Career Empowerment

Career development is a lifelong process. Regardless of what stage you are at in your career development process, it’s important to think critically about the steps you take to pursue meaningful work. Career exploration is one important step in a series of steps toward choosing a path or a job which fits your interests, skills, and abilities.

Often the most current information about a career field, especially in a specific geographic location, may not be available online or in books. The best information comes from people who are actually working in that career field. Having an informal conversation with someone working in an area that interests you who will give you information and advice is an effective research tool in addition to reading books, exploring the Internet and examining job descriptions.

Internships and volunteer experiences make candidates more competitive in the job market. In addition to gaining exposure and experience in the field, they also provide an opportunity to see if the particular career field is the right one based on getting personal experience in the field. Internships are a proven way to gain relevant knowledge, skills, and experience while researching  a particular job or establishing important connections in the field.

Many people come in to the world of work not sure what kind of work they want to do. Once you’ve looked internally and gained perspective on what careers interest you, you’ll next need to look externally to learn more about the realities of the labor market. Some positions may be of interest but the hours an employer expects you to work won’t mesh with your own availability, or the training required is more than you’re willing or able to complete.

Expanding your professional network is not something you should only think about when you’re job hunting. It should be a part of your work life and something you invest in over time. If you want to improve your long-term career prospects, it is essential to understand the importance of career networking and how to use it to your advantage. Along with your resume your network is one of the most powerful tools you have to make the next big career move.

You’ve taken the necessary time to determine what you interests, skills, and values are. You’ve taken the time to research, investigate, and explore potential career possibilities. And now it’s time to take all of those and put together a solid profile that you can implement a strategi career plan.

You’ve taken the necessary time to determine what you interests, skills, and values are. You’ve taken the time to research, investigate, and explore potential career possibilities. And now it’s time to take all of those and put together a solid profile that you can implement a strategi career plan.

Having a clear vision of the end state we are trying to achieve before we take action to reach our goals is the key factor in accomplishing any goals that we set. Do you have a clear mental image of who you will be in the future? Your vision is a “picture” of what you aspire to – and what inspires you – in your work life. Articulating your vision statement for your career is the first step in helping you eventually reach your career goals.

An application cover letter allows you to target the job and the employer in a very specific way, leaving the resume to market your skills, qualities and experience as a part of the bigger picture. Your resume then needs less tweaking with each application because the letter, which must be different each time, does that for you.

On occasion, inquiring letters are written in response to a job listing to discuss additional opportunities, but the vast majority are sent to investigate potential employment unadvertised by a company. These letters indicate your interest in the company as a prospective employer and serve as a formal request to consider you for any potential opportunities that may be a good fit based on your education background, skill set, and prior experience.

When you are engaged in a job search and are seeking to expand your network of contacts, you may have the opportunity to write cover letters, or letters of inquiry, mentioning a referral by someone you both know. Having a professional or personal referral will make your letter stand out, and give you a better chance of being noticed. You should always include the name of the person who referred you, and the circumstances of your acquaintance in your cover letter.

No matter what field you’re in, a successful career is built on human relationships. Your job search will be much more effective if you connect with and expand your network of contacts rather than just respond to job ads. Thousands of positions are created and filled without ever being advertised. A networking letter will help you uncover these hidden job opportunities. This job-hunting tool lets you reach out to friends, friends of friends and professional contacts, asking for job leads, career advice, referrals and introductions. The letter’s focus is not to ask your contacts for a job, but to request their assistance in your job search by connecting you with people or opportunities.

There are many different resume formats that you can use in your job search. However, the chronological resume is the most widely accepted resume format. Most hiring managers are going to want to see a chronological resume. The main reason why is because the want to easily see what you did and where. It is simple tool for telling your story.  It offers an easy conversation tool for hiring managers. It can easily sell your upward mobility. It is important that the essential skills for the job opening is something you have done recently and not years ago.

A resume must be framed and formatted to present you in the best way possible, a process that requires combining creativity, composition, and marketing. A happy medium is the hybrid resume, a format that has found recognition in 2018 for its ability to marry the best aspects of chronological and functional resumes. Hybrid resumes, also known as combination resumes, highlight relevant skills while still providing enough information about a candidates’ work histories.

