How Do I Sell Myself To Potential Employers

“How Do I Sell Myself To Potential Employers” Help from our Community “How Do I Sell Myself To Potential Employers?” * Doug's all fired up for his next challenge. But without an obvious career trajectory, he's struggling to present his skills in a compelling way. When you don't have a clear destination in mind, how do you effectively put across what you can offer? What's your career history and current job? I've never really known what I wanted to do, so I've had a somewhat chequered career history! I studied German and Spanish at university, and I'm a qualified teacher. Amongst other things, I've also been a website and project manager for a private sector training company, and I've worked for a government funding agency in education. Most recently, I was in a public sector role, doing quality assurance investigations for companies that help children on the brink of expulsion from school. However, due to funding cuts my job was recently made redundant. How do you feel about your work? I liked my most recent role, because I believed in the service it helped provide. But I've never felt really fired up about any of the work I've done. Throughout my career I've tended to fall into niche jobs, because I've got quite a rare combination of skills. I'm also willing to throw myself straight into new challenges and get things done. Most of my jobs have included a combination of features I like, and features I don't. This has helped me narrow down some of the aspects of work I prefer doing, such as running a team, training others, and writing. What would you like to be doing instead? I honestly don't know! It's so frustrating, because it's hard to be focused and ambitious when you don't have a clear sense of direction. I don't do anything half-heartedly, and I'm certain that if I could just find something I really want to do, there would be no stopping me. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? To give myself the best chance of finding work I really enjoy, I don't want to pigeonhole myself into one sector, or one particular set of skills. But not knowing what I want to do, and not having a clear and consistent career history, means it's a challenge to sell myself to potential employers. My friends have recommended sites like LinkedIn, and I've signed up to some online job boards. But when it comes to creating a profile, I'm stuck. The world of online recruitment seems completely geared towards people who have straightforward career paths, and who already know where they're headed next. I've been going round in circles, reading lots of conflicting advice about what employers are looking for. I've also had my CV professionally written, but I'm not sure it really reflects who I am. Meanwhile, my friends keep telling me to stop overthinking. They say I should just write a brief profile and get it online. But how can I, when I don't know what to say? It all feels so hopeless, and I've started to think that online job hunting is a game I'm never going to win. How can I get past all this confusion, and present myself clearly enough to find work I love? Can you help Doug? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Doug could move his shift forwards? Do you know anyone he could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support.

The Economy is Squeezing Your Personal Brand into Juice - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Economy is Squeezing Your Personal Brand into Juice - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke with Steven Greenhouse, who writes for the New York Times and is the author of The Big Squeeze. I just had to interview him about the economys impact on the workplace because of the relevancy to this blog and the timing, with over 600,000 jobs lost so far this year. A lot of people are caught by surprise by the economy and dont understand the mechanics and history behind it. Steven will reveal all of this to you and offer you some important personal branding tips. How has the state of the American economy affected the workforce, from the employee and corporate point of view? The economy is hurting, even more now than last January when I finished my book, The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker. The problems we’ve seen in recent days in the stock market and in some major financial institutions have only worsened the problems. As I explain in my book, what’s happening in the economy is hurting many workers. Since the most recent economy recovery began in November 2001, corporate profits have nearly doubled and productivity per worker has risen more than 15 percent. Yet since November 2001, wages for the average worker have actually slid by 1 percent. Workers are being hurt by a disconnect between rising productivity and wages. And globalization, whether in the form of foreign competition or the threat of American companies moving jobs overseas, has helped hold down wages. Workers are also being hurt by increased inequality, with the top 1 percent receiving 22 percent of all income, up from 9 percent in 1980, leaving less for everybody else. Workers are also seeing their benefits squeezed. The typical worker pays twice as much in premiums for family health coverage as in 2000. Premiums have risen by $1,650, even as wages have remained flat. Ouch. From the worker point of view, things are pretty bad. And now the economy has lost 600,000 jobs this