5 Reasons Why Coding Bootcamps are Worth It

5 Reasons Why Coding Bootcamps are Worth It

During the last decade, coding bootcamps popped up to fill a talent gap. Unfortunately, when it came to the tech industry, there were more openings than there were graduates with four-year degrees to fill them. Coding bootcamps offer an excellent alternative to more traditional 4-year degree programs for the money and time saved. Because of […]

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5 Easy Ways To Get Ahead In The Workplace

5 Easy Ways To Get Ahead In The Workplace

You’re looking for a career boost. You’re possibly past your first-year mark at work. You’ve learned the ropes of your position, but you feel like you’re slowing down. What are some ways you can get ahead at work?


There are many positive things you can do that can help you get ahead at work. In fact, the value of these tasks is they make you more motivated—therefore, giving you the career boost you need.

Show Enthusiasm For Your Work

Man shakes hands with a colleague at work

I know. How can you ever feel enthusiastic about work, especially when you already feel sluggish with the same work after a few years? It is precisely this reason I ask you to be enthusiastic. To be enthusiastic at work is about a mental state. You need to make the decision to be enthusiastic. Start by saying, “I will be an eager participant in this project or task.”

Attack your task with energy. Do not drag your feet. The more you tell yourself, “This is so boring,” or whatever the excuse may be, the worse you will feel. Get interested in the work, and the energy will come naturally. Then, decide to be eagerly involved. You cannot get ahead at work without energy.

Be Efficient In The Workplace

Two coworkers work on a project together

Strive to be the most efficient worker on your team. According to Webster’s Universal College Dictionary, to be efficient means “performing or functioning effectively with the least waste of time and effort.” When you are effective, you’re producing the intended result. When you are efficient, you do it with the least waste of time and effort. That means you are capable and competent.

If you constantly strive to be the most efficient worker, then you will eventually get ahead in your career. You will get a career boost because you are the most capable and competent on the team.

Strive For Excellence While Working

Happy man excited at work

Of the five things you can do to get ahead in the workplace, this one probably calls for you to give yourself some pressure. A little pressure is good since it makes you push yourself harder. Strive for excellence in everything you do. Do not be content with good. Go for great.

Exceed expectations by knowing good is sometimes not good enough. Give everything your utmost best. You will naturally see how this becomes your career booster. When you strive for excellence in everything you do, you naturally surpass others in your work.

Show Up To Work Early

Man smiles while walking to work

Have you ever thought that showing up to work early can get you ahead at work? It can, especially when your workplace practices flextime. Many people take flextime for granted. They stroll in and out at their own pace, not knowing they have probably wasted productive time.

Start early at work. Some of my most productive days are those I start early before the phone rings and before my staff walks in with questions. Clear your emails from last night and craft that important email when there are no disturbances.

Be Someone Your Co-Workers WANT To Work With Every Day

Make every effort to be the easiest person to work with in the office. Now, I am not saying compromise your need for excellence. For example, this means don’t complain and grumble each time there is a team meeting. No one likes to work with someone who nags all the time.

When you are easy to work with, you make working enjoyable for your co-workers too. An upbeat workplace is welcomed everywhere, and you give yourself a competitive edge. That competitive edge is your career booster.

Want to know how your interact with your co-workers, and how it impacts your work? This FREE quiz will tell you your workplace strengths and how to use them to your advantage.

There is no need for complicated plans to get a career boost. Doing these simple things can help you get you ahead at work.

Need more help getting ahead in your career?

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

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4 Ways to Handle Retaliation at Work

4 Ways to Handle Retaliation at Work

If you’ve become a victim of retaliation in the workplace, you’re not alone. In fact, around 45% of all complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) involve workplace retaliation. Workplace retaliation is an insidious form of discrimination, and it is unlawful. Suppose your employer punishes you for taking action against them by intimidating […]

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5 Impressive Advantages of Online Graduate Programs

5 Impressive Advantages of Online Graduate Programs

Following the 2020-2021 global pandemic, the benefits of online educational programs can not be understated. While thousands of colleges and universities were forced to adapt their doctoral programs to accommodate online options in the past few years, more students than ever before are choosing to complete their graduate studies online. Many online programs were available […]

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3 Ways To Emphasize Your ROI On Your Resume

3 Ways To Emphasize Your ROI On Your Resume

Creating your resume, but stumped for ideas beyond your job titles, places of employment, and education? Getting employers to pick up the phone requires a much stronger brand message!