Functional resumes are different than the traditional chronological format that many people consider to be the standard amongst resumes types. The focus on a person’s skills and experience rather than their chronology. While chronological resumes list your prior positions and experience in order, as they happened, functional resumes reduce the whole lot into a statement of skills and accomplishments without concern for timing and order. Functional resumes do have a definite purpose for some applicants.

An excellent Curriculum Vitae can mean the difference between your dream job and unemployment. Very similar to a resume, a CV provides an overview of your professional experience, education and skills. Some positions, particularly in the academic field, require a CV instead of a resume in the application process. For that reason, even if your career field only touches on academia, having an up-to-date CV will make you a more versatile job seeker.

These can come out of the blue, so they can quite literally catch you with your pants down. Thank goodness for call display. The purpose of a screening or phone interview is to determine whether you might be considered for a face to face interview, so they must be treated seriously. Often you have 20 minutes or less to make an impression.

You only have one chance to make a FIRST IMPRESSION. Your brand image creates that impression, and reinforces that message each time your potential employers and/or client interact with you. By understanding the who you are, what skills, abilities, and values  you bring to the job market and how those skills are viewed and valued you will be able to create a strong relationship between your brand value and an employers needs.

When we meet a group of people it is much like meeting a heard of Zebra we are all black and white, some bigger, some smaller some noisy others quiet each is unique it is not always easy to see at first glance. It is for this reason that is so important to know identify and own your Personal Branding Statement, and be able to do this almost like a ‘handshake’. Your Personal branding Statement is your natural opening greeting, its’ words describe you and allow you to claim your area of crowd appeal.

Businesses create vision and mission statements. Creating a personal career brand begins much the same way by creating a personal vision. Only you can determine how you want your life to unfold. You can’t control every aspect of your life, but you can create a long-term vision and develop steps to achieve that vision. Your life’s career brand vision should include how you see yourself in 10, 20 and even 50 years. Consider the elements in life  and in your career that would make you happy.

Your personal brand profile is one of the most important factors for your eventual success. It’s the culmination of your identity, packaged and presented in a way that’s pleasing, familiar, and attractive to your prospective employers and clients. Companies and organizations aren’t alone in the need for solid branding.  Just like with a corporate brand, personal branding requires you to find a signature image, a unique voice, and a recognizable standard that potential employers and clients can grow to recognize. Personal branding is becoming increasingly important because modern audiences tend to trust people more than corporations. A personal brand profile allows you to build a reputation and an identity while still maintaining a personal level of trust and interaction.

If you’re going to get the pay you deserve, it’s crucial to know the going rate for your position in your specific industry and in your geographic area. If you walk into a salary negotiation without a number, you will be at the mercy of an experienced hiring manager who will simply control the conversation. It pays to perform due diligence and research.

Many employers expect that you will want to negotiate your salary offer. Sometimes this means the dollar amount, but it can also include other aspects of the job, such as vacation time, start date, or benefits. Negotiating in a respectful way can help demonstrate your professionalism. Negotiation is an important skill to develop and successful negotiation can help you feel valued at work. This guide will help you navigate the salary negotiation process.

If you need a job, any job offer looks good on the surface. However, a basic offer analysis to determine if the job measures up in the three key areas of time, money and energy. Additionally, you will want to consider relocation, benefits package, workload, commute to work and salary all impact your family, another consideration in the decision. Career advice suggests five areas of analysis of a job offer: responsibilities, income, growth, happiness and team. An analysis helps you evaluate various aspects of the job and its suitability for you.

When considering your numbers, you should also come up with a “walk away point”—a final offer that’s so low that you have to turn it down. This could be based on financial need, market value, or simply what you need to feel good about the salary you’re bringing home. Walking away from an offer will never be easy, but it’s important to know when to do it—and powerful to be able to say “no.”

Getting a new job is an exciting time. There is something special about jumping through all those interview hoops and landing an offer. This excitement can quickly turn to fear, panic and anxiety once you realize that you will have to learn a whole new set of rules, interact with new people and immerse yourself into a new culture. Setting yourself up for success depends a lot on how your first 90 days goes. These critical weeks set the foundation for your tenure and need to begin before you even set foot into your new office.

Some say that the day you start a new job you should begin planning for your next job. And you know what? It’s not a bad idea. Just make sure that you stay focused enough on the job you were hired for that you succeed and excel in that position before looking for the next one. Promotions are not a given. It used to be that workers progressed along specific career paths during their careers, but the impact of technology, globalization, and flatter organizational structures, has changed that paradigm. Today, employees have to create and manage their own career paths — through one or multiple organizations. And remember that a promotion is not always an upward path. Sometimes — especially in today’s business environment — you may need to make a lateral move to position yourself for a later upward move.

