January 4th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 56.
As we turn the page on 2020, there is a collective sense of optimism that 2021 HAS to be better than the train wreck of the past year. A new year also means many begin the process of looking for a new job. While résumé writers and career coaches can help you land your dream job, mentors can help you grow personally and professionally.
According to a recent study conducted by Olivet Nazarene University, 56% of respondents said they have a professional mentor in the past, although only 37% said they currently do.
While many people think their education, aptitude, and work ethic will get them from point A to B, a mentor can help with:
- Being encouraged and empowered in personal development
- Identifying and achieve career goals
- Identifying and correcting gaps in generic skills and industry knowledge
- Increasing your confidence
- Developing and maintaining a broader perspective on career options
- Having access to a senior role model
- Developing mentoring and coaching skills
Who has been your mentor?
January 5th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 80.
In a recent survey by Gartner, 80% of company leaders plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time after the pandemic, and 47% will enable employees to work from home full-time. 78% of CEO agree that remote collaboration is here to stay for the long-term.
While the lack of a commute and greater control over your environment might be welcome, working from home can still be challenging. It is often challenging to stay motivated – and easy to fall into a productivity slump.
Here are five tips to help with the work from home blues
- Dress up
- Set to-do lists
- Maintain a routine and schedule
- Have a dedicated workspace
- Take small and frequent breaks
January 6th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 88
In a recent study in the UK, 84% of the workforce admitted they procrastinate at least one hour a day. There are lots of reasons why we procrastinate; we could be afraid of failure, unsure of how to start, or just don’t see the task as urgent. Regardless of why we are doing it, we know that procrastination only hurts us in the long run.
Here are four-way to stop letting procrastination control us:
- Break up the task into smaller, more manageable tasks
- Make distractions inconvenient
- Reward yourself
- Find an accountability partner
What are some of your tricks to avoid procrastinating? And don’t wait until tomorrow to respond. 8 )
January 7th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 5
You’ve prepared for the big day, you’ve done your research on the company, learned about their current market share, you know where the hiring manager obtained their MBA from, you show up for the interview, and bam…you sit down at a table staring at not 1, but up to 4 other people. Gulp! Now what?
A panel interview can be very intimidating as you may feel you are facing a firing squad. However, look at it as an opportunity. Instead of going through 5 separate interviews, where you have 5 times as many chances to make a mistake, you only have to interview once, and all stakeholders receive the same information.
The strategies to a successful panel interview don’t change much from a 1-on-1 interview; highlight your value, show the employee your results, and how you can benefit their company. Keep in mind to stay actively engaged with the entire panel and not just the leader.
January 8th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 40
On average, interviews last 40 minutes. While entire books have been written on the dos and don’ts of interviewing, one of the worst things you can do during an interview is walking into the hiring manager’s office uninformed about the position and the company.
Here are four tips that can help you better prepare for your next interview:
- Research the company—not just what they do—but where the company is positioned currently and where they are looking to go. Review press releases, earnings reports, and the competitive landscape.
- Learn about the hiring manager. In today’s digital age, it is easier than ever to learn about the person that will be interviewing you; check out their LinkedIn profile, Google search them, and review their company bio. Learn about their background, education, interests, etc., and try to find common bonds and understand how they may perceive you.
- Research salary data for the role you are seeking. Know your value!
- Review the job description. The job posting is an excellent resource to provide you with insights on the upcoming interview. I suggest all my clients make a spreadsheet, listing on the left each competency mentioned and, on the right, an accomplishment that aligns with each skill.
