How To Explain Gaps In Employment: Tips & Examples

How To Explain Gaps In Employment: Tips & Examples

Learning how to explain employment gaps is important if you’ve had an extended period of time away from work. All hiring managers and interviewers consider these gaps to be a red (or yellow) flag, so they’ll naturally have some questions. But don’t worry. Once you know how to explain employment gaps effectively, you’ll be able […]

The post How To Explain Gaps In Employment: Tips & Examples appeared first on Career Sherpa.

4 Steps To Identifying The BEST Companies To Work For

4 Steps To Identifying The BEST Companies To Work For

Are people applying to countless work online without any outcomes? Do you have a new tough time figuring away which companies you’d really like to work with? When that comes to your job search, body defeated whenever it comes to being rejected? In that case, you’re in this right place!


Because a professional, you are usually a “job shopper. inch You might be shopping for your own personal next opportunity.

Putting together a organization} bucket list will become your guide for your personal job search. It will certainly help you focus about the right activities therefore you’re not wasting hrs, days, or months in outdated job search routines that don’t pay away.

This device will EMPOWER you together with allow you to get control of the job search process to get possibilities with which you’re REALLY aligned.

With this training, you’ll learn just how to:

  • Define yourself as some sort of “job shopper”
  • Figure out precisely how to set up a company relationship story
  • Identify which companies to include to your company pail list and why

Sign up for our CEO, J. To. O’Donnell, and Director regarding Training Development & Training, Christina Burgio, for this specific live event on Wed, October 26th at twelve pm ET.

CAN’T GO TO LIVE? Which okay. You’ll have entry to the recording and often the workbook following the session!

Sign-up button

How To Stand Out At Work

How To Stand Out At Work

Nowadays, it seems like many employees really zone in on the job requirements of their position. Some employees will make sure they stick within their job requirements and do not do much more. Others will work very hard at their job and excel in it.


However, there is a minority group of employees who really step up and contribute in any way they can. If you want a chance to advance in your company, you will have to be a part of that latter group.

So, how can you stand out at work?

If you do your job and do it well, you will brand yourself as a person who is really good at that job. However, when it comes time to promote, the management team is looking for a leader, and leaders typically need to be fully engaged in the company. They not only need to care about their job and role but also about the business in its entirety.

What else are you supposed to do besides your job?

Many people do not realize that while you were hired to do a job, it’s also your responsibility to be a part of the company and to do whatever it takes for the company to be successful. You need to continuously find ways to save or make the company money, to prove your value to the employer.

Here are the top 10 ways you can stand out at work and advance your career:

1. Always Offer Ideas And Suggestions

Man stands out during a meeting at work

Start with your own job and if you have an idea or two about how it can be done more efficiently, suggest it. Even if your manager balks at it, keep making suggestions wherever you can.

Eventually, one of your ideas will gain support and you’ll make a difference at work. Sometimes the smallest ideas can have the greatest impact.

2. Do Not Sit Quietly In Meetings

Woman gets ready to contribute and stand out during a work meeting

We have all been in meetings where there are people who talk and people who do not. Contribute any way you can and contribute at a high level. When management is in meetings with you, they take notice of the contributors.

Leaders are not silent in meetings. If you want to move up in your career, you first need to be present in it.

3. Do MORE Than What Your Job Requires

Man shakes hands with a woman during a work meeting

For example, if you work in customer service and someone needs help, go beyond offering “standard help.” Instead of saying to a customer, “Call this number and they can help you,” do it for them! Customers like to compliment great service. It is a big deal when upper management or the president of the company hears from customers and they are complimenting YOU.

No matter your job, going above and beyond your standard job duties will help you grow your career.

4. Always Offer To Help Others

Woman stands out at work by helping her coworkers

Become the “go-to” person—the person who can be counted on to help. If you are that person, it will go a long way!

Let’s think about what would happen if your company announced possible layoffs in the near future. An employee who is the “go-to” person and adds value to the organization will be significantly less likely to be laid off than an employee who just sits quietly in the corner and does their job, and maybe does their job well, but doesn’t stand out as an indispensable employee.