Whether your career goals include moving up in your current organization, or changing careers, or doing the best you can in your present position, or moving out of the workforce to retirement, the transitions will be much smoother if you have had an on-going, systematic process to help you prepare for the changes. Succession planning’s emphasis on development and accountability provides a wonderful blueprint for ensuring personal as well as professional success.

How does it happen? Perhaps you just begin to lose interest. Perhaps you find something that interests you more. Perhaps your company is downsizing. These are just some of the numerous reasons people find themselves on that precipitous cliff looking back on their career just as the dirt begins to crumble beneath them. Are you facing that career change plunge? Do you wish you were? Take it slowly and make sure what you really want to do is change careers. Remember that career change is a natural life progression and most studies show that the average job-seeker will change careers (not jobs) several times over the course of his or her lifetime.

Just like in a relationship, your skills, interests, personality, and values help shape your career. Whether you are just starting out or are curious about other careers, self-assessment tests and tools will help you make the right choice about the right career partner.

“The Laws of Attraction”™©

If you want to land job interviews, your entire resume needs to be not only great – but attractive! As your primary marketing piece, your resume says a great deal about you. A sharp looking piece shows that you have the ability to present yourself with professionalism and style.

“The Commitment”™©

Congratulations. Out of the 200ish resumes received for the average job in the U.S., you were the one who made the cut. But just because you’ve signed the paper does not mean the deal is done. Now you have 90 days to prove that you can bring it. Like a new marriage, the first 90 days on the job are crucial. Most companies have a 90 day evaluation period in order to make sure the fit is good. This doesn’t mean you have to become the company’s No. 1 Salesperson in 90 days; this period is a chance for you to be a learner and to demonstrate that you can have an impact on the company.

“Taking It To The Next Level”™©

Today’s job market is fast-paced and increasingly competitive. Dozens of people often vie for the same position within a single employer. It can be difficult to get your proverbial foot in the door because of how tight the competition is for available jobs. To get to the next level in your career, you must evaluate any limiting beliefs about who you are and who you’re meant to be. It doesn’t matter if you desire to take a big leap and change industries or if you simply just want to transition into a more leadership role in your current field: the route is the same.

Just like in any relationship, exploring various job postings and qualifications and talking to variety of persons to gain better information about a potential occupation  options may take some time, but you will be better equipped to make informed decisions about your future when you have the information you need.

The job interview process is a courtship. Think of the interview process like online dating.  You and employers are both putting your profiles up, and you’re both putting feelers out there.  Everything may look great on paper, but first impressions still count.  And, like all budding relationships, certain rules of the courtship still apply if you want to land that perfect (job) match.

Contrary to popular belief, career fairs are not dead. In fact, they’re alive and well — and employers of all sizes and specialties find them extremely useful. You’ll have the opportunity to meet representatives from a diverse group of employers hiring for part-time, full-time, internship, and contract or consulting work opportunities. Participants are encouraged to attend KRI job fairs for a convenient opportunity to meet with a large number of local and regional employers in-person and gain visibility with potential hiring managers.

Meet-Ups 

Career Meet-Ups provide information and networking that connects job seekers with Managers and Employers who make hiring decisions through its events. The group connects job seekers and Recruiters, Hiring managers and Employers and gives them a chance to know about employment opportunities and gather information about companies/ individuals who are currently hiring for both part time and full time positions.

As career professionals, we need to make sure to take care of ourselves by seeking opportunities for growth and rejuvenation. One way to take advantage of such opportunities is to participate in career conferences. KRI Career Conferences are targeted, highly-focused learning experiences for participants that support career development of 21st century skills. Career conferences bring participants into the larger KRI community while providing unique opportunities to extend field learning. Each of KRI’s conferences connects with corporate professionals to engage participants in learning industry-related trends and content.

The importance of career networking shouldn’t be discounted when you are in the midst of a job search. In fact, career networking should become a part of your daily work and career-related endeavors. Your career network should be in place for when you need it, both for job searching and for moving along the career ladder. Since you never know when you might need it, it makes sense to have an active career network, even if you don’t need it today.