year, and the stock market has fallen, pushing down the value of many workers’ 401(k)’s. In my book, I try to explain in detail the many facets of this unusually tough squeeze on the nation’s workers. From the corporate point of view, the weak economy creates an uncomfortable situation. Many companies feel the need to lay off workers because their business is weak. Many companies also feel the need to push harder to hold down wages and benefits because their revenues are down and they want to keep their costs down, too. No one likes an economic downturn. Some economists say downturns give companies more leverage over their workers because workers grow far more insecure, worried about losing their jobs. Which generation (Y,X, Baby Boomers) will be squeezed the hardest and why? Unfortunately, Gen Y is being squeezed the hardest. Members of Gen Y are entering the labor force during a particularly tough economic time. Right now entry-level wages, whether for college grads of high-school grads, are lower now than in 2000, after factoring in inflation. For Gen Y’ers entering the workforce, a lower percentage of them are receiving health insurance or good solid pension plans than when Gen X’ers or Baby Boomers entered the workforce. So why the big squeeze for Gen Y? First, they’re entering the workforce when the economy is hurting. Second, they’re the first generation to enter the workforce since the high-tech boom/bubble of the late 1990’s burst. For Gen X’ers the high-tech boom was greatâ€"it lifted their wages and catapulted them into terrific jobs. With that bubble burst, wages have sagged, and it’s far less clear that Gen Y’ers will have the good opportunities in high tech that Gen X’ers had in the 1990’s. Also, Gen Y is the first generation feeling the sting of off-shoring jobs to India and other countries. The Baby Boom generation was hurt by globalization when foreign imports battered the auto and steel industries. That hurt blue-collar workers. But now that other form of globalization â€" off-shoring â€" is for the first time hurting white-collar workers, and Gen Y is the first generation to enter the workforce since the off-shoring trend began. Can you talk about how there is simply no job security anymore and how developing a personal branding will be important to surviving in the new age of work? There is far less job security than in generations past partly because American companies face much more competition and more pressure to keep payroll costs down. Powerful forces such as globalization and Wall Street’s demands to maximize share prices and profits have caused many companies to move away from job security and engage in such practices as downsizing. That all helps reduce costs and increase profits. In an era when there is less and less job security, it is important for every worker to maximize his or her skills and make a name for himself or herself. Some people call this upskilling. Some people call it branding. Some people call it selling yourself. One thing is clear: in these more demanding times, increasing your skills, selling yourself and beating the pavement to find good work are essential How has the employee/employer social contact changed from years ago until now? What do you see in the future? The social contract has changed immensely since our parents’ and grandparents’ generations entered the workforce. After World War II, corporate America and powerful labor unions like the United Auto Workers created an enviable social contract with very good wages, very good health and pension benefits and very good job security. That helped create the world’s largest and richest middle class. But since the 1970s and 1980s, and then accelerating in the 1990s and this decade, the social contract has disintegrated. Only 55 percent of private-sector workers obtain health insurance through their employer. Forty-six million Americans â€" nearly one in six do not have health insurance. The good pensions of old that provided a monthly amount from the time you retire until the time you die have been replaced largely with 401(k)s, which are not nearly as generous or reliable. And now with the stock market tanking in recent days, Americans are seeing the downside of 401(k)’s all the more. We are seeing a push for universal health coverage because Americans are increasingly frustrated at seeing so many Americans without insurance. We are the only industrial nation that doesn’t have universal health coverage. Universal coverage will go far to strengthen the social safety net. There’s also a big problem with 401(k)’s â€" and members of Gen X and Gen Y will see those problems increasingly as they age. Many people are discovering that 401(k)’s will leave them without money for a comfortable retirement. This is a problem that the nation has to face â€" how to assure more secure and comfortable retirements for everyone. One thing we may all have to do is put more of our money into savings in the decades before we retire. Steven Greenhouse is the labor and workplace reporter for the New York Times and author of The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker. His first book, The Big Squeeze is an in-depth account of how American companies have squeezed millions of workers by clamping down on wages, cutting benefits, weakening job security and violating wage and hour laws. He has appeared on National Public Radio, PBS (“The News Hour”), MSNBC, CNN, and the BBC.