If you haven’t focused on your ROI—the benefit companies get when hiring you—your job search can go on indefinitely. You might believe that recruiters or hiring managers will “get” this message from reading about your past jobs or span of authority. But guess what? With plenty of resumes to review, most hiring managers won’t take the time to connect the dots in your background.

Therefore, if you’ve made a significant difference at past employers, but your resume doesn’t provide this evidence, you’ll lose your shot at landing an interview (while employers hire your competition instead).

So, as you write your resume, consider adding these quantifiable measures of your performance to emphasize your ROI and stand out to hiring managers.

1. Comparisons To Others

Job seeker adds his ROI to his resume

Do you wear many hats at your current job? Employees who can perform more than one job simultaneously are often credited with improving the company’s bottom line. On your resume, you’ll be able to show the savings gained by helping your employer avoid the need to hire or train an additional staff member, as in these examples:

  • Cut 34% from training budget by assuming new project leadership role for Global Standards initiative.
  • Eliminated need to hire new team members by performing dual roles in operations and sales, with estimated $80K annual savings.

ROI can also be demonstrated by comparing your work to others on your team, or to a predecessor who held the same role prior to your tenure. You may be more efficient or better able to understand customer needs—saving your employer additional effort (such as multiple sales calls or additional work on technical problems)—than your counterparts. If so, put these savings into a dollar figure by calculating the cost of rework for use on your resume.

Remember: the key to demonstrating your ROI is by listing quantifiable information on your resume. This means adding numbers to each bullet point under your job titles.

2. Revenue & Profit Improvement

Hiring managers read about the job applicant's ROI on his resume

Will anything get an employer’s attention faster than telling them you’ll bring sizeable profits? Probably not. However, unless you’re in a sales role (or another revenue-specific job), you might find this exercise difficult. After all, how does a project manager or operations director make money for the company?

The secret to pulling out a revenue or profit figure (when your job isn’t tied directly to money) is to look higher in the company for the impact of your work. This means taking into account the value of the project to your employer (a new service line that will create revenue opportunities), or the impact of the new equipment you implemented (improving production and fulfilling more orders). As in this example of a resume statement, your work as part of a larger effort can be conveyed in the impact of the entire project:

  • Played key role in $23M project slated to improve operational efficiency, with 45% reduction in call center hold times and expected $7M annual savings.

If your job involves technology, consider the monetary value of the improvements gained with a new solution you implemented. Once you put the emphasis on your work at a company or department level, the revenue or profit equation can make sense. Of course, you’ll need to share the credit for increasing profits with your team or colleagues, but it’s an important measure of your benefit to a new employer.

3. Cost Containment

Hiring manager reads about the job applicant's ROI on his resume during an interview

Cost savings are a high-priority area for many companies, especially those in industries directly affected by the pandemic. Of course, showing your impact on expenses is easy if you’re the one negotiating new vendor contracts or preparing a budget. Even if your responsibilities don’t seem related to costs, think about your ability to produce work faster or with less resources—then add the costs associated with this acceleration into your resume.

For example, an office manager who arranges shifts to cover the phone (without hiring an additional employee) is directly saving significant payroll and training costs. An IT director might be able to point out the projects completed in less time due to a newly acquired software tool, with related opportunity costs allowing the team to take on other projects. These examples show different ways to state cost savings on your resume:

  • Saved division nearly $700K with switch to Agile Development methodology and avoiding training for 3 team members.
  • Reduced marketing spend $35K by learning social media techniques instrumental in promoting company services.

Perhaps you’ve monitored expenses within your team, and figured out ways to generate the same amount of revenue with less overhead. These figures can be estimated, or specified in percentages of savings, to show your impact on costs.

The bottom line? Your employment automatically comes at a cost to your employer. If you can demonstrate a substantial ROI over the expense of hiring you, companies will be eager to bring you on board—even with a raise in salary—despite a competitive job market.

Need more help demonstrating your ROI on your resume? We’re here for you!

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you write your resume—the right way.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

What To Say When Connecting On LinkedIn

What To Say When Connecting On LinkedIn

While it’s not so difficult to add a connection on LinkedIn when you already know the person, approaching someone you don’t know, like a hiring manager, recruiter, the head of the department you want to work for, or a contact that can help get you through to the decision-maker is a different story.


