Career growth

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The job search process is already difficult enough. Now, throw in the fact that job seekers have to be on the lookout for fake job postings. This is an unfortunate fact of life for those looking for a job in today's market, but luckily there are some simple ways to spot these fake postings.

You don't want to fall victim to one of these fake postings. Not only is it a waste of your valuable time, but spammers and scammers are trying to gather your email address and other personal information to potentially steal your identity.

In some rare instances, established employers post fake openings as a way to collect resumes, or to see if any of their current employees are applying for jobs elsewhere.

In order to make the best use of your time, here are four easy ways to spot a fake job posting:

Your Research Comes Up Empty

A job seeker with a laptop is perplexed by an online job posting

A simple search of a company on the internet should contain a diverse wealth of information about a company, including a link to its website and other third-party websites that contain information about the company, such as Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn.

This is especially true now with so many companies focusing their efforts on good employer branding. Companies are pushing digital content through third-party websites, and their company websites and social media accounts, to tell their stories and give job seekers some insight into what it's like to work at the company.

If your research on a company comes up empty, then that may be the most obvious red flag of all.

In addition, you should also be able to easily find a contact in human resources to send your materials to or reach out to with any questions. If that information isn't included in the posting and is impossible to find, that should set off even more alarm bells.

The Posting Contains Multiple Typos And Grammatical Errors

Confused and frustrated man not sure if a job posting is fake or not

Reputable companies take the process of recruiting new talent extremely seriously. They're going to spend a lot of time crafting the job posting, and they're going to make sure it has been proofread.

If a job posting has multiple typos and grammatical errors, you should be very suspicious. Look at it this way: Employers will throw out a job seeker's cover letter or resume for such errors, so job seekers should hold employers to the same standards.

The Posting Gets TOO Personal

Woman thinking about a fake job posting while on her phone and using her laptop

Whenever you apply for a job, there's always some basic information that you must give, but there's some information you should never give out from a job posting.

Bank Account Information - With so many people working from home now, a common job posting scam will ask job seekers to give out their routing numbers so "the company" can pay for equipment to help them do their jobs. Sound suspicious? It should, because it's bogus. The exchange of money or banking information should never be involved in a job posting.

Social Security - Most job postings don't ask for a Social Security number right off the bat. That usually comes much later in the process.

The Posting Sounds TOO Good To Be True

This warning sign may be a little more subjective than the others, but you should keep a reasonable amount of suspicion if the job seems too perfect.

If you're applying for a job, there were obviously things about it that made it attractive to you, and it's not uncommon for employers to list some perks in their job postings to entice top talent. However, if a job posting is littered with perks and promises, and has very little information about the actual job, then it's trying too hard to attract a number of candidates, instead of the right candidates.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

One last thing to look for: Job postings by staffing companies may not always contain the name of the company the job posting is for. In those cases, you'll want to research the staffing agency to make sure it's a reputable company, not a fake posting.

By keeping your eyes open for these warning signs, you should be able to avoid falling victim to a fake job posting.

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4 Ways To Tell If A Job …

4 Things To Know Before Taking A Lower-Level Position

It's easy to think that taking a lower-level position means putting the brakes on your career track or even taking a step back. But in fact, there can be a lot to gain with such a decision.

Sometimes you have to take a step back in order to take a step forward in your career. There are a number of practical reasons why taking a lower-level position makes sense.

Career Changers

A large percentage of professionals making a career change will face the need to start near the beginning with entry-level workers. If you make a drastic career change, such as going from ER nursing to accounting on the CPA track, you can't expect an opportunity to jump right to the top until you have honed skills and subject matter expertise.

Of course, if you have transferable skills from a previous career that may help to secure an opportunity above entry-level.

Field Of Practice Changers

Professional prepares for a work meeting

There are many people who choose to stay in their profession, but make a change in their field of practice. For example, you may have started your career in marketing for the travel industry, but decided to switch to the pharmaceutical industry.

A lateral move may not always be possible because, like the career changer, you may not have the industry knowledge needed in the field, especially if it is a highly specialized sector. For instance, the technical language used to market pharmaceuticals in the United States follows strict guidelines approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The approaches taken to marketing may be drastically different between the two fields.

Job Changers

A manager welcomes a new employee to the company on her first day

Job changers include individuals who want to make a switch in the type of company or organization they work for. Certainly, working for a non-profit is not the same as corporate, and going from an agency to an in-house position has its differences. So while you may take a lower-level position, the title and associated responsibilities may vary widely between employersâand it is important to consider the experiences and opportunities available with the open position.

For instance, you may go from an agency to an in-house position at a lower level. Expectations for formal promotions also may vary given the different corporate cultures involved. Essentially, you may start off in what is perceived as a lower-level position, but wind up with far more advanced experiences than you might otherwise have.

The (Extended) Unemployed Candidate

Unemployed professional ponders his career options

Times of economic uncertainty typically result in a large pool of unemployed professionals who are well-educated and qualified for positions. Under such circumstances, it's not rare for job seekers to be unemployed for six months or longer. There are simply more qualified candidates than job openings available. So, it may come to a point where you have to make the decision to take a lower-level position in order to:

Bring home a paycheck to pay for essentials.
Maintain your marketability (after such an extended period of unemployment, it may be a greater setback to remain unemployedâyour marketability withers with time away from the market).
Help secure a better job opportunity down the road (employers typically favor candidates who are already employed).

Regardless of the situation, here are four key questions you should ask yourself to help decide whether taking a lower-level position is the right move for you and your career:

Does this type of job fit into my long-term career goals? Essentially, will it get me where I want to be down the road?
After taking this position and settling in, if I go back on the job hunting track, will I be able to communicate to a potential employer how the experience has helped me grow and evolve to be prepared for this next position?
Do I believe I can excel in the position and create realistic opportunities to advance within the company?
Will I be happier in the position? Most people spend much of their life working, so it is important to be happy with what you do. Be wary of how dissatisfaction with a job can quickly lead to burnout.