5 Types of Friends You Need When Youre Running Your Own Business

5 Types of Friends You Need When You’re Running Your Own Business Running your own business can be tough, and you often feel like you’re doing it alone. When you’re just starting out, you might think that your close friends and family would be your biggest source of support, but it’s not always the case. Sometimes those closest to us are concerned that we’re giving up the regular monthly paycheck or they just don’t understand our dream. They mean well, but they don’t always know how to give us the support we need. That’s why there are 5 types of friends a girl needs by her side when she becomes her own boss. 5 Types of Friends Every Entrepreneur Needs 1. The Critic This friend won’t hold any punches. She’s got opinions and she’s not afraid to share them. Sometimes friends try to spare our feelings and don’t give us the whole truth when we ask for it â€" but not this friend, and that’s exactly why you need her. At a certain point, you’re going to have to put your ideas out into the big bad world, which is why feedback from a critical friend is so important. She won’t be mean but she will be honest, and she’ll help you get it right the first time. Know when to seek her advice and use her opinions wisely. 2. The Nurturer If the critical friend is for when you need the cold hard truth, the nurturer is the exact opposite. When you’ve had a bad day she’ll listen and tell you what you want to hear in the best way. There’s going to be tough times in your business journey and sometimes this emphatic friend is just what you need when you’re feeling down. 3. The Hustler This is your friend who’s on the same mission as you. She’s running her own business and pushing herself to achieve her ambitions. You might have known her before you started, or you might have met her along the way. You’ve probably got a bit of healthy competition going with this friend. She’s your benchmark, so when you’re struggling she understands. She’s the perfect sounding board when you’ve got a new idea or a problem you’re stuck with. She knows what you’re going through and she pushes you to work harder because she shows you what’s possible. 4. The Opposite We often make friends who are similar to us because it’s the things we have in common that cement our friendship. We all need friends who understand exactly what we’re going through, but it can be just as valuable to be friends with someone who’s on a completely different path. Perhaps she’s married and you’re single. You’re building a business and she’s travelling the world. You’re focused on your career and she’s building her family. This friend shows us what’s going on in other life stages, which can teach us a lot. She reminds us that there’s no right answer, gives us an insight into other options and keeps us focused on why we want to achieve our goals. It can be tough to find the time to hang out with this friend, and you might not have much in common, but it’s always good to see a fresh perspective. 5. The One Who’s Been There All Along You’ll make new contacts in your business journey and some of them will become good friends. As we grow and change, our friendship groups change too. When you’re in different life stages or focusing on different goals it can be easy to drift apart, but it’s important to remember who’s been there for you from the beginning. Long-term friendships will help you stay balanced. You might not talk often, but you’ve been there for each other through the big things and that won’t change. You can be completely yourself around this friend because she gets you. Friendships change, just like our goals. Each one is different and like all relationships they take work. A strong circle of friends is the perfect support network to lean on in every situation, so it’s important to invest time in building and maintaining you friendships as you build your business. “Support your friends businesses and progressions like you support the celebrities you don’t know.”

