July 15th– The #LetteroftheDay is A as is Authentic.
The world is good at telling us what we should do, how we should do it, why we should do it, and how we should feel. The media, LinkedIn “influencers,” authors, our supervisors, and various other entities have all the answers. The fact is when defining your career goals and determining what is important to you, stay true to your authentic self.
The first email I received on Friday was from a client informing me that she landed a new job and thanking me for my help. This type of email is precisely why I do what I do. My goal isn’t to have an entire team of writers, be on the top 25 LinkedIn influencers list, or change the industry; my goal is to earn a fair day’s pay and help others. Period.
Just because someone else has different goals, doesn’t mean you need to follow suit. Follow your dreams, not someone else’s.
July 16th– The #LetteroftheDay is “N” as in Negativity
To be clear, you don’t have to be a negative person in general to come off the wrong way during an interview. Certain questions such as, “Why do you want to leave your current company?” or “What is your weakness?” can lead to rants that don’t present us in the best possible light.
The interview is only one example of how negativity can affect your employability though, your social media posts can say much more about your views of your current employer, your supervisor, or life in general.
Before beginning your job search, review your posts, photos, and comments from your social media sites and remove anything that could present you or your employer in a negative light. It could make a difference.
July 17th– The #LetteroftheDay is “I” as in Ideology
There are two issues that spark controversy in even the most benign settings – politics and religion. Prior to engaging in a job search, I suggest auditing your own social media profiles for any content that could be frowned upon.
These items could include drunken college frat party photos, political commentary, religious posts, anything with an overt sexual connotation, anything that would indicant intolerance of a certain group of people, obscene language, confidential information, or disparaging comments about coworkers or employers.
Put yourself in the mind of a hiring manager and analyze how someone else may view your content.
July 18th– The #LetteroftheDay is “D” as in Determination
The job search is difficult under the best of circumstances. Emotions range from anger to nervousness to sadness to joy to excitement and all points in between. When the job search gets you down, determination pulls us through.
One strategy I advise my clients to use, is to make use of inspirational quotes. Quotes can often make us momentarily refocus our thoughts and encourage us with a ray of positivity. Here are a few suggestions on how you can use inspirational quotes during your day.
- Have your spouse text you a different quote each morning.
- Post a different quote each day on your social media platforms to help encourage others.
- At a group meeting, start with one as an icebreaker and discuss what it means to each person.
- If you see a quote you like, take a few minutes to learn more about the author.
July 19th– The #LetteroftheDay is “J” as in Journey
Your career is a journey, so stop along with the way to appreciate what you’ve accomplished, the impact you have had on others, and the ways you have helped your company grow.
We often get bogged down with the minutiae that we fail to see the big picture and the value we bring. I would encourage everyone to write down three positive things you have been a part of every week. At the end of the year, go back and read through your journal. You’ll be amazed at what you’ve accomplished.
