4 Reasons You Aren#8217;t Advancing Professionally

4 Reasons You Aren8217t Advancing Professionally 4 Reasons You Aren8217t Advancing Professionally Allow me to preface this article by saying that when I talk about advancing professionally, Im not referring exclusively to getting a promotion or starting your own company.Climbing the corporate ladder is, of course, a form of professional advancement, but there are other forms as well. Growth can mean mastering (and applying) new skills, introducing new systems that benefit the company, increasing your contribution to the bottom line, and so much more.If you feel that youve stopped growing (or never started), then you might fall into one or more of these categories.You do the bare extremumYou know your job description by heart and will not lift a finger beyond what you were hired to do. Perhaps you see it as unnecessary to go above and beyond, perhaps you dont know you should, or perhaps youre just inspired in your current role. Whatever the reason, this approach will jeopardize your learning and prevent your from establishing yourself as the go-getter/leader type. The result? Youll stay exactly where you are professionally.Youre surrounded by mediocrityQuotes and studies abound about how we are who we surround ourselves with. This is true on both personal and professional levels. If youre part of a company or department or team that is characterized by mediocrity, not by excellence, then it will be all too easy to fall into a complacent mindset, keeping you exactly where you are.Youre afraid of failureMany people who dream of starting their own business dont because theyre afraid of failure, and many people who dream of advancing professionally dont for the exact same reason. You might be afraid to ask for more responsibilities, afraid to shake things up, or afraid of stepping on someone elses toes. Forgive me for this, but lets take a moment and step back into high school lit. In the wise words of William Shakespeare, ur doubts are traitors, and make us lose to the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. Unless youre in an environment that will unjustly punish you for trying and failing, push past your doubts and attempt new things.You Wont Switch Jobs, Even When Its TimeThere usually comes a time when changing jobs is necessary to advance your career. As with any major life decision, it can be intimidating. First you have to get a job you want, then you have to leave behind your colleagues, job security, and day-to-day comfort to which youve grown accustomed. At your new job, you start all over again, trusting from your interviews that youll enjoy the work, get along with your new coworkers, and be moving up in the professional world. Even with all of this in mind, there comes a time when its necessary to push beyond your resistance to change.The moral of this story? If youre uninspired, surrounded by mediocrity, in a job that punishes you for trying, or have maxed out your potential in your current position, then its time to sea rch for a new job.

7 Tricks to Transform Your Personal Brand After Unemployment

7 Tricks to Transform Your Personal Brand After Unemployment7 Tricks to Transform Your Personal Brand After Unemployment If youre unemployed , your number one focus is probably on finding a job. Why, you might think, should you even bother thinking about your personal brand at a time like this?Well, when it comes to job searching, personal brand is everything says Career Coach Angela Copeland . If youre going to find a job, you want to project your best self, which is what your personal brand is all about.After a confidence-rattling period of unemployment, though, projecting your best self can be a challenge. However, its also a big opportunity. Now that youve stepped back from the working world, you have the chance to reinvent yourself however you landsee fit, which is key in helping you land the right job.Not koranvers where to start? Try these nine tips.Your resume, cover letter , LinkedIn profile, and online portfolio website are all part of your personal bra nd, Copeland says, so updating them all to reflect your latest achievements is key. Beyond just listing your experience, though, make sure that all of these materials tell a cohesive story of who you are as an employee.A couple additional items you may want to consider a one-page networking resume is a necessary tool when you attend meetings to onboard new and advertise to prospective clients, says Resume Writer & Career Transition Coach Wendi Weiner. And if youre further along in your career, consider pairing it with an executive bio as this is the perfect complement to an executive portfolio, particularly for speaking engagements and publications, Weiner says.For better or for worse, recruiters and hiring managers dont just look at application materials when evaluating candidates - theyre also increasingly turning to the internet.Every element of a job application - resume, cover letter, references, etc. - along with anything that can be found online about you are all associa ted with your personal brand. Potential employers will look up your online presence to understand more about who you are, so it is important that you run periodic online searches of your name to see what pops up, advises Mary Grace Gardner, career strategist at The Young Professionista .Dont like what you see? Check the privacy on your social media accounts, Copeland suggests. In todays political climate, you want to be judged for your skills and expertise, rather than your opinions about the latest news. In addition, ensure youre using a professional looking profile photo on sites such as LinkedIn. Be sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and represents you in a positive light. And if you dont have an online portfolio site , this could be a great time to create one check out services such as Squarespace that make building a website fairly straightforward, Copeland says.If you find yourself stuck in a rut after unemployment, unsure of where you want to go and how you can make y ourself attractive to employers, you may want to consult with a certified resume writer and career coach , Weiner says. They will see grey areas of your career and help you recognize your best talents and skill sets as well as how to communicate and convey them properly.After all, Weiner points out, today, a resume is more than just a career history. It has to be a strategic marketing document that effectively markets you.Gaps in your resume might make employers nervous, but if you can prove that you spent that down time constructively, then youll be in a much better position.What you do while unemployed speaks volumes about your personal brand. Did you waste time or seize the opportunity to continue growing? Gardner says.One of the ways you can make the fruchtwein of periods of unemployment is by enrolling in a class to sharpen your skills, volunteering for an organization you care about, or attending events in your industry, Gardner suggests. Not only will it help keep yourself busy, but it will also help with building positive momentum and adding to your personal brand.If youre having a tough time revitalizing your personal brand - perhaps youre unsure of exactly what message youre trying to convey, or simply dont know how to convey it - try turning to others for inspiration.Spend some time looking up influential people in your industry Whats on their LinkedIn account? What books are they tweeting about? What issues do they care about? Pay close attention to discern how you can apply these things as you revamp your own social media accounts and job application materials, Gardner suggests.Unemployment can seriously shake your confidence, but when youre searching for a job, you certainly dont want that self-consciousness or uncertainty to become part of your personal brand - its a sure way to turn employers off. To combat that, youll have to prepare yourself mentally.First you must have an attitude that youre adequate in applying for whatever you are going for that supports you expecting acceptance for who you are and what you bring to the table, says Debra Benton, Executive Coach and author of The Leadership Mind Switch Rethinking How We Lead in the New World of Work . If you dont expect acceptance they likely wont give it to you. If you do expect acceptance, you just might get it.Remember what makes you unique and valuable to an employer and to those you work alongside, adds Weiner. Continue to reiterate positive self-talk on a daily basis.If youre still struggling to project confidence, theres nothing wrong with faking it until you make it.Stand up straight and tall, keep your head level on your shoulders (not tilted to one side), look people in the eye and above all keep a small smile on your face. Doesnt have to be a big ole grin but a look that is awake, alert, alive, confident, and comfortable, Benton says.Nobody likes being rejected , but the odds are that youre going to have to apply to a handful of companies before you get a job offer - so you have to maintain optimism throughout the whole process.Experiencing unemployment is not only financially challenging but mentally challenging as well. Even if you left your previous employer willingly, you may find yourself in a state of vulnerability once you expose yourself to the possibility of rejection, Gardner says. The most important tip to overcoming unemployment is to be persistent in your job search while continuing to grow your skills and tapping into your network.It may take a while before you find the right fit, but once you do, it will all have been worth it.