If you answered "yes" to the questions above and can put your ego aside, making the decision to take a lower-level position can be a rational move to help move your career forward. You can expect to be happier with life and your career. However, after taking a lower-level position, you need to maintain perspective on your reasons for the decision. It is easy to let pride get in the way of things. Remember this decision is based on a long-term plan, not a short-term plan for your career.

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4 Things To Know Before Taking A …

Even at work, you have a personal brand. What are people saying about you when you're not in the room? Are you giving off the right vibe to your colleagues and conveying the brand you want to convey at work?

Developing your personal brand is essential for the advancement of your career. It is what makes you special, and how you'll become more valuable to an organization.

Here are a few tips on how to develop your personal brand:

1. Get Clear On Your Unique Value Proposition

To become respected in your company or industry, you need to be very clear on what unique value you provide and how to connect that to your company's mission.

Most peopleâand I see it all the time with my interview coaching clientsâare not that clear on what makes them different from others. This is the reason they don't get the jobs or promotions they are after!

Your brand should be authentic to you so notice your emotions when performing certain tasks and activities. If it is something you have passion and energy for, it should become part of your personal brand.

Spend some time thinking about what makes you different from your peersâyour strengths, your passions, and your goals.

2. Ask For Feedback

What do you want others to experience about you?

You might want to write down 3-5 things you'd want others to experience when interacting with you and then ask a close friend or a trusted colleague to do the same. Are the answers similar? If so, well done. If notâyou have some work to do in terms of branding yourself the right way.

It is important to understand how others perceive you as this will enable you to start sending the right messages to your audience. And having a personal brand is definitely a requirement for leadership positions and will enable you to create more impact.

3. Be Consistent

Everything you do or post on social media ultimately contributes to your personal brand. Once you're clear on your personal brand, make sure that the way you dress, the emails you write, your body language, and so on are consistent with your brand message.

4. Use Social Media Effectively

Platforms like WordPress make it easier than ever to promote yourself to your target audience. I blog weekly, and I'd recommend that you post a couple of times a week on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter on topics that your audience will find educational (and will also highlight your experience).

Here is a quick guide on how you can position yourself as an expert so that you get the best opportunities in your business or career.

5. Promote Your Brand In Person

Utilizing social media to build your personal brand is great, but make sure you promote your brand in person, too. Whether it is participating in industry groups, giving talks, or offering to lead a project that highlights your talents, what can you do to promote your brand offline?

If you want to be successful, creating a personal brand isn't just an option; it's a necessity. Whether you aspire to get that promotion or land your dream job, creating a compelling and consistent brand will help you meet your goals.

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5 Tips For Building Your Personal Brand …

4 Signs Your Interview Isn’t Going Well (And How To Fix It!)

Scoring a job interview can be hard work, so you don't want to waste the opportunity. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, sometimes the interview can go off track and before you know it, things didn't go as well as you had hoped.

It doesn't have to be this way! Sometimes there are subtle signs during the job interview that things aren't going well that you can pick up in time to potentially turn things around.

Here are some of the signs you should look for...

The Interviewer Doesn't Try To Sell You On The Company

A human resources manager presents some facts about the company during a job interview/meeting

Have you ever heard the expression, "An interview is about you trying to get to know the company just as much as they're trying to get to know you"? It's true. You should be evaluating the company as they're evaluating your experience and skills.

But, if you're doing this and the interviewer isn't working hard to sell you on the company's good traits, it's probably not a good sign.

Companies want their chosen candidate to accept the job offer, so for their top picks, they'll typically try to mention job perks, company culture, opportunities for growth, and other positives.

You're Only Asked Easy Questions

This may seem counterintuitive. After all, if the company likes you, why would they ask you challenging questions? But interviewers ask tough questions to candidates they're considering because they want to see how they think on their feet and will react to tough job situations.

If they aren't actually considering you, they'll stick with the easiest questions to answer.

The Interview Never Gets Personal

A job seeker answers questions during an interview

When interviewers are interested in a candidate, they will attempt to get to know them on a deeper level than questions like "What are your strengths?" can accomplish. They will often engage in chit-chat to make sure you'd be a good culture fit and to make sure your personality will mesh well with other team members.

If questions stay surface-level, there aren't follow-up questions based on your answers, and the interviewer is cut and dried instead of diving into more personal questions, you're probably not a top candidate.

There's No Mention Of Next Steps

A recruiter goes over the next steps with a job candidate during a job interview

Typically, at some point in the second half of the interview, the hiring manager will bring up salary expectations, references, or follow-up interviews. Even if they don't do this, they'll at least tell you at what point you should hear back about moving forward with your candidacy, or the estimated time by which they're trying to fill the position.

But if an interview ends without a discussion about what the next steps in the process are, it probably means there won't be any.

3 Ways To Turn Your Interview Around

Young professional has a positive response to an interview question

So, what can you do if you start seeing some of these signs throughout the interview? There's a chance that you may not be able to turn it around if the interviewer has already made up their mindâbut there are a few tactics you can employ to give yourself the best shot.

Stay positive - Remember that there's a good chance the interviewer is having a busy day, has a million other things on their mind, or just doesn't have a very friendly or engaging personality. By projecting confidence and positivity, you have a chance to turn around their first impression.

Ask great questions - This approach has two potential benefits. One is that you can ask the interviewer outright if they think you'd be a good fit for the roleâthat way, if they bring up a specific concern they have with you or your experience, you have the chance to address it. Second, many recruiters and interviewers find that the type of questions a candidate asks says a lot about them. By asking insightful, thought-provoking questions, you may be able to increase the interviewer's positive perception of you.

Think of it as practice - Even if you feel pretty confident that you won't get the job based on these signs, you can at least view the interview as good practice for a job that's a better fit for you. Try your best, and make a mental note of what you can improve next time.

Interviews are difficult, and no one likes knowing that their conversation isn't going as well as they'd like. But by employing these tactics, you can have a better sense of what your interviewer is thinking and attempt to course-correct to get the job.

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4 Signs Your Interview Isn’t Going Well …

Are you a student nearing graduation, or someone looking to gain valuable experience? An internship can be an invaluable experience that helps you gain much-needed skill sets and grow professionally. The only problem is you may not be exactly sure of what you want to do for a career.