By offering to help others and having expertise, you’ll stand out as a great employee—one most companies wouldn’t want to lose.

5. Be Proactive

Woman stands out as a great employee

Anticipate problems that might arise and come up with suggestions to fix them. Do not wait for things to happen and be a “reactive” employee.

We all have had those moments where we know we could do more if we wanted to. When you have that moment, come up with a plan and do it (or share it with a supervisor).

6. Become A Part Of The Company

Group of coworkers working together to stand out

If your company has a great workplace culture, this makes it that much easier to become a part of your company and feel like you belong. Join a safety committee or a diversity committee or any other group where you feel you can make a great contribution.

7. Do Things Without Being Asked

Coworkers meet to talk about a project at work

If you see that something needs to be done and nobody is doing it, DO IT. Even if it is just cleaning up after a potluck lunch or helping with a company party. It’s always amazing how few people do this.

It’s really quite simple: people who hang back and help out stand out.

8. Volunteer Wherever You Can

Man stands out while working on a project

Community service is becoming more popular in organizations around the world. If someone sends an email out asking for volunteers, do it if you can. If someone sends out an email about a new initiative in the company, reply and say, “This sounds great! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I would love to be a part of this!”

Management takes note of the employees who volunteer together for a good cause or ambitious project.

9. Take The Lead If You Can

Woman stands out as a leader during a work meeting

Someone has to be the leader. Why shouldn’t it be you? If it’s not you, still contribute at a high level. Throw out ideas and suggestions. Challenge things that do not make sense. If you do this respectfully, you will stand out.

Once again, silence does not get you noticed; it gets you overlooked. Show up in your career and try to become the leader you know you can be one day at a time.

10. Never Badmouth The Company

Man happy to work at his job

Talk it up and do your job as if you ARE a leader there. If you do not agree with something, ask questions. Running around badmouthing the company or complaining about your job is a cancer in your career. It will kill any opportunities to advance and may even kill your job.

When you are at work, always seek out ways to improve the company. Become an integral part of taking your company to the next level.

If you show your interest lies far beyond yourself, your job, and your income, you’ll stand out and set yourself up to become a future leader in your company.

Need more help with your career?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Answer “What Are Your Career Goals?” (Examples)

How To Answer “What Are Your Career Goals?” (Examples)

“What seem to be your career goals? ” is surely an interview question it requires some introspection to assist you be answered effectively.   This guide will train you what interviewers are generally looking for, and just how to craft an remarkable response. Table of material The Reason Interviewers Locate out Question Short-Term compared to. Long-Term Career Goals Just how to Answer “ Just what are Your Career [… ]

The post The way to Answer “ What Are usually Your Career Goals? ” (Examples) came out first on Career Sherpa .

23 Leadership Interview Questions & Answers To Practice

23 Leadership Interview Questions & Answers To Practice

If you’re serious about applying for a leadership position, it’s important to do some prep work before the interview. And part of that is running through what your answers will be to common leadership interview questions. This list will help you develop and practice giving great answers that will blow the interviewer away. 1. What […]

The post 23 Leadership Interview Questions & Answers To Practice appeared first on Career Sherpa.

Summary Sunday: Issue #491

Summary Sunday: Issue #491

When you have smart, talented people, anyone increase your own understanding and value. That’ t the things i get from curating content on Twitter together with other social media. So can you! In this week’ s i9000 summary, you’ ll discover articles to help people grow and be far better too! The topics consist of: Networking with recruiters Ideas from a […]

Typically the post Summary Sunday: Problem #491 made an appearance first on Career Sherpa .

5 Tips For Reclaiming Your Career & Finding Happiness

5 Tips For Reclaiming Your Career & Finding Happiness

Which one describes your morning more accurately? a) Waking up excited to head into work and do what you love. b) Waking up dreading work and seriously considering calling in sick.


If the second scenario sounds more like you, it’s time for a change, don’t you think? Here are five tips for reclaiming your career and finally finding career happiness:

1. Figure Out What’s Causing The Problem

Professional man smiles while talking to a coworker

What is it that you hate about your job? Why do you dread going to work? Is it the work itself or the people you work with? Is it a specific task or a specific individual that is making your life miserable?