3 Very Real Forms of Discrimination Employees Face at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Very Real Forms of Discrimination Employees Face at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Employment discrimination is a battle some people face daily. You may know the more common types of employment discrimination such as discrimination based on race, but did you know there are lesser-known types people face as well? You may even have come up against one of the three types discussed below without realizing it was discrimination. Part-Time Employee Discrimination Employees who don’t work a full-time schedule of 40 hours a week or more are considered part-time employees. Part-time employees may be stereotyped to be less productive and even lazy when compared to their full-time counterparts. Your coworkers may think you aren’t serious about the work you do and treat you differently because they feel you aren’t committed to the job and aren’t serious. Your employer may pass over you for special projects or other opportunities because they see you as not dedicated. This type of discrimination may feel like it’s no big deal because it didn’t prevent you from getting the job, right? While the employer likely hired you knowing you would be a part-time worker, that doesn’t mean you don’t face discrimination. Studies have found that full-time employees resent the flexibility part-timers have, which may lead to discrimination. Family Responsibility Discrimination It may sound strange that your family can be the basis of discrimination, but in many cases, it is, particularly in the case of the working mother. Most of the time, working parents prefer a more flexible schedule because family emergencies could come up at any time or one of their children could get sick and they suddenly need to stay home with no notice. Family discrimination lawsuits have been presented in courts for years and may include anything from mothers or fathers being denied family leave or being penalized because they took family leave. They also cover pregnant women being denied jobs because they are going to have a baby. A more recent complaint is caregivers of elderly parents, who may claim a hostile workplace when they feel they face discrimination for taking care of their parental duties. Gender Discrimination When people think of gender discrimination, they may think of women being discriminated against or sexualized in the work place. The truth is gender discrimination happens to both men and women, and can be a real problem. Some forms are more subtle, such as a male being expected to work long hours because he has a family to support and doesn’t need to spend a lot of time at home because that’s the mother’s role. Or women may be held back from leadership positions because they are perceived as emotional and sensitive, two traits not fit for a leader in management’s eyes. Other forms of discrimination are more blatant, such as expecting the females in the office to take care of “housework” type tasks such as: Answering the phones Planning office parties Taking notes during a meeting Ordering lunch for everyone On that same note, men could be less likely to get a secretarial-type job position they apply for because that’s not seen as a job for a man. In some cases, women break through that maternal wall and get a position seen as traditionally male, but they still face discrimination. This is called prescriptive bias. A woman who can show strong leadership and acts forcefully may get labeled uncaring or cold. Furthermore, women are expected to be modest and not brag about their accomplishments or self-promote while men are generally expected to flaunt their achievements, even if they are uncomfortable doing so. What Does Discrimination Look Like? Employment discrimination can result in a number of different things, including: Missing out on promotions Earning less for the same work Losing your job Not getting the job even though you’re very qualified Facing harsher discipline Dealing with harassment at work These are just some of the ways discrimination presents itself and causes problems for employees, but remember this isn’t an exhaustive list and you could be dealing with other ways discrimination shows up in the workplace. Find Someone to Confide In Every case of employment discrimination varies in severity, so what each person should do may vary. First, you should talk about your situation with someone you trust. They can help you get perspective on the situation and determine if you’re facing discrimination or not. A few pointers: Don’t talk to a coworker or anyone at your workplace no matter what your level of friendship is. Present the facts and try not to cloud them with extreme emotion and venting. Let your friend tell you their opinion and try to look at the situation objectively so you can make a decision. How Should You Address Discrimination in the Workplace? What comes next will be up to you and likely vary based on your personal feelings. You can choose to document everything and talk with a lawyer. If you decide to take it to a lawyer, you should do so immediately because the statute of limitations can be short. Another option is to handle it personally. You may choose this in cases where the person is being thoughtless and their actions are illegal yet you think they’re simply unaware. A few pointers: Be non-confrontational but direct. Let them know that what is happening is offensive. Tell them the behavior must stop. The final option is to leave the job and put the discrimination behind you. You should still document everything that happens while you work on your escape. You don’t want to just leave the job abruptly without a plan. If you decide to leave for a better environment, you may still want to talk with a lawyer. Explore Your Options If You’re Facing Discrimination These are just three of the types of employment discrimination that may not be as widely known. It’s important to note that even a more common form of discrimination, such as gender, can take on different forms that aren’t widely recognized as discrimination. Either way, if you are facing discrimination at work, know you do have options and shouldn’t feel like you have to deal with the unfair treatment for the rest of your career.