So, how do you choose the right internship?

Displaying relevant work experience should be your primary goal. Those with internships on their resume can sometimes land jobs quicker and earn higher salaries. This is because an internship can be a gateway to gaining skills, marketing those skills, and leveraging those skills to find the right career.

Here are some things to consider when chasing the right internship...

Don't Base The Decision On Money

Professional man/intern counts his money

An unpaid internship can lead to a great return down the road, not to mention a lucrative job offer. Focus your internship selection on companies that are looking to grow and expand, and possibly bring you in after graduation to advance their company to the next level.

Be A Self-Starter

A self-starting intern looks at her watch at work

Finding the right internship is very much like a traditional job search. It's important to have an idea about some of the jobs you may want to pursue, then make a bucket list of companies that you are interested in interning at.

Perhaps the company you want to intern for does not generally accept interns or advertise internship opportunities. Sending a cover letter that expresses your keen interest in interning for the company or offering to volunteer 10-20 hours a week can go a long way. Show initiative, passion, dedication, and pursuit of success to the prospective company.

This is also a great networking strategy because even if you don't get an immediate opportunity, you begin to start to a conversation with people at these companies, and they may keep you in mind whenever an opportunity comes up.

Select An Internship That Will Allow You To Build Essential Skills

A young professional/intern takes an online course to develop her skill sets

There are certain essential skills that matter in the workforce when looking to grow your career. Leadership, collaboration, project management, and relationship building are among some of those intricate skills. When looking into internships, research the types of skills that you will obtain during that internship.

Having a list of skills that you want to build upon will allow you to find out during the application and interview process whether those skills can be accentuated while serving as an intern. During the interview, ask about the mentoring program for interns, training and support, projects and assignments, and the performance criteria for feedback. Strong internship programs will provide all of these objectives.

Attend Networking Events To Meet Executives And Business Leaders

A group of professionals/interns take part in an online networking event

Meeting local business leaders and executives at virtual and in-person networking events can allow you to leverage your impact and can also provide you with great insight into the companies they work for. Don't forget to connect with these important persons on LinkedIn, and always follow up with a personalized email or phone call to reaffirm your gratitude for meeting them.

Overall, choosing the right internship for you can bring forth a future working opportunity that leads to full-time commitment and advancement with introductory training and experience.

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How To Choose The Right Internship

If you want to put yourself in a position to build a strong professional relationship with your boss, while growing your career and managing up, you have to prove yourself as a reliable employee. Taking the right kind of initiative can go a long way toward strengthening your relationship with your boss.

It's important to keep in mind that managers are not only responsible for your role and responsibilities and to a degree your career; they're also responsible for their duties as well.

If you really want to prove yourself to your boss, think of ways to work these four phrases into your work vocabulary:

"Here's A Potential Solution"

A boss listens while his employee shares an idea with him during a work meeting

Bosses hear A LOT of problems. And more often than not, they are expected to come up with a solution. The thing is, if it isn't their problem, they are not going to actively seek out solutions. Therefore, when you come to the boss with a problem, immediately follow it up with a proposed solution.

This accomplishes two things. First, it shows your manager that you are solution-oriented. You took the time to examine the problem and think about ways to address it. Second, your solutions are essentially saving the boss time and energy and those are both gifts to your manager. This approach is a huge win for you and the boss.

"Here's An Idea"

Two co-workers go over some ideas with their boss during a meeting

You should be a student of your company. You should be very familiar with the company's goals, mission, and vision. You should also have a very good understanding of the company's challenges. When you know these challenges, you should spend some time each week working on ideas to solve those challenges that the company faces.

When you go to your manager to say you have an idea that will positively impact the company's bottom line, everyone wins. Bosses should love to hear ideas on how to make things more efficient and profitable. Look for these ideas whenever you have downtime at work.

"Let Me Show You"

An employee graphs out an idea in front of his boss during a work meeting

On time-strapped days, it is so much easier to show someone something than it is to tell them. When pitching something to a boss or sharing an idea or even solving a problem, show him/her what you are talking about. Sketch it out, give them a flow chart, or show them anything visual and talk them through it. If you can, make a quick prototype. It is so much easier than using just your words when the chances are good that the boss is distracted.

Think about it. When you show people what you are saying, you have captured two of their senses: hearing and seeing. If you give them something to holdâeven better (three senses). This gets their attention and allows them to truly evaluate what you are trying to do for the boss or the company.

Always try to show people what you are talking about. It allows them to react to your idea in a more connected way.

"I Could Use A Little Mentoring"

Bosses are not solely responsible for your career. This is your responsibility.

If you need new challenges or want new opportunities, it is up to you to scope those out and present them to your boss. If you don't know how to do something or think that you could develop your skills even further, it is up to you to ask for mentorship.

As the protÃ©gÃ©, you must take an active role in carving out time for the relationship. When you seek mentorship from your boss, know that it may not be the boss who becomes your mentor. Your boss may not even be the right mentor. However, they can be the one who facilitates an introduction. When you ask for this type of guidance, your boss knows that you own your experience and will work to support you.

Building a solid relationship with your boss is the key to getting where you want to go in your career. These relationships will follow you throughout your career. These bosses will likely one day be the person you call on to be a reference. And when it comes time to be a reference for you, you want them to say that you were solution-oriented, respectful of their time, and full of an entrepreneurial spirit.

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4 Phrases Your Boss LOVES To Hear

Why Great Leaders Need These 3 Personal Leadership Skills

Personal leadership is taking responsibility for all aspects of your life and leading it in the direction that is best for you. In order to be successful in leading at work, having strong personal leadership skills is critical.

When you are able to take responsibility for your own life decisions, you are better able to have a positive and inspiring impact on others. You are also able to be a role model for others in the leadership arena.

There are three factors that impact strong personal leadership skills...

A Good Mindset

Mindset is defined as "a fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations."

Having a positive attitude and perspective about personal leadership and making decisions that are in your best interest is your first step toward strong personal leadership skills. Having positive beliefs and expectations about what will result when you make choices is part of having a positive mindset about personal leadership.

