SEARCH 101

What is a Career?  

Career.  It is a big word that is used regularly.  What does it really mean?  Let's start with a "job".  A job is anything that you do in exchange for some benefit, usually a paycheck.  You may love it.  You may hate it.  It might be similar to the job you had before, or it might be totally different.  A "career" is one or more jobs that tie together in a cohesive theme that is meaningful to you.  It is something that you care about; that you feel is a progression.  You nurture a career.  You direct it.  It has purpose.   Read more

Culture is Critical  

Culture...why is this one of the first things I am writing about?  I believe culture is EXTREMELY important to your experience.  It can be a wonderful reinforcer to help you develop your career or it can be a huge distraction that doesn't allow you to see clearly.  Culture is the way a company (or any group) interacts.  It is the way people treat each other.  Example words that can describe a culture: empowering, controlling, passionate, respectful, inclusive, toxic, entrepreneurial.  The key is to find a culture that fits you.    Read more

Internships 

If you are early in career, especially if you are a student, internships are a great option.  They are typically a limited duration paid job at a company where both the company and intern know that the role will come to an end.  They are very common during the summer break of a school year.  

Here's my take on internships from an intern's perspective...    Read more

The Gift of Asking for Help

I find that some people are cautious to ask someone for help in starting their career.  Get over it!

Good people like to help others.  Very few people do everything alone.  Almost everyone has received help in starting and advancing their career.  That's the way the world works.    Read more

Mentors

A mentor is a wonderful thing!  A mentor is someone who is further along in their life or career that is willing to share what they know to help you grow and succeed.  

An ideal mentor has the following characteristics...    Read more

Networking 101

Networking...do I have to?!?!  Let me try to demystify the fear of networking.  But first, why should you network in the first place? Networking is a great way to find a mentor (see my previous post on Mentors).  You need mentors and you will only find them by putting yourself out there.  Networking increases your chances of finding the right job for you.  It also gives you an opportunity to learn by being exposed to different people with different perspectives.  Very important: have a goal and a story.     Read more

The Job Search

There are many ways to look for a job, but there is a big difference between the levels of "warmth" in your connection to that job. Example - Warm Connection: you had a favorite teacher or coach in school.  You did well in that class or sport.  That person started a company and is looking to fill a job.  This is a "warm" connection because you already have a relationship with the person, and they have seen you perform. Example - Cold Connection: you respond to a job posting via a job search website.  You don't have a relationship with the person.  You don't even know who it went to.  You are likely to be one of many applicants without anything to distinguish you.    Read more

Job Openings

Have you ever thought about why is there a job opening in the first place?  There are four basic reasons and each of them tell you about the situation at the company at that time.  Ideally, you identify the reason early in the process to help fine tune your interview answers to address the company's needs.

1. There is too much work.  The team is expanding!  Very exciting that the company is growing well.  It also means that the existing team may be overworked and stressed.  You can be the solution to this problem. 

2. Read more

Resume

Hopefully you have heard of a resume.  Maybe you have put one together.   A Google search of "how to write a resume" yields tons of resources.  Here's my perspective and tips.  Purpose: The purpose of a resume is to briefly tell the story of you and make the reader want to learn more.  The Reader's Perspective: I remember writing versions of my resume and thinking the reader would read every word in detail.  Read more

The Interview

How does this make you feel?  Are you excited?  Scared?  Whatever it elicits for you, it is important to understand what it is for and what it can do for you.  Check out my post on Job Openings: you have to opportunity to be the solution to the company's challenge.  Some people think of an interview as a one-way dialogue, where the employer (interviewer) gets to ask the candidate (interviewee) a series of questions.  Many (even most) employers view them this way.  This is not the right way to think of an interview.  An interview is a way for both parties to see if there is a fit.   Read more

Random Tips

This is a collection of random tips as you start your career.  Use the ones you like.  Ignore the ones you don't.  Read more