in a position you would (ideally) want in the future and reach out to them for an “informational interview.” Ask if they are available (and willing) to discuss their current position, the steps it took to get there, and any other advice for you. Remember: your goal should be to build a relationship with this person, not to talk about possible job opportunities.

People are busy, so a quick chat over a cup of coffee might be all you get. Make the most of it! Have questions prepared, take some notes, and don’t forget to be mindful of their time. Always follow up with a thank you note. Showing your gratitude goes a long way when establishing a professional connection.

 

Career-Boost Challenge 2:

Find another person next week and reach out to them, and then another person the following week and so on. You should never stop trying to grow your network!

 

Day 5: Reflect

Reflection should be a part of your weekly (or even daily) work routine. Life gets so busy, and people rarely take the time to reflect, despite how beneficial it is for your career development.

 

Career-Boost Challenge:

Set aside 20 uninterrupted minutes to think about your week:

• Did you accomplish everything you wanted to?
• What did you do well?
• What can you improve on next week?
• How did you work towards your goals?
• What did you learn?

Think about these things, and then write them all down. Seeing it all on paper helps you remember your thoughts, and also holds you accountable the next week when you do this exercise again.

 

BONUS!

Reading might have been a chore in school, but it’s a habit you should get back into now. This shouldn’t be just any reading; rather, make it something substantial. Besides the obvious benefit that you’ll learn something, reading on a regular basis can increase focus, help your memory, broaden your vocabulary, and improve your writing skills.

 

Career-Boost Challenge:

Instead of scrolling through your news feed or reading about Kim Kardashian’s latest appearance,  read an article about strong women leaders or even a topic you know nothing about. Or pick a book from Mark Zuckerberg’s must-read list. Whatever it is, make it worth your while.

It doesn’t matter where you are in your career, there’s no downside for improving yourself professionally. Believe in yourself enough to invest in yourself. The advantages start coming to fruition relatively quickly, and they’ll continue to benefit you in the future.

Read the original article posted on SharpHeels.

Lessons of a job search

Written by: Tatiyana Cure, Executive Recruiter, CFS New York

A very important lesson in your job search is to remain positive. It’s easy to get discouraged when things do not go as planned- perhaps you don’t get the job offer, or if you do get it, it’s not what you would have hoped it to be. Remember, misery loves company but a positive attitude attracts positive results.

Here are some additional lessons of a job search:

1. Be open to all opportunities, even when you least expect them.
2. Make a plan and laser focus on your goals.
3. Nobody is a professional interviewee; the only way to get better is to practice.
4. Seek out feedback on how you can improve as a job seeker- on your resume, interview skills, etc.
5. Be more prepared for your next interview. Use the questions that stumped you in your prior interviews in preparation for the upcoming ones.
6. Learn as much as you can and ask more questions during your interview.
7. Do not get caught up on titles or salaries, but rather consider the big picture of your career growth.
8. Expand your job search beyond sending your resume to the black holes of ads posted on job boards.
9. Consider what problems of an organization you can solve and offer the solutions rather than only looking for a job.
10. Be confident in your skills and do not get discouraged based on the ad – go for it!
11. You will end up spending more time at work than you do at home. Don’t pick a job where you can’t stand your boss or the people you would work with.
12. Don’t be someone you are not throughout the interview, as it will become exhausting to not be yourself once you get the job.
13. Do not settle or over-compromise. Focus on making a smart long-term career move rather than simply obtaining another job.
14. Never stop networking and do not underestimate anyone you meet or who they may know.
15. You can always expand your expertise. Consider furthering your education, obtaining additional certifications, or seeking out mentorship.
16. Stay humble and grateful for any assistance. Appreciate the time someone may take out of his or her schedule to interview you or to hear you out.
17. Do not give up on finding the perfect next move!

Have more questions about your job search? Comment below! You can also reach out to one of our expert recruiters. See a full list of CFS locations here.

Posted by Creative Financial Staffing at 3:18 PM

via Lessons of a Job Search | Tatiyana Cure | LinkedIn

Source: Lessons of a Job Search | Tatiyana Cure | LinkedIn

via 10 reasons that your interview technique is failing and costing you the best candidates. | Sarah Socha | LinkedIn

via 10 reasons that your interview technique is failing and costing you the best candidates. | Sarah Socha | LinkedIn — Randy The Recruiter by Randy Schwartz, Executive Recruiter

I was recently fortunate enough to travel to Cuba and get inspired by the everyday struggle the natives face. I will tie this back to what we can learn from this and how to implement it in the job search. But first, I’d love to share the inspiring photos: The first and most important lesson […]

via Lessons of a Job Search — TatiyanaCure

via What to Do If You Can’t Answer an Interview Question | POPSUGAR Smart Living

via What to Do If You Can’t Answer an Interview Question | POPSUGAR Smart Living — Randy The Recruiter by Randy Schwartz, Executive Recruiter

Post by @RandyRecruit.

Source: How to write a thank you note after a job interview – Business Insider

Career development beyond office walls

One could argue that when it comes to advancing your career, it’s not only what you know, but who you know. While networking is very beneficial, there are other ways to develop professionally and help take your career to the next level:

Take a class:

Whether you sign up for an online course or decide to enroll in a certification program, you can never go wrong with continuing your education. Educational development shows a desire to continuously better yourself and illustrates that you are taking steps towards your future career. By expanding your knowledge base, you enhance your skills and give your resume a boost.

If you feel that you don’t have the time or the extra cash to enroll in a course for credit, there are many websites that offer free classes specializing in a variety of topics. The length of each program varies- some programs only require one class a week! Committing 1-2 hours a week towards something you are genuinely interested in is not a bad deal.

Volunteer:

Dedicating yourself to a cause you are passionate about not only feels great, but it also makes a difference. Whether you have time to volunteer once a week, once a month, or a few times a year, you can always have an impact. You will meet other people who share the same beliefs as you, which is a great way to add to your network as well. In addition, hiring managers agree that volunteer work makes a candidate stand out. It illustrates dedication, philanthropic goals, and passion.

Join a Club:

As life gets chaotic, it can be difficult to do the things we love. Once you carve out the time to join a club though, you become more committed to it since other people are involved- they can hold you accountable. Don’t misinterpret because this commitment should not be seen as a chore. Rather, it’s a chance to escape your hectic life for a little bit and do something you truly enjoy. Employers will see this as you being a well-rounded person with impeccable time management skills. They will even applaud you further if you take on leadership roles within the club. Everything is an opportunity to hone your skill set, whether you are in the office or spending a day on the tennis courts.

Exercise:

As many of us already know, it’s recommended to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. What does this have to do with your work life? When you maintain a healthy mind/body, the benefits include lower stress levels, deeper focus, higher energy levels, etc. As you begin to feel these effects, your work will reap the rewards as well. As you become less stressed and more focused on the job, you will get more accomplished in a shorter amount of time, something that managers and colleagues will notice.

What else do you do to develop your career? We want to hear it so please comment below!

Are you on the job hunt for a new career? Our recruiters are here to help! Check out our latest job postings here, or find a CFS office located closest to you here.