Having the right attitude about developing your personal leadership skills is a great first step on the path to success. Then, you can transfer that success to your leadership skills at work.

Energy Management

Male leader talking to his coworkers about personal leadership skills in a work meeting

The next important area is your energy. How are you managing your energy? Are you taking time to renew yourself? This all supports you in being able to make the best decisions.

This, again, translates into your leadership skills at work. Managing your energy in all areas of your life enables you to give your bestâboth personally and professionallyâand to be at your best when you are both at home and at work.

Strong Support Systems

A group of leaders developing their personal leadership skills at work

The third important area of personal leadership is your support systems. Having strong personal leadership skills means you have a network of people to support you through making choices that are in your best interest.

These people are your sounding boards, your trusted colleagues, your family and friends, and really anyone who you define as part of your inner circle of confidantes. These are the people who know you and trust. They are the ones with whom you can share ideas and seek guidance.

This, again, translates to your being a strong leader at work. We all know the importance of having a strong network in our careers. When people advocate for us, listen to us, and help us, we repay the favor. Strong personal leadership skills require the same type of network.

Strong personal leadership is about being the best leader in your personal life in addition to your professional life. Having strong personal leadership skills also makes you an outstanding role model for those you lead at work and demonstrates vital skills they can incorporate into their own lives.

Development Tip: How are your personal leadership skills? Do you have the right mindset about leading your own life? Are you managing your energy well and do you have a support system behind you? Take some time to think about whether or not you are leading your own life as well as leading your work life.

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Why Great Leaders Need These 3 Personal …

Executive Spotlight: The Biggest Career Move These Executives Ever Made

In life, if you want to achieve your goals and get where you want to be, you need to take risks. This includes taking career risks. For many professionals, making a big career move is a risky decision, but it might be necessary in order to reach one's career goals. The most successful people you know took a big risk, and it paid off. If you want to reach new heights in your career, you might need to ask the leaders in your industry how they made it to the top.

We recently asked our leading executives what the biggest career move they ever made.

Here are their responses...

John Cox, Advertising & Marketing Executive

Iâll cheat once again just a little bit and reference two different moves that turned out to be pivotal to my career.

First, early in my career, I was approached through a tentative connection within my professional network with what essentially amounted to an offer for trial employment. That meant leaving a full-time job with benefits when I was young and single, relying solely on my own income.

Still, I had been ready for a change for quite some time and gambled that this was a move worth making. I made that move, and it turned into multiple promotions, positioning me for where I am today.

Secondly, later in my career, I gambled on a new role for which I didnât feel entirely qualified. I actually ended up being hired into the role and, ultimately, it too was transformative in shaping me into the leader I am today.

Both anecdotes, I hope, serve as advice to early and mid-career professionals that risks wherein youâve amply measured the pros and cons can really pay off. Iâm not necessarily one to take bold jumps in life, but sometimes there is that leap of faith that you simply have to try. And my experience has been that itâs oftentimes more than worth it.

John Cox has 20+ years of performance excellence in advertising and marketing, leveraging Google-certified skill sets in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and paid search strategy, web planning and conversion measurement, and creative direction and graphic design.

Michael Willis, Sports Business Operations Executive

My BIGGEST career move was when I decided I wanted to work in sports.

While working at KPMG Peat Marwick, I was not fulfilled doing the debits and credit. I wanted to do more than record the monthâs transactions. I wanted to be the one to make the transactions happen.

I had a unique opportunity to join the Football Operations Department at the National Football League. I learned some new skills, such as payroll and budgeting. I was putting budgets together from start to finish.

During my years at the NFL, I developed and expanded the role by doing analysis and forecasting. These skills allowed me to forecast year-end outcomes.

My newfound skills allowed me to summarize multi-page excel spreadsheets into one page.

Making this career move has ignited a new fire inside of me. My passion for this work allowed me to serve the game officials at a very high level.

Michael Willis has 18+ years of experience working with accounting & sports organizations and has managed P&Ls of $10M - $125M+ with budgets of $3M-$50M+. He worked for the NFL for 22 1/2 years, mainly with the game officials working on the financial/accounting side of the business.

Lynn Holland, VP Sales & Business Development

My first BIG career move came as a regional sales rep for a packaging and supply distributor in the Pacific Northwest, the mecca for the U.S. lumber industry. My territory included a handful of lumber mills, so I was riveted when a new supplier attended a sales meeting offering lumber wrap as a new product to sell.

Other reps reacted with âmeh,â but for me, it was magical! As a large, essential spend for these mills, I made it my mission to become their supplier, learn everything about the product and competition, then kicked off my sales campaign. I quickly discovered that printed wrap was a must, so I found a needed sourceâ¦which my company didnât buy into.

I saw an enormous opportunity; they saw uncharted territory and risk, so I bet on myself! I spent the next six weeks writing a business plan in my off-hours, partnered with domestic and offshore manufacturing sources, got a HELOC on my house, gave my notice, and became an entrepreneur!

Lynn Holland is a business development executive with 18+ years of experience taking operational, IoT & retail technologies, products, & consumer engagement to market with a focus in petroleum & convenience retail.

Andrea Markowski, Marketing Executive

Career move, career growth, professional growth concept

Going back to school for my MBA changed the trajectory of my career (and of my life).

A golden opportunity came along to join an internal start-up team while working as a marketing creative in the publishing industry. I helped to ideate and test a new digital product and pitched it to the senior leadership of our Fortune 500 company.

Along the way, I learned basic business principles not taught to commercial artists. Dazzled, I vowed to learn more. I aimed to incorporate research, strategy, and data analysis into my everyday job.

Thatâs when I was laid off. While job searching, an agency specializing in business innovation interviewed me twice. I didnât get the role. But again, I was fascinated by new ideas brought to life through business. I read all of the staff bios from that company. Every single one of them had a graduate degree.

Soon after, I had a new job, but it wasnât challenging. Always wanting to go back to school, I casually interviewed people with MBA degrees to see if that path might work for me. Those I asked highly encouraged it, and my new journey began.