Here are five tips on how to approach people you don’t know, or don’t know very well, and what you can say to get them to connect with you on LinkedIn:

1. Have A Reason To Connect

Man thinks about how to customize his connection request on LinkedIn

Don’t send a blank (or default) invitation to connect. It’s unlikely that the person you’re trying to connect with will accept it.

If it’s a hiring manager who interviewed you, but you didn’t get the job, it may still be a relationship worth maintaining. Your message could say, “Thank you for the interview opportunity. I would love to be considered for future positions that come up and have you as a professional connection no matter where we may possibly cross paths again.”

The act of simply taking the time to write a personal message with your invitation makes you worthy of consideration.

2. Share What You Have In Common

Woman writes a connection invitation on LinkedIn

In your LinkedIn connection request, find ways to form an instant bond by sharing what you have in common. For example, when you’re both a member of the same group, club, or volunteer organization, it’s easier to approach the individual.

People also want to know or be reminded of how you know them or found them. So you can say something like, “I’m also a member of XYZ on LinkedIn. I noticed you’re the head of the marketing department at 123 Company, and I was hoping you could share some advice on how you got started in your career because I’m looking to pursue a similar path.”

This approach is less likely to come off like a cold call. If there are other things you have in common, like a similar education or background, share that as well.

3. Mention A Mutual Acquaintance

Man connects with someone on LinkedIn

Whenever possible, it’s easier to start an introduction with the help of a mutual acquaintance. After the help of an introduction, it’s up to you to build rapport.

If you connect with someone who works for a company you want to work for, you may consider a message like, “I’m a former colleague of John Smith, who’s told me a lot about you and your work. I’m considering a position at 123 Company. Would you mind if I ask you some questions related to your experience with the application and interview process?”

The saying, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know,” has never been truer. Take advantage of your current connections and use them to expand your professional network today.

4. Don’t Ask For A Job On First Contact

Woman invites someone to connect on LinkedIn

Avoid sending your resume on first contact, or asking if your new connection knows of any job openings at their company. Your first message to a new connection should focus on starting a conversation, and you can effectively do that by asking for general advice rather than inquiring about a job.

Also, remember to keep questions open-ended so you can build conversation, not end it.

5. Congratulate And Give Recognition

Man writes a message to a new LinkedIn connection

Who doesn’t like to be greeted with a nice word of recognition like “Congratulations on the recent award!” or “Great article! I found it really insightful”? It informs the individual you admire their work, making it easier to get their attention and find a reason to connect with you.

If you’re already connected, giving kudos to this person will strengthen your relationship and make them more willing to help you in your career.

Having a good network of connections is NOT about quantity but the quality of the people and the strength of the relationships. Take the time to really evaluate who is worth connecting with, and when you do try, have a compelling reason why you want to connect with them so they will sincerely consider your request.

Need help optimizing your LinkedIn profile?

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you optimize your LinkedIn profile—the right way.

Join our FREE community to start improving your LinkedIn profile today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Interview Tips: Master Your Nonverbal Communication

Interview Tips: Master Your Nonverbal Communication

If you are going to an interview, there are many things you will want to consider. Many people think that knowing how to accurately answer the questions is the only thing that needs to be practiced. In reality, you also need to master your nonverbal communication to demonstrate your best attributes to the interviewer.


There are a few things you will need to think about. Your nonverbal communication is one of the most important aspects of an interview. This includes factors such as your gestures, body language, facial expressions, and more. These communication signals are important because they send a multitude of messages to the interviewer. Many times, nonverbal communication is subconscious, but it is still something that people will notice. Just as you will control what you verbally say, you will want to control what you communicate nonverbally, too.

It is a good idea to have your verbal match your nonverbal communication. This means if you say you are confident that you can give the business what it needs because you have years of experience, you do not want to come off as timid, shy, and unsure of yourself. Instead, you want to exude confidence.

Here are a few interview tips for nonverbal communication in an interview:

Get Plenty Of Practice

One of the best things you can do is to practice your interview ahead of time. You can do this by yourself, though you will want to have a mirror or video recording so you can evaluate your communication signals, or with a friend via a mock interview. When practicing for a job interview, you should think about the things you appear to be saying nonverbally and think about how you can change them to give the impression you are looking for.

Be Mindful During Your Interview

Man smiles during a job interview

You should be aware of how you are communicating during the interview, but be sure not to overthink and become distracted from the interview questions. For example, if you want to demonstrate your confidence, then you need to think about having excellent posture, keeping eye contact with your interviewer, and making sure to keep a calm demeanor.

