Career growth

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Work It Daily has an amazing library of free resources for professionals at any age or job level. No matter if you're looking for help with your job search, career change, or professional development efforts, Work It Daily has the career resources you need.

Here are Work It Daily's top six free career resources, plus a few additional resources you might find helpful:

1. Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp

Work It Daily's Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp free resource

Today, if you want recruiters to call you, your resume and LinkedIn profile need to stand out.

Our Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp is a free workshop hosted by J.T. O'Donnell, founder & CEO of Work It Daily, and Christina Burgio, Director of Training Development & Development, that can help you write and optimize your resume and LinkedIn profile to get noticed by recruiters.

In this free bootcamp, you'll learn:

What recruiters want your resume to look like
How to make sure your LinkedIn profile is optimized
Tips for making sure BOTH tools are set up correctly

Get instant access to our Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp today!

2. Career Decoder Quiz

Work It Daily's Career Decoder Quiz free resource

Are you ready to take the first step toward unlocking your true professional potential?

The Career Decoder Quiz will help you determine what your workplace persona is. That means you'll get a sense of who you are as a working professional and what makes you thrive at work. You'll find out how you like to create value and what your professional strengths are, which will help you find the right career for you.

Knowing who you are as a working professional and what makes you happy on the job will help you be successful in your career or job search.

Don't waste another day not knowing your professional strengths.

Take our Career Decoder Quiz today!

3. Workplace Communication Style Quiz

Work It Daily's Workplace Communication Style Quiz free resource

Have you ever wondered about how you communicate with others?

How you interact with others plays a major role in both your career and life in general. It can be hard to categorize yourself, but it's extremely helpful to have an idea of how you communicate with others and get a sense of how others perceive you.

The Communication Style (ISAT) Quiz allows you to understand your communication style so you can work more effectively with others. It has 18 questions about your personality and how you handle certain situations.

Take our Workplace Communication Style Quiz today!

4. How To Choose Your Career (In 5 Simple Steps)

Work It Daily's How To Choose Your Career free resource

Do you feel stuck in your career and don't know what to do next? You are not the problem. Thousands of people (just like you!) feel professionally stuck because school never taught us what career best suits our needs.

In this 60-minute workshop, J.T. O'Donnell, founder & CEO of Work It Daily, and Christina Burgio, Director of Training Development & Development, break down step by step how to choose a career that suits your unique combination of professional strengths.

Here's what you'll learn:

How to choose your next career path
Why working "in" your job is hurting your career
How your unique personality is impacting your success
How to determine which strengths to use to build your dream career
And so much MORE!

Get instant access to "How To Choose Your Career (In 5 Simple Steps)" today!

5. Professional Strengths Bootcamp

Work It Daily's Professional Strengths Bootcamp free resource

Understanding who you are as a worker is the key to achieving career satisfaction.

Our Professional Strengths Bootcamp is a free workshop hosted by J.T. O'Donnell, founder & CEO of Work It Daily, and Christina Burgio, Director of Training Development & Development, designed to help you learn how to unlock your professional strengths so you can get what you want from work.

Here's what you'll learn:

Why working "in" your job is hurting your career
How your unique personality is impacting your success
How to determine which strengths to use to build your dream career
And so much MORE!

Get instant access to our Professional Strengths Bootcamp today!

6.Â How To Break Through Career Burnout

Work It Daily's How To Break Through Career Burnout free resource

Want to learn how to get unstuck and feel happy in your career again?

In this 60-minute workshop, J.T. O'Donnell, founder & CEO of Work It Daily, and Christina Burgio, Director of Training Development & Development, will teach you why burnout occurs and what you can do to motivate yourself to get back on track so you can regain the professional happiness and satisfaction you want and deserve.

Here's what you'll learn:

How burnout occurs and why it's so common
The path you'll want to take to overcome burnout
What high-payoff activities will make you successful
The steps you'll need to take to get the right results

Get instant access to "How To Break Through Career Burnout" today!