Once you determine the cause of the stress/misery, you can take steps to fix or eliminate the problem. Maybe there’s more than one problem. That’s okay. The key is to identify where the real pain points are in your career. Only then can you make the changes you need to make to ultimately find career success.

2. Manage Up

Man manages up at work during a meeting

I’m sure you’ve heard this term before, but what does it really mean to “manage up” anyway? Well, it means that you need to step it up a little bit with your work and go above and beyond what you’re being asked to do.

Managing up will help others recognize your value within the organization, making you an asset. By going the extra mile with your work, you take stress off your manager or boss, which can help you build a better working relationship with him/her.

Remember: your job is to make your boss’s job easier. If you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your job—and you’re not showing your value as an employee.

Your career is yours and yours only. Reclaim it by giving 110% in all aspects of your professional life. When you start making progress, you’ll realize the secret to career growth and happiness starts with intrinsic motivation.

3. Attend Workshops & Seminars

Group of happy professionals attend a workshop

Find some local workshops and seminars that will help you enhance and develop your skills. By attending these events, you’ll not only learn new, valuable skills, but you will prove that you are willing to take that extra step in order to get ahead.

Figure out what areas you think you should improve in. Do you need better time management skills? Would it help you to learn the HTML basics? Maybe you just want to brush up on your business writing or public speaking skills.

Whatever your interest, there are workshops and seminars for everything! Attend one and see how much it impacts your confidence and happiness as a professional.

4. Find A Mentor

Man mentors a colleague at work

It’s always nice to have a little extra guidance and support. Find someone who has extensive experience in your field and ask them if they would mind being your mentor. They can provide valuable insight and contacts that will help you get ahead.

Never underestimate the power of a mentor. Building a close, professional relationship with someone you admire can do wonders for your career. If you already have a colleague in mind, what are you waiting for? Reach out today!

5. Get Out There & Meet The Right People

Group of happy professionals networking

If you really want to take control of your career, you need the right people in your corner. Are you going out there and meeting the right people? Like it or not, your network is your net worth. Although networking with people outside of your industry has its benefits, it’s important to have a focused networking strategy that builds a solid network of contacts.

There are several ways to connect with the right contacts. Here are a few:

  • Attend industry-specific events (They don’t have to be networking events!)
  • Join industry-specific organizations and clubs
  • Use keywords and hashtags to find potential contacts on Twitter and LinkedIn

We all have highs and lows in life. The same is true for our careers. If you’re feeling unhappy in your career, you have the power to change that. Every hurdle you face, you can overcome.

Follow the tips above and you’ll not only reclaim your career but find career happiness as well. We believe in you!

Need more help with your career?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

10 Phone Screen Interview Tips You Need To Know In 2022

10 Phone Screen Interview Tips You Need To Know In 2022

Many job seekers fundamentally misunderstand the purpose of a phone screen interview, leading them to do these calls without the right preparation. And as you would expect, they don’t get the results they’re hoping for. This guide will cover the most important phone screen interview tips to keep in mind. Remember, every step of the […]

The post 10 Phone Screen Interview Tips You Need To Know In 2022 appeared first on Career Sherpa.

Executive Spotlight: The Skills Executives Need To Succeed In Today’s Hybrid Workplace

Executive Spotlight: The Skills Executives Need To Succeed In Today’s Hybrid Workplace

The workplace looks a lot different today than it did a couple of years ago. With the rise of remote work, many companies have permanently adopted a hybrid work model. This change has impacted employees and management alike. But in order for companies to stay competitive and build on their successes, their executives must develop the skills necessary to lead in today’s hybrid workplace.


We recently asked our successful executives what skills they think leaders need to succeed in today’s hybrid workplace.

Here are their responses…

Melodie Turk, Learning Experience Executive

Every executive in a hybrid workplace needs a good time management formula.