8 Tips for Advancing Your Career in Technology CareerMetis.com

8 Tips for Advancing Your Career in Technology Any sort of tech job can feel like it has an expiration date. Tech changes so quickly that new techniques and advancements may be here by the time you land your next job, seemingly replacing everything you’ve learned.The truth is that tech is an ever-evolving field, and what you bring to the table now will serve you well in the future, even if a lot changes between now and then.evalBuild on your current knowledge, stay up-to-date with the industry, and continually advance your career in order to stay relevant.1)Understand Your Company and the IndustryRead everything you can get your hands on so that you’re always updated on what’s going on at your company and in the industry as a whole. Read the reports that your company puts out every quarter or year, paying attention to anything newsworthy that happens to the company.Additionally, subscribe to industry news outlets like Gizmodo, Hacker Noon and ZDNet so that you always know what’s happening in the field, and set up Google A lerts so you hear about the biggest news first.You should also follow IT influencers and leaders on social media to see what they’re talking about and begin connecting with them. Start with Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn; Christopher Mims, a tech columnist for the Wall Street Journal; and Siraj Raval, YouTube’s data analyst.Regardless of what job you hope to land in the future, having well-rounded knowledgeof where you’ll be working will showcase your interest and dedication.2) Hone Your Soft SkillsWhile your technical know-how is, of course, important, so are your soft skills. Your hard skills are the skills and knowledge you have to do your job, like your experience with a specific coding language or your ability to rebuild a computer.Interpersonal skills are much harder to teach and learn. Examples of soft skills are creative thinking, time management, and conflict resolution. It’s those soft skills that could help you advance in your career, especially if you’re after a leadership role.evalFor example, if your job is primarily solo, you may assume that communication skills won’t make a difference. If you’re a good communicator, though, you can explain complex ideas in layman terms, which puts you in the perfect position to work with non-technical consumers and investors. Other important soft skills in the tech field are being able to work as a team and being comfortable speaking in public. You should also be easy to work with and accept criticism without it ruining your mood.Learning soft skills is difficult, so it’s easiest to pick one or two traits you currently have and make a point to showcase them more. For example, if you’re a pretty good team player but you think you could become even better at collaboration, you could listen to The Collaboration Superpowers Podcast. If you’re decent at time management but feel like you could get even more done, you could read “Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy to learn about prioritizing projects .3) Do a Little More on Each ProjectOne of the best ways to impress your supervisor, as well as customers or clients, is to always deliver a little bit extra than was asked for.evalFor example, if you’re a website developer and you’re working on a site for a new client, you probably have a checklist of the features the client wants to be included. As you build the website, you’ll have more ideas than the client didn’t think of. By adding these functions to improve the website visitor’s experience, you’ll impress the client and show that you went above and beyond what was required.The point isn’t to give away your work for free; you don’t want to sell yourself short. Instead, your goal should be to do the best job possible within the confines of the project you were hired for â€" if there’s a way to make it great instead of good without overworking, you’ll show your value to the client.4) Volunteer for the Projects People Don’t WantTaking on projects that other people don’t want to touch will benefit you in a couple of ways. First, your supervisor will see that you’re not afraid of challenges or hard work and that you’re an integral part of the team. Second, you’ll likely learn something new in the process.There’s a reason why those projects are going untouched: There’s probably some type of challenge that needs to be faced. According to Fast Company, “Opportunities are hidden everywhere, and people who see them are the ones who prosper.”You may not like the project you’re working on, but you’ll definitely get something out of the experience. It’s also possible you’ll find that you have a skill or interest in something completely new.Image Source â€" UnSplash.com5) Consider Freelancing on the SideIf you don’t get to work on certain types of projects at your job, consider freelancing on the sideto get more practice. For example, you might be employed as a website designer, but you only get to work on professional-l ooking finance and legal websites.If you want to show off your creativity, start a side gig where you take on more creative website design projects, like creating sites for musicians, artists, or toy stores. You’ll build your portfolio and expand your skillset while getting paid for it.Before you move forward with your freelance plans, make sure you haven’t signed or agreed to a non-compete clause. Some