Video Chat Recap Mobilizing Your Resume

Video Chat Recap Mobilizing Your ResumeVideo Chat Recap Mobilizing Your ResumeThe most popular questions asked during our live video chat about mobilizing your resume.A big thank you to everyone who attended our first-ever interactive video chat on Mobilizing Your Resume. I had a great time and I hope you did too Click on the following links to view this Spreecast and to obtain a copy of a presentation I gave on the topic at Ladders Job Central event. Below are some of the questions I fielded and links to more information on the topics. EnjoyQ1 How many pages should my resume be?As a recent college graduate, your resume should only be one page. Your education is located higher up on the resume (just under your professional summary), since youre likely to have less experience and want to promote your new degree. Often times, you can break up your experience into two groups (Relevant Experience and Leadership Experience Activities), to showcase your talents better. A more seasoned pro fessional needs to keep the resume to two pages and only cover the last 10-15 years of work experience. In both cases, your resume should act as a marketing material that shows off why you are qualified for a certain role.Job Search Tips for the Recent College GradResume Tips for Those Facing Age Discrimination (Part I of III)Q2 How do I address an employment gap or the desire to relocate on my resume?While theres a pretty standard format for resumes, youre always going to make special tweaks to accommodate your goals and circumstances. Check out these articles for more information on how to edit your resume to best position your talents.Returning to Work? How to Handle the Employment gemeinsame agrarpolitikRelocating? How to Go the Distance With Your SearchQ3 What advice can you give to military professionals who are transitioning to the civilian sector?When youre making a switch, whether youre ex-military transitioning to the civilian workforce, a business owner looking to get bac k into the corporate world, or youre just looking to change industries, the most important thing to do is focus on your transferrable skills and translate your resume into a language that your target employer will understand.Translating Military Experience to a Civilian ResumeThe Business Owners Resume Riddle5 Tips on Making a Career TransitionQ4 How should I use social media to display my resume?A Jobvite survey from this past summer found that 92% of the 800+ recruiters and employers polled use social media to look for candidates. If you dont have an online presence that supports your resume and career goals, youre missing out on opportunities. Similarly, 86% admitted to searching for a candidate who submitted an application. Use these two articles to not only clean up your online presence, but to also build your professional brand. Overhaul Your Online BrandGet Back to Social Media PresenceQ5 Should I include a picture on my LinkedIn profile?While youre 40% more likely to be clic ked on when you have a photo in your profile, you have to make sure its the right photo and aligns with your professional brand. Here are two articles to help you decide if a photo is right for you and your brand.Are Your Looks Hurting or Helping Your Job Search?Countdown to a New Year, New You Look the Part