You need to be able to spend time on your actual deliverables, you need to spend time with your direct reports—not only directing work, but in personal development—you need to spend time with your department or organization, and you need to spend time in strategic planning. This list could continue but plotting out the hours for each time description adds up really quickly, such as 15 hours for deliverables, 5 hours for direct reports, 10 hours for organization, and 3 hours for strategic planning. Now, you only have 7 hours left for ad hoc meetings, innovation, your own development, putting out fires, etc.

Knowing that you need to be more intentional with your time is key. Intentional plotting out your time on your calendar (and sticking to it) is critical. Having others understand your time priorities is essential.

Melodie Turk is a learning experience executive with a unique background in the learning and development arena as well as change management. She is passionate about bringing change to the workplace—change that is meaningful and change that will last.

Lisa Perry, Global Marketing Executive

Executive/leader on laptop manages a hybrid workplace

We’ve seen more changes in the workplace over the last two years than in the previous two decades. In these two years, we’ve learned quite a bit about working remotely including how to enhance leadership skills in this new work environment.

Here are five skills executives need to succeed in today’s hybrid workplace:

1. Communication: Executives need to be great communicators from increased listening skills, more in-depth and personal conversations, focusing on written communication, to enabling informal interactions.

2. Trust: Trust is even more important in today’s hybrid work environment. With less managerial oversight, organizations are empowering employees to do their work. Conversely, employees have had to be confident that work is being assigned fairly.

3. Accountability: Without being able to see people to generate an understanding of their productivity and performance, executives need to hold employees accountable for their outcomes and results.

4. Flexibility: The people who will thrive in a hybrid workplace will not only be flexible. They’ll be agile to adapt to changing circumstances, be creative problem solvers, and have a degree of open-mindedness.

5. Virtual Innovation: A study of Microsoft employees shows how remote work puts productivity and innovation at risk. To drive innovation in a hybrid work environment, have open communication and encourage working sessions.

Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.

Dr. Hannah Hartwell, Learning & Development Executive

Executive/leader sets clear expectations with his employee

The most successful executives who are managing well in today’s hybrid work environment provide clear and consistent expectations. Having clear expectations has always been important, but now even more so. Clear expectations also involve having crucial and vulnerable conversations about any other factors that could impact work. We have all gone through this pandemic together, but people experienced it differently based on their own situations. It’s important to recognize and acknowledge the differences. Have those conversations with your team and ask how you, as the executive, can provide more direction or support.

One of my mentees recently asked me how she can better advocate for herself at work. I asked some probing questions, and her concerns were about expectations. She felt inspired to have a vulnerable conversation with her manager and enthusiastically shared that she knew exactly what was expected of her moving forward. As executives, it’s important for us to open our hybrid office door to facilitate those conversations.

Dr. Hannah Hartwell is a learning and development executive and change management practitioner with 15+ years of business transformation experience in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, higher education, and professional services industries.

Percy Leon, Digital Media Content Executive

Group of executives/leaders work together in a hybrid workplace

Here are some of the most important skills executives need to succeed in today’s business world:

1. Communication: The ability to manage remote teams effectively. It’s crucial for executives to know how to manage a virtual team.

2. Leadership: The ability to lead change. Executives need to be able to lead their teams through times of change, whether it’s a change in the company’s direction or a change in the market.

3. Set Boundaries: Make sure they separate work and personal time. Sometimes this can be a challenge if executives also play at the same space they work at.

4. Creativity: The ability to come up with new and innovative ideas. This includes thinking outside the box and coming up with creative solutions to problems and also building their brands.

Percy Leon is a digital media content producer specializing in educational technology and entertainment. He is interested in web3, metaverse, and the use of virtual reality for storytelling.

Andrea Markowski, Marketing Executive

Executive leads a team meeting with hybrid, in-office, and remote employees

In a hybrid environment, there is one thing that is often overlooked: equity.

Imagine: Your team is split, and half you see regularly in person while half are 100% remote. It could be quite easy for you to “forget” the remote folks because, as they say, out of sight, out of mind.

What this means is potentially giving the juicy projects and even more job advancements to team members that you interact with in person, while those who you never see get left out.