companies will say that you can’t work for anyone else while you’re employed. Others will be more lenient and say that you can’t work for a competitor, which still leaves the door open for other clients. Be clear about what you agreed to so that you protect your current job.6) Join Work Activities to Network You may roll your eyes at work activities and team-building exercises, but if you go in with an open mind, you can turn the experience into a networking session. Getting together with people you work with, especially if you don’t generally see them on a daily basis, m eans making new points of contact at your company, which can lead to referrals.evalAdditionally, team-building exercises are a way for supervisors to assess who has great teamwork skillsand who will make a good leader. This can be important when it’s time for your annual review or if there’s an available promotion. Plus, these activities aren’t always boring â€" some managers bring the team to an escape room to see how everyone collaborates and problem-solves together.7) Go Back to SchoolIf you graduated years ago and feel that what you learned is now antiquated, you may want to go back to school for more current tech education. The area you study should directly relate to the tech role you want to have.For example, analytics is a huge field right now â€" one that’s constantly growing. Getting a master’s in business analytics could help you land a job at a prominent company.You can get a broad education in the analytics field or a more focused education, like learning abou t reasoning and troubleshooting with the help of data. Some courses will also help you expand your soft skills. For example, the Master of Business Analytics program at MIT has a seminar about ethics and leadership.8) Sign Up for Training SessionsIf you don’t have the time or money to dedicate to heading back to school, you can still continue your education and training with individual courses. You may even get certificates when you complete some of the courses, which will look great on your resume and give you a competitive edge.evalYou can check out local colleges to see if they’re offering any continuing ed courses, or you can head online to sites like LinkedIn and Udemy, which offer courses on a wide range of topics.When choosing the course and certifications that are best, think about the tech industry’s greatest needs right now and how they line up with your current skills.For example, cybersecurity, drone technology, and cloud computing are three popular tech topics rig ht now, and getting a certification in any of those fields could advance your career. Your goal should be to choose the training that will help you specialize in your current niche. Being an expert in one area of tech is more useful to an employer than knowing a little bit about a lot of tech fields.Wrapping UpThe tech world is booming, and there are a lot of resources out there to help you succeed in your field. Since some companies are less nurturing than others, you may have to take this into your own hands. You may have to reach out to people at your company to find a mentor, seek out continuing education courses or even apply for a student loanso that you can go back to school.However you choose to advance your career, it will be worth it. Surround yourself with the people and information that will buoy your career, and stay dedicated to always learning more and expanding your breadth of expertise.

4 Actions to Take When Youre Stuck in a Career Limbo

4 Actions to Take When Youre Stuck in a Career Limbo Do you feel like your career is in limbo? Maybe you’re waiting for your boss to move up, a merger to be decided, or a downsizing to be completed. As achievers, we want to be challenged and accomplish new goals. But sometimes, events around you make that impossible. For those of us geared toward forward progress, that can be hugely frustrating. It could happen to any of us This happened to one of my clients when the company she joined agreed to merge with another company. While senior management said they were in “business as usual” mode during the 12-18 month merger approval period, everyone was distracted, fearful and anxious. Many projects were put on hold. Would their contracts be honored? Should they be looking for a new job or finally start that new business? What kind of leadership opportunities could they hope to have while things were in flux? As the saying goes, when the world gives you lemons, make lemonade. And that’s what my client did. 4 Actions to get out of a career limbo When your career feels like it’s in limbo and circumstances prevent you from channeling your full productive energies into the job at hand, here are four things you can do. 1. Do what you can internally Identify the set of projects that you can move forward and take all possible steps to advance them. This provides an outlet for your energy, helps your organization, and ensures your time remains effective and valuable. For my client, there was one specific project that didn’t rely on the outcome of the merger. Fortunately, it was also an exciting project that she personally enjoyed and wanted to pursue. Also, it’s the perfect time to tackle those non-urgent projects like organizing your files or creating a process that will help you when things change. By using this time to get organized, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when the time comes. 