Be Aware Of Your Hands

Man listens to a question during a job interview

A big issue many people face when they are in an interview is that they do not know what to do with their hands. Individuals should avoid fidgeting and touching their hair and face because the interviewer can read these communication signals negatively. These nervous movements and fidgets may be a sign of anything from uncertainty in your qualifications to lying about something.

It is also important to give the interviewer an open body position without crossing your arms, which shows that you are comfortable and open to discussion. By crossing your arms, you are sending the message that you are closed off, which makes an interviewer think you may have something to hide or feel negatively about the interview. You can keep your arms at your side or on your lap. Using your hands when you explain something is fine as well, and it is seen as a very open gesture to show your palms to the other individual while explaining.

Pay Attention To The Interviewer’s Nonverbal Communication

Man shakes the hiring manager's hand before a job interview

While thinking about the right thing to say both verbally and nonverbally, you need to think about the message you are getting from the interviewer. For instance, if you see them lean back or look uncomfortable, you may be in their personal space. If the interviewer seems impatient or uncomfortable, you may want to try to explain yourself better or offer shorter and more concise answers.

There are many different aspects to think about with nonverbal communication and what it means in the business world. If you are finding that you are not having the success you want with an interview, you may find it helpful to take a class on nonverbal communication so you can achieve the results you are looking for.

Or you could join our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you prepare for your next job interview.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

10 Ways To Fight Attraction In The Workplace

10 Ways To Fight Attraction In The Workplace

What should you do when you and another co-worker like each other? Worse yet, what happens if you have a crush on your boss, or that most terrible of taboos, on your secretary?


Rather than ignore the problem or act on your instincts, you should learn how to stop being attracted to someone at work. Here are 10 tips for handling the lust genie and putting her back in the bottle where she belongs:

1. Acknowledge The Problem

The first step in dealing with attraction at work is to acknowledge the problem. In all likelihood, you have pushed these feelings to the side of your mind. Unfortunately, they are sitting there fermenting and probably deepening.

Bringing your feelings to the top of your to-do list will help you logically deal with them. In cases of workplace attraction, you are going to need every ounce of Dr. Spock you can muster.

2. Talk To A Friend About Your Love Dilemma

Woman confiding in a friend about her work crush

You should absolutely talk to a friend about your work crush, preferably to someone who is not employed by the same company, your spouse, or the target of your attraction.

Talking about your feelings is another way of acknowledging the problem. In addition, you will acquire an ally who will help you cope with the issue.

3. Get A Copy Of Your Company’s Rules And Regulations From HR

Man reads his company policy about office romances

Reading the black and white company policy about what can happen if you act on your attraction is sometimes enough to change those feelings of amore into slight sickness whenever you see the person.

4. Realize You Might Be The Target Of Manipulation

Two co-workers flirting at work

In the world of business, there are many ways to get ahead. Some people have learned that ignoring office etiquette and company rules about relationships is a quick way to gain a competitive edge. It’s very difficult, but try to realistically evaluate the skills of the other person.

Have they earned their position through brilliance, dedication, and hard work? Or did they just sort of miraculously appear?

5. Acknowledge: “The Grass Is Always Greener”

Man has a crush on his co-worker

Maybe your home life isn’t as blissful as it could be. This doesn’t mean that acting on your instincts with the person at work is going to be the dream relationship.

That possible relationship might be better, but in all likelihood you will be exchanging one set of problems for another.

6. Realize Your Brain Can Play Tricks On You

Two co-workers flirt while working on a project

In love with your boss? Have you ever heard of Stockholm syndrome? People in positions of power are often attractive even if they are absolutely horrible.

7. Understand The Consequences

Two colleagues have a romantic fling at work

Romance at work (even between consenting single adults) often translates into negative repercussions. It can create sordid rumors and much worse.

If you truly have found the love of your life, get proactive about moving jobs or changing departments so you can continue your romance without worry.

Not willing to do that? Maybe this isn’t the “one.”

8. Set Clear And Safe Boundaries For Yourself

Two professionals flirt while waiting for the elevator

This will make coping much easier. Social decorum dictates that most intimacy doesn’t occur in the presence of others. Design strategies that remove direct and private contact with the person.