While getting an advanced degree, quitting your job to go back to school full time, AND moving across the country to do so arenât for everyone, in my case, I wanted to accelerate as quickly as possible. Throw a pandemic into the mix (bad timing, just as I was graduating), and I still came out transformed, with a new career I love, and happier for it all.

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.

Ana Smith, Talent Architect & Global Learning Strategist

HR management, human resources, recruiting concept

The biggest or certainly one of the biggest career moves I ever made was offered to me and I didn't even see it coming!

I was working as a senior HR manager in a global organization, handling different responsibilities regarding management and leadership development, onboarding, talent acquisition, talent development, etc., and one day, I had to go talk to a newly promoted sales director, about the profile she would be looking for in the new talent who would fill the position (her old job).

As the conversation about the role and her expectations, timing, and process was being discussed, after about 40 minutes or so, she offered me the job! I was shocked to be honest since I did not have any experience or training in the sales space, yet she was offering me what seemed to be the opportunity of a lifetime.

I was a bit concerned thinking about this option (wow!), and she offered me 1) the chance to think about it for a week or so and 2) to come on a trip with her and the VP. They were going to evaluate and learn about how other regions in the U.S. were implementing a new selling model.

I went on the trip, had a blast, learned a lot, and decided to say yes to the opportunity!

As a leader, there were two very important learnings with this career move: 1) this hiring manager saw something in me, talent potential that I didn't know I had myself, and 2) taking this opportunity gave me a chance to try a completely different function, which challenged and stretched me in many ways.

I'm thankful for the experience. It has allowed me the possibility to have a customer-centric approach to the HR and people experiences, initiatives, and strategies I've led or been part of.

Ana Smith helps people & organizations achieve their full talent potential by developing and co-creating people strategies and customized solutions, and turning them into impactful outcomes and collaborative relationships, using coaching as the "red thread."

Mark Taylor, Product & Operations Executive

Businessman/professional walks up stairs carrying a briefcase

Moving to the U.S. from the UK with my job.

Iâd always wanted to live in Manhattan and, when the opportunity arose, I seized it.

Looking back, what did I learn:

The difference one word can make. I âwantedâ to goânot I âshouldâ go...

There were a number of challenges that I came up against once I arrived, both personal and professional. However, because I wanted to be here, thatâs what they were, âchallenges": situations that drove growth in all aspects of my life.

If Iâd come here because someone had suggested I âshouldâ to further my career, the challenges would have felt more like persecutors. I would have hated the city and the workâand hightailed it back to the UK as fast as I could.

So, dare wisely. Get out of your comfort zoneâand make sure your decisions are aligned with what YOU want...

Mark Taylor has 20+ years of risk, technology, and product management experience working in global and regional financial services firms in the UK and the U.S. He's managed teams of 40+, successfully addressed 100+ regulatory issues, and has saved companies $15M+.

Carla Biasi, Personal Stylist

Woman/personal stylist with her new clothes

I spent decades in corporate America in fashion, advertising, and financial services. My heart and passion stayed in fashion, and I knew I wanted to get back into it. In 2020, I left my position as a trust officer at a bank to start my personal styling business. It wasn't even scary. I felt so comfortable like it was meant to be.

I had my first client within a week of announcing my new career, and she has worked with me ever since. I continue to grow my business and work now more than ever but can't imagine doing anything else.

Carla Biasi is a personal stylist living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She currently has her own business and works part-time at an upscale women's boutique and as a virtual and kit stylist for a womenâs specialty brand.

Kathleen Duffy, Founder, CEO, And President Of Duffy Group

Professional woman on the phone while working from home

My biggest career move was to start my business. I had worked for a boutique executive search firm for eight years and planned to grow with the organization. When the partners decided to move the company to another state, I found myself unemployed and looking at three options: corporate recruiting, executive search, or do something on my own. My husband and I were trying to start a family so I was looking for something that would provide work-life balance (it was the early '90s and no one was talking about this yet). I was able to take my expertise in recruitment research and pivot from the executive search path and introduce the approach to corporate America. I was able to work from home as we adopted our son and 18 months later gave birth to our daughter. I was able to grow a workforce of professional mothers who wanted to balance work and life. Thirty years later, we are still 100% remote with work-life balance as the foundation of our culture. I didn't start with a plan but I knew my "why"...to be in control of my career and ensure I was able to be the best wife and mother possible.

Kathleen Duffy is the founder, CEO, and president of Duffy Group. The company's vision is to elevate recruitment research as an alternative to contingent and retained search. Since its founding, Duffy Group has been a remote workplace and a culture of work/life harmony.

Lisa Perry, Global Marketing Executive

Several big career moves impacted my overall career, but the biggest was my first job, which set the tone for my career trajectory. I got my BS in Marketing from San Diego State University and searched for that perfect job. I interviewed with several companies while being on a roller coaster of emotions, waiting to hear back. I finally accepted a position with Enterprise Rent-A-Car within their manager trainee program. Four days before I was to start, The Walt Disney Company reached out with a job offer. I was faced with many challenges. First, it was a secretarial position, not a manager trainee program that I wanted. Second, it was The Walt Disney Company (a Fortune 100 company). How could I pass that up? Third, I had already accepted the job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. What was I going to do? I called Enterprise and let them know I couldn't move forward with the job offer and then picked up the phone to accept The Walt Disney Company's job. Even though I was a secretary, it was the best career move I ever made. Having the Walt Disney Company on my resume opened up many job opportunities. I learned from some of the industry's top marketing leaders. And to this day, I still maintain connections that have benefited my career.

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.

John Hoffman, Creative Producer

My career move at 28 was my most significant decision ever. Even though I loved my TV and event production work, the company I adored, now in its fifth year, had changed. It became routine. I felt disenchanted. It was a tough call, but I had to trust my gut and follow my heart. I loved working with start-ups and wanted to travel to become a freelance producer. I craved the challenge of working on new projects and new companies and collaborating with talented people to build something unique for every show.

It wasn't always easy by any means but, today, as a creative producer, I get to cherry-pick outstanding teams for one-of-a-kind projects. We combine music, theater, TV production, advertising, marketing, PR stunts, and live experiences into lifestyle-branded entertainment. But, of course, the can-do attitude and love for the work and the people I work with are everything. That start-up passion, energy, and togetherness have always driven me to improve everything I touch. I learned this lesson early on, and it still holds true today.