Or, those who are in the office more often might have access to more resources, equipment, and even social opportunities than those who work remotely, giving them an advantage.

Managers should make a deliberate effort to be equitable and fair with opportunities in hybrid environments. Greater visibility does not mean that someone is more productive or a higher performer. Be aware of any biased opinions you may hold due to informal, in-person networking.

Andrea Markowski is a marketing director with specializations in strategy development, digital tactics, design thinking, and creative direction. She has superpowers in presentations and public speaking.

What skills do you think executives need to succeed in today’s hybrid workplace? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily’s Executive Program.

How And Why All Teachers Must Teach Vocabulary

How And Why All Teachers Must Teach Vocabulary

Being able to both comprehend and write increasingly complex text and participate in oral discourse starts with a knowledge of words. Yet far too many of our students stumble in expressing their thoughts, understanding the written intent of others, or even understanding what is being asked of them in written prompts because they do not have nor are growing in their awareness of vocabulary.


The reasons why our students may lack robust vocabularies are varied. Some students are coming to English as second language learners. Others may have or have not been exposed to a varied vocabulary in their homes. Still, others may be hamstrung by the way we have been teaching reading in our schools: phonics and/or decoding in the early years—the debate still rages—being phased out in favor of specific academic content instruction in middle and high school. I, myself, can think back to my early days of teaching 6th grade when I had a student come into my class the day after they arrived from Vietnam with no English-speaking skills. Although she received push out ELL services, if only I knew then how to better scaffold the learning through language supports, perhaps she might have been able to be more fully present in class.

While we are all literacy teachers, tell that to some middle and high school science, math, and/or social studies teachers and you might be told in return that they teach their subject content not English. Still, how can one teach content well if students do not understand what they are reading? Also, how can students write in full paragraphs if they don’t know words?

Teaching Vocabulary Helps Students Develop Content Knowledge

Teacher teaches a young student vocabulary

Think strategically about how vocabulary might help your students master content-specific standards. As a consultant, I’m always recommending that teachers utilize Harvey Silver’s vocabulary CODE activities. These activities assist students in connecting vocabulary to key concepts, in organizing/categorizing words, in deep processing words, and in exercising the mind through exercise and practice.

While we see word walls in many classrooms these days, which is an excellent strategy that compares words to units of study, we should not stop there. Sadly, this is often the case. Word walls are NOT for classroom decoration only; students need to practice these words intentionally during instruction. One way to do this, for instance, might be to have students describe how a set of three words from the word wall might be related (the three-way tie strategy).

Teachers can also gamify the learning of vocabulary by giving “points” for student use of specific vocabulary within their written responses. I would often give my students a word splash activity at both the beginning and end of a lesson. In this strategy, students are given a writing prompt as well as a series of words to use in their response. Students are then told to use as many words as they can in their response.

Comparing the quality of the response/vocabulary produced at the beginning of the lesson, before instruction, with the same prompt response provided at the end of the lesson can be a brilliant way to check on student growth in understanding during a lesson. Have students used more vocabulary in the second response? Are connections between concepts stronger after instruction than before?

Vocabulary Development Strategies Are For ALL Students

I recently had the opportunity to present these vocabulary development strategies at a middle/high school workshop. By engaging in a 4As discussion protocol, we were able to surface assumptions made by Mr. Silver in his work, where we agreed, where we argued/or disagreed, and where we might apply his vocabulary development strategies in our own lesson planning.

Several concerns and/or misconceptions emerged, one being that the study of vocabulary is only for students who are underperforming. To be true, studying vocabulary can assist ELLs and other students below mastery to meet learning objectives and, as such, is an excellent scaffold. At the same time, depending on the complexity of the words themselves, vocabulary development strategies can help more advanced students solidify and extend their knowledge of key concepts/themes in their learning.