Whenever possible, interact with the person only when there are other people around. This will prevent intimacy and, with luck, the workplace crush will fade.

9. Improve Your Home Life And/Or Add Extracurricular Activities

Man and woman flirt while at work

So many of us get absolutely absorbed in work. It is our lives. When this is the case, it is perfectly natural to look for affection and intimacy at work. Make your social life outside of work a priority.

Once other people enter your life, the attraction for that colleague often disappears.

10. Don’t Try To Deal With The Issue With The Object Of Your Affection

Two co-workers flirt while on a coffee break

This approach rarely leads to a happy ending.

First, if the attraction is mutual, the crush will likely escalate into a full-blown affair. Second, if the attraction is not mutual, you face rejection and possibly a sexual harassment lawsuit.

We are all human and human interaction is sexual. Having a crush or being attracted to a co-worker is natural. But natural doesn’t necessarily make it good for you!

Use these 10 tips to fight attraction in the workplace, because most of the time it isn’t worth the risk.

Need more help navigating workplace issues?

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, it’s a place where you can get all of your career questions answered.

It’s about time you got the career help and support you deserve. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

10 Most Overused Words On LinkedIn Profiles

10 Most Overused Words On LinkedIn Profiles

Recently, the top 10 most overused words on LinkedIn profiles were announced. And I’m not shocked to see that all 10 words break the basic rule of personal branding: stay objective.


Opinions Of Your Skills Don’t Belong On LinkedIn

The 10 most overused words on LinkedIn are subjective. Meaning that if you use them, you are stating an opinion of yourself. Take a look:

  1. Specialize
  2. Experienced
  3. Skilled
  4. Leadership
  5. Passionate
  6. Expert
  7. Motivated
  8. Creative
  9. Strategic
  10. Focused

The problem with using these words is that, while you think it’s okay to talk about yourself in this way, the reader of your profile (aka a recruiter or hiring manager) gets the mistaken impression that you think you are “all that and a bag of chips.”

Simple Test To Fix Your Profile

Man updates his LinkedIn profile

The solution is to test your profile and then take out any words that aren’t fact. Here’s how you test it: simply read each sentence on your profile and then ask yourself, “Says who?” If you can’t validate it within the sentence you are using it in, then it needs to go. I used all 10 of the words on LinkedIn’s list below to show you examples of how they get misused.

  • I am a strategic, motivated professional.
  • I am creative and experienced.
  • I have great leadership skills.
  • I am a skilled expert in my field.
  • I know how to specialize to meet the needs of my job.
  • I am a focused leader who’s passionate about my industry.

For all of the above, you can’t help but think when you read them, “Geez. Don’t you think a lot of yourself!” Or, as I mentioned above, the immediate reaction becomes, “Really? Says who?”

Solution: List Accomplishments

Woman logs on to LinkedIn

Once you edit your profile, go back through and insert accomplishments that prove what you were trying to say about yourself. These would be examples of better fits:

  • I have a 10-year track record of exceeding my employer’s performance review standards.
  • I have created 20+ projects in X, resulting in $1M in new revenues.
  • I have completed more than 100 business analysis projects that have saved my employers $250K+ in the last 2 years.
  • I have managed teams of 2-50 through 15+ complete project lifecycles.
  • I have worked with over 400 customers to solve implementation issues that reduced client service calls by 50%.

Final Tip: Quantify To Qualify

Woman on laptop thinks about what she's going to write

Notice all of the above bullet points use numbers, percentages, and statistics to prove the skill. This is called quantifying your accomplishments, and it is the most compelling way to validate your experience. When it comes to LinkedIn, facts are always better than fiction!

We know how difficult it can be to optimize your LinkedIn profile so it effectively communicates your personal brand. If you’re still struggling to update your LinkedIn profile, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you update your LinkedIn profile—the right way.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

5 Ways To Develop Your Skills On The Job

5 Ways To Develop Your Skills On The Job

In today’s competitive job market, it’s so important that you keep learning and growing. But you know what? Time is scarce. It is hard enough to get the job done each day let alone plan for the next step in your career. But, if your career is a priority, it is critical to find ways to learn and grow so that you can continue to advance your career and develop your skills.


If you are looking for a promotion or raise, you’re going to have to prove you can add more value. The best way to do this is to continually feed your career with skills and knowledge that show you are worth the raise and promotion.

Here are five ways to develop your skills at work and advance your career.