When you enjoy what you do, it's not just a job. It's your life's work, so why not love it? Follow your heart, trust your gut, and keep striving. It's the best way to make your career feel like a living, breathing part of who you are. My oxygen is creating, mentoring, improving others, and loving my family. And I breathe deeply every breath.

John Hoffman has 15+ years of leadership experience creating and producing video content, branded entertainment, PR stunts, and experiential and live events. At his core, he's a storyteller who has mastered the creative map and can scale logistical mountains.

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Executive Spotlight: The Biggest Career Move These …

A good friend recently sent me the link to an article all about the value of coaching. I'm sure it's no surprise to all of you that I loved it. However, it also reminded me that I should be reminding all of you why having a career coach is the best thing you can do for your professional development.

Here are the top 10 reasons you need a career coach right now:

1. You Could See A 300% Return On Your Investment

Professional man at a job he landed by utilizing a career coach

According to a survey in the article I mentioned above, wellness programs have been shown to provide approximately a 300% return on investment (ROI). In other words, companies that spend $1 on a wellness program earn $3 as a result of decreased turnover, fewer sick days, reduced health insurance costs, etc.

It's no wonder wellness programs have experienced such tremendous growth; it makes financial sense. The same can be said about career coaching. If you invest in yourself and your career by getting a coach, you'll see a return on investment in the form of professional growth and development.

2. Your Relationships Will Improve

Woman talks to a career coach or a coworker

Another study shows that professional coaching has an even greater impact on things like relationships and teamwork. The study says recipients of coaching saw a 77% improvement in relationships, 67% improvement in teamwork, 61% improvement in job satisfaction, and 48% improvement in quality.

Getting coaching on one aspect of our lives, like career coaching, can have a positive effect in many different areas. It's a good kind of domino effect.

3. You'll Have More Positivity In Your Life

Career coaches are trained to focus on positive outcomes and be a source of motivation. They tailor their efforts to help you find greater satisfaction. Since no two people are the same, having a career coach ensures you are getting assistance that speaks to your wants and needsânot someone else's. More importantly, it's been proven that the best way to get what you want is to surround yourself with positive people.

Unfortunately, that's not always the case with family and friends. So, hiring a career coach ensures you've got at least one positive influence in your life!

4. You'll Be Following In The Footsteps Of Star Performers

Group of successful people/professionals who get career coaching

One outdated stigma about career coaching is that it's for people who are underperforming or troubled. On the contrary! Most smart folks who seek out career coaching do so because they want to be high performers and feel satisfied with their efforts.

In the article mentioned above, Paul Michelman, editor of Harvard Business School's Management Update, says, "whereas coaching was once viewed by many as a tool to help correct underperformance, today it is becoming much more widely used in supporting top producers. In fact, in a 2004 survey by Right Management Consultants, 86% of companies said they used coaching to sharpen the skills of individuals who have been identified as future organizational leaders."

So, by choosing to invest in coaching, you are saying to the world you believe in yourself and your ability to be a star performer!

5. It Doesn't Take Up A Lot Of Time

Woman talks to a career coach on her laptop

Many people assume coaching is like working out: you need to do it daily to see any results. That's true! But the good thing about career coaching, like working out, is that it doesn't take much time if you have a plan, know what you're doing, and have the right mindset.

Good coaches understand that you need to work professional development into your schedule. Moreover, studies show that just a few hours per month can have a huge impact.

At Work It Daily, for example, our slogan is "If you want to win, you've got to work it daily." Working on your career for just a few minutes a day is enough to transform your professional outlook. This is the strategy we promote at Work It Daily, and it has helped thousands of our members find jobs and grow their careers.

6. Career Coaches Tell You What You NEED To Hear

Professional woman meets with a career coach

While you may be friendly with your career coach, they are not your friend. They are your advocate for change.

Unlike your family and friends who are opinionated and biased about you and your career, a career coach will look at you objectively and strive to empower you to take the necessary actions to achieve your goals.

In short, while the people in your life tend to tell you what you want to hear, your career coach will be honest and tell you what you need to hear to make your career goals a reality.

7. You Could Get Your Employer To Pay For It

Man listens to a career coach on his laptop

For the longest time, companies have only paid for their executives to have career coaches. But that trend is changing. According to the article previously mentioned, online shoe and clothing company Zappos.com, known for their outstanding commitment to creating a culture of unparalleled customer service (they even teach this through Zappos Insights), has a full-time goals coach who works with any employeeânot just managementâon helping them create better lives.

Now is the time to see if your company is considering budgeting for career coaching services as part of its benefits program. With all the surveys showing the positive impact it has, there's a good chance your employer may see value in footing the bill for your career coach.

In the event you are laid off, you should still ask your employer if they will provide outplacement services to help you find your next job. Career coaching at any stage in your professional life, no matter what kind of challenges you face, can be a true game changer.

8. They'll Help You Break Bad Habits

Thinking woman addresses her bad habits with a career coach on her laptop

A good coach will never tell you what to do. Instead, they'll help you identify habits that are holding you back from success. Then, they'll coach you on the actions you should take to learn new, better ways to accomplish your goals.

In short, career coaches teach you how to remove roadblocks to success on your own, ensuring you can do this for yourself both now and in the future.

9. It Shows You Think Like An Executive

Two executives/professional women talk about career coaching

The article I mentioned above indicates some executives will pay as much as $3,500/hour for a particular coach. Yikes! That's too rich for my blood. But the article goes on to say that most personal coaches charge a monthly retainer between $500 to $2,000 a month. What this means is either there are a lot of really silly executives wasting their money on coaching each month or they are getting results that make them feel it's worth the investment.

At Work It Daily, our goal is to make career coaching accessible to everyone, not just executives with deep pockets, so you can think like an executive without worrying about the price tag.

10. You Deserve Better In Your Career

Happy professional man receives career coaching

Forget the economy for a second and just ask yourself, "Do I deserve better?" If the voice in your head says, "Yes!" then you need to take action.