2. Look after people Do what you can for the people around you â€" especially your team. My client was particularly concerned about losing the people she had recently recruited to the company on a “temp-to-perm” basis. She went to her boss to negotiate on behalf of her team, saying “what can we do for our people?” They agreed to formalize and extend the team’s contracts and, in the process, her boss asked what he could do for my client too. A benefit she hadn’t been expecting. However things turn out in the organization, when you show that you care for your team, it conveys a positive character. And that stays with you no matter where you work. Showing that you care for your team conveys a positive character that stays with you no matter where you work. 3. Reframe this time as a golden opportunity Whenever there is discomfort, there is an opportunity for learning and growth. So, when there’s a lull in the action or when things aren’t going the way you’d like, look on this time as a golden opportunity to find a new way forward and expand into new areas externally. For my client, the merger-related uncertainties meant she only had a set number of productive hours in her day. The rest of her time was spent trying to push initiatives that weren’t going to move ahead. At the same time, for someone used to giving 120 percent, stopping at 80 percent felt frustrating. When she reframed the frustrating time into “free time”, she began to take courses related to her field as well as ones that she had always wanted to explore. She joined external networks and started looking into volunteer roles for local charities. She also started saying “yes” to invitations to speak at conferences. And this leads to the fourth important thing you can do. 4. Build your brand When you feel like you’re in limbo, it’s a great time to be building and investing in your personal brand. By “personal brand”, I’m talking about your brand identity independent of any organization or external group that you don’t control. You are your most portable asset, and any time you invest in yourself, you can’t go wrong. Anytime you create opportunities that help you learn, grow and be visible, you are doing things that help build your brand, and when you’re doing all three of those things, you’re putting yourself in a great position to attract new opportunities and people. And this is the path out of limbo. The biggest “aha” for my client was that her brand is more than her identity within the organization. And she had been pinning all her hopes on the company to provide her with the platform to demonstrate what she can do. Do what’s right for you Give the organization the benefit of the doubt and the right of first refusal, but also do what’s right for you. That applies to all of us. We are independent of any single entity, whether that’s a company, partner, or children. You are more than just one of those roles, so don’t pin all your identity on any one. That’s way too much pressure, especially for your family, and they will thank you for being a strong, independent person in your own right. So, when you’re feeling “in limbo”, take heart. Stop pushing on the locked door. Instead, look at and do what is possible, look after the people around you, reframe the situation as an opportunity, and use this time to build your brand. In doing so, you’re sure to make good use of your time and emerge better positioned for whatever comes next. Which of these strategies would most help you get out of career limbo? Leave a comment and let me know.

How to Be Professional Writing a Resume and Cover Letter

How to Be Professional Writing a Resume and Cover LetterGetting the information you need to know about how to be professional writing a resume and cover letter can be tricky. You will want to read through some resources that will guide you through this task.You can use one of the many free samples on the Internet, or use a pen and paper to take the simplest steps in preparing your resume. Then follow the tips in this article for making sure your cover letter is properly written.The first thing you need to do is to take the time to research on what you need to include in your resume. If you are not familiar with the industries that you would like to write about, then take the time to do some research on each industry that you would like to write about. You can also talk to other people in your area that have experience with the industry they want to write about.Next, you will want to ask your employer for help with your career services. If you are self-employed, then this may mean tha t you will need to pay extra to have someone come to your house and perform your services. However, if you are working for a company, they may offer you services at no cost.You can use a thesaurus to help you organize your information. Use at least three synonyms in the title of your resume.Your cover letter should be professional looking. Do not use too many words in your resume, because this is supposed to be professional and should be a formal document. If your cover letter is not professional looking, then it will be hard for employers to read your resume.The last and most important part of your resume is your cover letter. This is your chance to convince employers that you are qualified for the job.When it comes to writing a cover letter, make sure that you go over the sample in a file. Use the sample as a template for creating your own cover letter.