1. Get A Mentor & Be A Mentor

Two women mentoring each other at work

Having a mentor at work is crucial to attaining new skills and knowledge. A good mentor will help you solve some of the challenges and roadblocks you face. The best mentors will help you figure out the next steps that work for you and help guide you over hurdles that sit squarely in your blind spot.

Amazing mentors will be the people who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. They will give you the real feedback you need to fill in your blind spots that put you in a position to advance.

Mentors are important to advancing your career. They can expose you to new experiences and points of view.

In addition to finding a good mentor, consider finding a good protégé as well. In many cases, taking that next step in your career means you may have to manage people. The best way to practice is to become a mentor to someone else.

When you become a mentor, you pay your learnings forward to others to help them advance as well. You learn a lot about motivating people and teaching them new skills when you can also act as a mentor at work.

2. Raise Your Hand For New Challenges

Man takes on a challenge at work to develop new skills

When you see new opportunities to learn new skills, go for it. If there is something in the company you want to learn to do and you see an opportunity to learn those skills in a special project or a new assignment, make the grab.

Do a little extra when it’s required to learn those new skills that you need to advance. Remember, it’s not aggressive to reach for a new opportunity. It is helpful, useful, and valuable.

People who progress in their careers find ways to elegantly make grabs for new learning opportunities.

When a new project comes up and it aligns with the skills you’re looking to obtain, raise that hand. Let your manager or HR team know that you want to learn some new skills or gain new, more advanced experience. Be clear on what you can offer to the project and get involved.

3. Read, Read, Read & Look For Problems To Solve

Professional man looks for problems to solve at his company

Sometimes there are not a lot of grabs to make. We understand that. We recommend that you start reading everything you can about your industry and your field.

Study everything there is to know about your company and its competitors. Know the company goals and unique selling points of your company like the back of your hand. Become an expert in these things and be able to talk about them. Think about some solutions to the company’s chief challenges.

Honestly, when someone on my team comes to me with a solution, they stand out.

When there are not many special projects to make a grab for, you can develop and pitch your own special project by knowing what challenges you can solve for the company. This way, you learn new skills and stand out because you’ve taken the time to solve a company problem.

4. Make Friends (Network) In Other Departments

Group of professionals network to develop new skills

Many times, new skills are outside your department or area of influence and responsibility. To overcome this, think about networking internally.

Get to know people in other divisions, other offices, and on other teams. Be curious about their department. Learn everything you can about their job and their skills. Find out how they got those skills and see how you might be able to chip in over there in your spare time to develop those skills you want to use to grow your career.

5. Find The Learning Opportunities Internally

The last one is one I always forget about.

Many companies have some sort of internal learning system. Go talk to your benefits team. Find out about training opportunities available to you. Learn about any tuition reimbursement benefits you may have. Talk with your HR team about what you want to learn and how it can help the company.

Developing new skills doesn’t have to mean going back to school in the evenings. Sometimes the skills you’re looking for are right in front of you. It’s a matter of knowing what you want to learn and finding ways to develop those skills while you are at work. After all, if you want to achieve career success, you have to work on your career just as much as you work in it!

If you’re struggling to develop your skills and grow your career, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Baby On Board! How To Job Search While Pregnant

Baby On Board! How To Job Search While Pregnant

Job searching for two? Congratulations! As a pregnant job seeker, you’re likely experiencing a myriad of emotions—excitement, happiness, fear, and stress. Taking on a job search while pregnant can be a challenge. Fortunately, we’ve got some great tips that will make your job search a little easier.


1. Understand What’s Important To You

Pregnant woman sits at a desk

“As a brand-new mother, I can say with overwhelming certainty that having a child will change your life—and your priorities,” says Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume. “When you’re evaluating different job opportunities, consider what’s most important to you when it comes to the role and the organization.”

Consider what kinds of things you’ll need in order to both perform your best on the job and support your growing family. What kinds of benefits are going to be important to you as a mom?

Here are a few things you should consider when researching companies and roles:

  • Competitive Compensation Package
  • Quality of Insurance/Benefits
  • Parental Leave Policies
  • Flexible Work Arrangements
  • Ability to Telecommute

Augustine also recommends checking out Seramount’s 100 Best Companies List when building your list of companies to target.

2. Focus On What You Have To Offer

Pregnant woman looks for a job

“Don’t begin each job interview (or job application) by mentioning your pregnancy,” says Augustine. “Remember, the focus should be placed on learning more about the position and communicating your interest in the role and your qualifications, not your family plans.”