Let's face it: if you could have found greater career satisfaction and success on your own, you would have by now. So, why not give yourself some well-deserved support that will help you get what you want and deserve?

We spend a third of our lives at our jobs. Isn't it time you felt good about your career?

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10 Reasons Why You Need A Career …

Has your relationship with your boss suddenly changed (and you're not sure why)? It's smart of you to notice, and even smarter of you to do something about it.

So many of us settle for an unhealthy relationship with our manager, hoping that it will eventually blow over. The truth is, relationships are a lot like icebergsâwhat you see above the water is usually rooted in something much bigger happening beneath the surface. What you may experience as a pattern of sharp feedback or increased micromanaging might be rooted in something bigger. Even if it's not, sweeping these concerns under the rug will likely put you on edge and make you more likely to make mistakes or assume the worst.

If you're serious about improving your relationship with your manager, you'll have to be willing to take 100% responsibility for making the relationship a success. In a dream world, your manager may see what you're doing and want to meet you halfway, but you can't bank on that. If trust has been broken, it will take a while to rebuild. If your competence is in question, you may need several successes before you chip away at their false perception of you. No matter what the root cause of the breach is, you must be willing to stay the course and be consistent until the relationship turns around.

To improve your relationship with your manager, you must convince them that you can and will help them be successful. This convincing isn't about apologies or persuasive words; it's about consistently communicating through your language, work products, loyalty, and warmth that you care about your company, your boss, and your teamâand that you have the skills to get your job done well.

So, how do you do that? It's easier than you think.

Here are six ways to make your boss love you:

1. Find Reasons To Like And Respect Your Manager

Human beings aren't stupid. We are biologically programmed to know when someone is faking admiration for us. Our gut tells us not to trust them, and our suspicion goes into high gear. Your manager is no different. You won't be able to build a relationship with your manager if, deep down, you don't respect them. Unfortunately, respecting them isn't something we can pretend our way into.

To like or respect someone, you have to find things about them you want to emulate. The good news is, even if your manager is Mr. Hyde on steroids, chances are there are things about them worth admiring. Take a minute to decide what those things are and keep them top of mind. One way to do this is to create a sincere one-sentence response to the question, "What do you admire most about your manager?" Have that response handy, and find a way to use it when asked about them and their skills. You'll find that telling others what you like about them makes you believe it more.

As a bonus, if your manager hears that you've been spreading praise about them, it can't hurt your relationship!

2. Be Meticulous About Keeping Your Word

Woman improves relationship with her boss during a work meeting

If you say you'll be at work at 8:30 am, do it. If you promise a deliverable by a deadline, keep that deadline. Don't lie or exaggerate, even if it will save you a headache. If you make a mistake or miss a deadline, acknowledge it before they do. Lastly, keep what they tell you in confidence private. If you've been inconsistent in the past where your word is concerned, admit it. Share what you're working on to make it better. By being transparent about your intentions, and then keeping those intentions, you prove you're worth trusting.

3. Set Sustainable Boundaries And Occasionally Say No

Man sets boundaries with his manager at work during a meeting

Seasoned bosses respect people who tell them the truthâeven when the truth is "no." By setting manageable (but realistic) boundaries and expectations with your boss, you protect yourself from burnout and ensure you can deliver for them long term. Sometimes these boundaries need to be stretched in particularly busy seasons, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth setting.

By setting boundaries before they're needed, you ensure that you won't become bitter or resentful about work patterns you've inadvertently agreed to (working late or on weekends, checking your email on vacation, etc.). Similarly, by negotiating project context and deadlines on the front end, you prove that you take delivering on deadlines seriously. It's much better to underpromise and delight your boss by overdelivering than to verbally assent to something you know won't happen.

4. Prioritize What Matters (To Them)

Chances are there are a handful of projects your boss cares about the most. Ensure that these projects are front and center on your to-do list. When you hit a major milestone with these projects, keep your boss in the loop.

When you burn the midnight oil, ensure they know that you're prioritizing this task because it's important AND because it's important to them. Share some of the praise for the project's successes by heralding them as a champion of the project. Arm them with stats, sound bites, and other information to share with their boss and peers about what you've accomplished together.

5. Show Them You Take Their Feedback Seriously

When your boss pulls you aside with some corrective feedback, show them you prize their feedback by:

Writing it down and repeating their points to them to ensure you captured the feedback correctly.
Following up the conversation with an email (or a note at your next check-in) thanking them for the feedback and telling them what you plan to do differently.
Building systems or habits to remind yourself of the feedback and integrate the change they suggested.
Picking a few moments over the next few months to remind them of the feedback they gave and what you've done to internalize it. If there has been a positive impact as a result of implementing their feedback, be sure to share it.

6. Be Loyal When They're Not Around

Happy manager talks with her colleagues during a work meeting

Trust is the frailest component of your relationship with your manager; breaking it can be fatal to your relationship. Don't say anything about them publicly, or even behind closed doors, that you wouldn't say to their face. Don't give feedback about them to their manager if you haven't voiced it to them first. Work as hard when they're home sick as you would if they were with you in the office. Don't conspire against them, periodâeven if they deserve it. By keeping your loyalty to your manager, you mark yourself as a person who can be trusted and with high ethical standards. This makes you extremely rare and worth keeping around.

Repairing a broken relationship with your manager takes work, but yields dividends in your immediate job and later in your career. By taking the time to build trust and demonstrate your loyalty and competence, you not only save your jobâyou win a friend and mentor for life.

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6 Ways To Make Your Boss Love …

It's that golden moment, the one you always dream about. The moment your boss offers you a raise, and you didn't have to ask for it! It doesn't happen often unless you have something in your contract that stipulates your pay increases, or some other sort of mandated pay raise. However, for the majority, an impromptu raise is just a dream.

There are no promises to be made here. Many raises, even those you ask for, depend on a variety of factors. You have control over whether or not you deserve a raise, but not always over getting one.

Luckily, there are some things you can do that will push you closer to getting a raise, whether you ask for one or not:

1. Bring In New Business

Woman looking for a raise gets congratulated by her boss

It doesn't matter if you're in sales or not. If the company you work for isn't able to bring in new business, they aren't going to grow, and they won't be able to afford to give you a raise.