To bring in higher-order thinking and learning within vocabulary development activities, consider the level of complexity of the words that students are studying. Per the work of Isabel Beck, Margaret McKeown, and Linda Kucan, in Bringing Words to Life, we can think of vocabulary as being in three tiers: tier one (everyday words like tree or cat), tier two (school words like analyze or discuss), and tier three words (content-specific words like reformation or reconstruction). I would argue that middle and high schools could consider the academic words that they want the entire school community practicing with students (tier 2) and have this language posted/discussed throughout the school community while teachers could not only be promoting the use of these tier 2 vocabulary words in class but also be working with students to increase their knowledge of specific content vocabulary (tier 3). As an aside, I also use Robert Marzano’s work, Building Academic Vocabulary, with teachers. Most notably, his lists of academic words in each content area.

Making Time For Vocabulary Instruction

Teacher teaches his students vocabulary during class

Teachers in the training also surfaced the question of time. When there is so much to teach, where is the time to front-load all this vocabulary? Consider when it is and is not appropriate to use a vocabulary development strategy with all students at the same time. However, also consider how individual students could practice vocabulary on their own. For instance, I used to always keep blank copies of the Frayer Model available in the classroom so that students could practice vocabulary on an as-needed basis. Students could also be practicing vocabulary at rotating stations as well as completing other tasks if the lesson is planned accordingly. Lastly, just like we do not want all middle/high school teachers giving a test on the same day, confer with teaching colleagues so that the front-loading of vocabulary is staggered across classes.

If you would like additional ideas on how to impact student lives without sacrificing your own, and have a life teaching, check out my quick hack teaching courses, including on student engagement, here. You can also reach me on LinkedIn.

How To Stand Out To Employers When Applying Online

How To Stand Out To Employers When Applying Online

In this day and age, it’s crucial to stand out during your job search. Otherwise, your resume gets buried—unread and unnoticed. This is a common problem for job seekers. So, how can you stand out from the competition when applying online?


Here’s what some of our career experts say you can do to catch the eye of employers in your job search:

Research The Company

Woman researches a company before applying for a job online

“Learn everything you can about the company,” says Bud Bilanich, author of Climbing The Corporate Ladder. “Tailor your resume to show what you know about them and their industry. And, more importantly, use keywords and list skills in your resume that will catch the recruiter’s attention.”

For example, if the job application says they are looking for a “self-starter,” make sure you put the words self-starter somewhere near the top of your resume. “Sounds corny,” he says, “but it works.”

Create An Online Presence

Man creates a professional portfolio to stand out when applying for jobs online

Rachel Dotson of ZipRecruiter suggests creating an about.me profile, complete with links to your various social and professional profiles online. Include the link in your resume alongside your name and contact information (at least add a link to your LinkedIn profile!), and also include it under your signature in your cover letter. If you have a professional portfolio, make sure you include that as well.

“Because your resume will likely be viewed on the computer,” she says, “it will be easy for the hiring manager to click through to your about.me page, where he or she can then browse your online presence.”

Beat The ATS

“Before you can stand out to the employer, you have to stand out to the applicant tracking software,” says Kristin Johnson of Profession Direction. “There’s a real art to getting your resume noticed in today’s technological job hunt.” Johnson says you MUST read the job description and include key terms on your resume. If you don’t include the right keywords on your resume, it’ll get tossed by the ATS, and it most likely won’t even get read by a human being.

The resume needs to be in a format that the software can read too. “It takes some time, but that’s the way the system works,” she says. “If your resume doesn’t show you’re a match for the job to the ATS, you’re not going to get a call because you won’t stand out to the employer.”

In order to stand out when applying for a job online, you need to research the company before you apply, create an online presence, and beat the ATS. If you consistently do these three things in your job search, you’ll be sure to stand out to employers, no matter your industry or work experience.

Need more help with your job search?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Write A Subject Line For Thank You Emails (Simple)

How To Write A Subject Line For Thank You Emails (Simple)

Writing a good subject line for your thank you email is incredibly important, and many job seekers are completely unaware of this! Instead, they send incredibly generic subject lines and hope that their message goes through. This guide will teach you how to write a fantastic thank you email subject line, so you can be […]

The post How To Write A Subject Line For Thank You Emails (Simple) appeared first on Career Sherpa.