Employers are looking for great candidates. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you’re not a great candidate. Instead of focusing on your pregnancy, showcase why you’re the best person for the job. In fact, if your pregnancy isn’t visibly obvious yet, there’s no need to mention your pregnancy during the interview at all, according to Augustine.

3. Be On The Lookout For Illegal Questions

Pregnant woman waits for her job interview

Employers aren’t allowed to inquire about your marital status, children, or your future family plans during the hiring process. Watch out for seemingly innocent questions that stem from a casual conversation such as, “Sorry I’m running a little late—had to drop the kids off at soccer practice. Do you have any kids? Love ’em, but they’re taking over my life with their activities!”

The truth is, your interviewer might not realize that these questions are inappropriate. He or she might just be inexperienced or extra friendly. However, it’s important to tactfully avoid answering these questions because the wrong answer can impact your future at the company.

As a result, it’s important to handle the situation tactfully. Remember, your goal is to make a great impression. Calling out an interviewer for asking an illegal question is, unfortunately, not the best strategy when trying to accomplish this.

4. Don’t Talk About Maternity Leave Until You’ve Gotten The Offer

Pregnant woman joins a video meeting

While it’s tempting to ask about the company’s maternity leave policy during the hiring process, Augustine strongly recommends holding off until you’ve been offered the job—in writing.

“Whenever possible, save this conversation until you’re ready to negotiate your compensation,” says Augustine.

Instead, do your homework. Research the company’s parental leave policy on sites such as Glassdoor and Comparably. Doing a little detective work beforehand can save you some major headaches down the road.

5. Think Ahead

Pregnant woman job searching

“Keep conversations about your maternity leave to a minimum with the employer,” says Augustine. “Remember, it’s only a temporary absence and shouldn’t impact your performance.”

However, you will need to give your employer a heads up on a few things, so think ahead. When it comes time to discuss your pregnancy plans with your employer, be prepared to answer questions like…

  • “When do you anticipate going on maternity leave?”
  • “When will you return to the office?”
  • “How do you plan to cover your responsibilities to ensure a smooth transition?”

“When you take the time to prepare thoughtful responses,” says Augustine, “you’re showing your new employer your commitment to the company’s success and also demonstrating your value as a long-term employee.”

As a mother-to-be, you’ve got enough on your plate these days. Don’t make your job search more stressful than it needs to be. Instead, take these tips and apply them to your search today!

Job searching while pregnant isn’t easy, but we hope these tips will help you successfully find a job if you’re expecting. If you need more help finding a job while pregnant, we’re here for you.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


How To Explain Job-Hopping To A Recruiter

How To Explain Job-Hopping To A Recruiter

So your looking for a job need to explain to a recruiter why you’ve been job-hopping. How can you effectively explain your job-hopping habit without disqualifying yourself as a job candidate?


The Best Way To Explain Job-Hopping To A Recruiter

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Well, first, you need to understand job-hopping from the recruiter’s point of view. To a recruiter, job-hopping is a red flag. They’re worried that, if they do hire you for a position, you’re going to ditch the company six months later because that’s a pattern in your work history.

In order to effectively explain job-hopping to a recruiter, you need to revise your work history by filling in the gaps.

For each job, a recruiter wants to know:

  • What did you learn?
  • What did you experience?
  • How did you grow your skills?
  • What made you leave your job and move to the next one? (What opportunity was at that next job? What was the next thing that you were going to learn there?)

Walk the recruiter through your job-hopping history by talking about what you learned and how you learned even more at the next job. When you get to the current situation, you then look at them and say, “For those reasons, I’m now very clear in the value that I can bring and what I want in a job. And I am looking to stay put. And so while I know it looks like I’ve been job-hopping, I believe that that journey brought me to this moment where I have all the experience that I need to stay here and do a really good job for you.”

That’s what recruiters need to hear. If you follow this strategy, your job-hopping habit won’t prevent you from landing your next job.

Navigating job search challenges like this one can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’re not sure what value you bring to the table as a professional. The good news is, I can help.

I’d love it if you joined my FREE community where professionals like you are learning how to become empowered in their careers so they can finally find career happiness and satisfaction, and overcome job burnout once and for all!

Sign up for my FREE community and become a Workplace Renegade today! My team and I are looking forward to working with you soon.