In today's business world, everyone is in sales. You are a business-of-one. You have to sell yourself, your company, your skills, and your products. If you aren't a salesperson, you may not have the know-how to follow a sale through to the end, but you can still bring in business.

For example, just because I was an accountant at Dr. Snooze mattress company doesn't mean I had less of a chance to get a raise than the people on the sales floor. I'd still get leads and find new accounts. I used excellent customer service to ensure other companies kept coming back to do business with us.

Start looking for ways to bring in new business and you'll be amazed at what you can learn.

2. Become An Expert (On Something)

Woman on a video call takes notes to be a better employee and earn a raise

This "something" should be related to your field, obviously. There's no point in learning everything there is to know about QuickBooks if you work as an account supervisor. Sure, it might occasionally come in handy, but the goal is to become a go-to person on a topic.

If someone has questions about an account, they should be coming to you, and you need to be able to answer them. It's even more impressive if you can reach out before they even realize there's an issue. Not only does that mean that you increase your customer retention, but your clients will remember that and recommend you.

3. Find A Mentor

Not just any mentor. Do what you can to ensure that the mentor you choose is someone you would like to model your career after.

In today's marketplace, having a mentor that's a little bit old-fashioned (or at least respected in the industry) might be a great way to distinguish yourself. After all, careers now last about 4-5 years, instead of 40-50. You need to be on-call 24/7, but that doesn't leave you any time for a life. A mentor can help you work through the kinks and can help you to pave a path that others want to follow.

With guidance from a mentor, you'll stand out from other employees on the job, and could be next in line to get a raise.

4. Make Your Boss Look Good

Man helps his boss with something at work

There is nothing that will make your boss love you more than if you make them look good. After all, they'd probably like a raise just as much as you would, so it makes sense that they need you on their team. Stepping on their toes and making them look like they don't know what their doing isn't going to win you any favors.

When I was working at McElroy Metal, this tactic worked perfectly for me. I gave my supervisor all the credit for a huge sale I made, and he quickly became a favorite with the owner. When it was time for him to give promotions, I was the first one to be recommended.

5. Become Irreplaceable

Man gets complimented by his boss after getting a raise

The thing is, once you've made yourself irreplaceable, you can ask for pretty much whatever you want (within reason, of course). Becoming an indispensable employee involves doing what you're supposed to, plus everything listed, and then a little bit more.

After all, people who make themselves exceptional stand out for a reason. Having the perception that losing you would decrease productivity around the office and cost them money means that job security is locked in tight, and your boss will want to fight to keep you.

There is no way to promise that you'll get a raise. Much of it has to do with things you have no control overâthe company's current standing, when a promotion becomes available, or the overall economics of the country.

Even if that can't be guaranteed, however, you can drastically increase your chances of getting a raiseâwhether you ask for one or not.

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5 Ways To Get A Raise (Without …

How To Take Advantage Of Online Career Skills Courses

There are a host of online courses available to help people level up in their careers or learn new skills entirely. But, to fully take advantage of online courses, you need to have your priorities in order and know exactly what you want to accomplish.

Some courses are offered for free, but there are also many that cost money. As you review available online courses and determine the ones worth taking, you may have to consider both finances and time constraints. Consider these four categories when choosing online courses:

Seeking Online Courses For Career Growth

Young businesswoman takes an online course to learn new career skills

Online courses that can help professionals do their job better are among the most valuable courses that you could take.

It's easy to work in a role for a long time, but not grow in it. You can't let that happen! If your career isn't growing, it's dying.

In order to make yourself an indispensable employee, it's important to keep up with industry trends and constantly take inventory of the skills you need to do your job exceptionally well. Some companies will even pay for their employees to take courses or certification programs if the employee can prove it will help them do their job better and ultimately benefit the company.

As far as choosing the right online courses, it helps to write out the specific areas where you're looking to upskill, and then research which courses check off the most boxes. LinkedIn Learning has a diverse course selection and the website Coursera has an extensive library of courses.

Beyond doing your job better and making yourself an indispensable employee, there's a certain sense of satisfaction that comes with always trying to get better.

Gaining Skills To Make A Career Change

Young professional takes an online course on her laptop in hopes of changing careers

Breaking into a new industry as a result of a career change or layoff is never easy. One of the first major steps a person has to do is an assessment of professional skills. This is where professionals determine what skills they have that are transferable to the new industry, and what skills they're lacking.

For example, a journalist looking to make a transition into marketing has important communication and writing skills that will transfer well into the industry, but would probably benefit greatly from a course or certification program in online marketing.

Just because a professional completes a course or certification doesn't mean they're qualified for the new industry. But, it may put them in a better position to secure a job interview, and it at least shows potential employers a willingness to learn.

If you were laid off and are unsure about your next career move, Work It Daily has free career quizzes that could point you in the right direction.

Gaining Extra Skills To Be A More Well-Rounded Professional

Man wearing headphones takes online career courses on his laptop at work

Taking courses to gain extra skill sets or to pursue an additional passion is a very advantageous position for professionals.

We all have interests beyond our careers, and sometimes our careers turn us on to additional interests. For example, a doctor with a passion for graphic design may take courses about how to develop a freelance business on the side.

Others may take courses to help transition into a new position at their workplace or climb the ladder at the company.

One of the best steps any professional can do is to get ahead of the curve and anticipate skills that they may need in the future. Taking this type of initiative will not only impress your employer but may also help you learn more about yourself as a professional to either excel at your current career or chart a new career course.

Taking Courses For Personal Enjoyment

Man and woman use laptop together to take online career courses

Not every online course that you take has to be career-related. Sometimes it's good to just take a course for fun or personal satisfaction. The number of courses available online runs the gamut. You can learn a new language, sit in on online lectures from university professors, discover basic life hacks, and hear from prominent people about their success stories.

Expanding your knowledge base can make you a more well-rounded and happier person. This translates well into all aspects of your life.

Online career courses are only a piece of the puzzle. The path to true career growth is putting together a plan for success, and Work It Daily can help!

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