Additional Free Resources

7 Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make On LinkedIn

In this free training, you will learn:

The 7 mistakes executives can't afford to make on LinkedIn anymore
How to avoid looking like a narcissist on LinkedIn
The one change in your LinkedIn settings that will get you more profile views
How "curating" the content you share on LinkedIn impacts your reputation
The 3 places on your LinkedIn profile you need to care about the most

Get instant access to "7 Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make On LinkedIn" today!

No. 1 Way To Get A Job Without Applying Online

In this free training, you will learn:

Why an "interview bucket list" is the secret weapon to securing a good job
Which tools you need to update and use to get noticed by recruiters
The right way to network on sites like LinkedIn to get in front of hiring managers

Get instant access to "No. 1 Way To Get A Job Without Applying Online" today!

8 Reasons TikTok Will Be The Hottest Way To Hire (And Get Hired) In 2023

In this free training, you will learn:

Why not just Gen Z but all generations are finding their next employer on TikTok
How using TikTok will make it easier (yes, easier!) for companies to recruit on other social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
How talent searches for employers on TikTok and "discovers" the best places to work nobody knows about
How companies will use TikTok to recruit without having to start a company TikTok account

Get instant access to "8 Reasons TikTok Will Be The Hottest Way To Hire (And Get Hired) In 2023" today!

Want More Help With Your Job Search & Career?Â

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Work It DAILY’s Top 6 Free Career …

Every season is job search season if you want it bad enough. However, there are some that view summer as a time of rest and ease up on their job searches. That's the last thing you should do!

Sure, you should take time to relax and go on vacationâjust don't abandon your job search goals completely. Here are four ways to keep your job search on track, while still enjoying your summer:

Update Your Resume & LinkedIn Profile

A new season is a time for renewal, so it's important to make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile are current and up to date with projects, contributions, and achievements. Summer is a great time for reflecting on the work you have done over recent months and leveraging those accomplishments to have a results-driven resume and LinkedIn profile.

While your resume takes precedence, you should still give your LinkedIn profile a good look because it's public and is viewable by a greater geographic population. Do not underestimate the power of LinkedIn for your job search potential.

Attend Networking Events

Summer is a great time to be more social. Attend professional events, go to business happy hours, and ramp up your networking opportunities. Connect with old colleagues over lunch outdoors in casual attire, and seek out the potential for informational interviews at companies. Since things are more casual and laid back in the summertime, ramp up the opportunities and seize them.

If you can't attend any in-person networking events, there are still ample opportunities to network online!

Refocus Your Strategy By Volunteering

The beautiful summer weather is great motivation for engaging in new volunteer and community service opportunities. Consider the potential for making new connections and adding volunteer projects to your resume and LinkedIn profile that you are already updating during the summertime.

Remember, summer days are longer. Use your time wisely, and to your benefit!

Re-Evaluate And Reach Out

Spend the summer re-evaluating your current role. What skills are you developing in your current role? What skills do you want to build upon? Consider reaching out to recruiters or your professional network, people who can help bring your next role to fruition. LinkedIn is a great resource for connecting with recruiters and seeing if new projects or opportunities are available to expand your skills.

Don't let the summer weather be a distraction or setback for you. Focus on reclaiming your brand, take a break or a vacation, and regroup on where you would like to go next in your career. Remember one important thing: the year is already halfway over, so it's important to seize the moment and the opportunity.

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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4 Ways To Keep Your Job Search …

We all have career ups and downs throughout our life. In many cases, these ups and downs are just part of a natural progression. But in other cases, they are caused by factors out of our control. One thing that always helps during situations like these is kindness.

Whether it's kindness from a friend or kindness to yourself, it's the small acts of kindness that help us get through life's most difficult challenges. When going through a career challenge, these acts of kindness can make a huge difference:

Listen

Do you have a friend, family member, or former colleague going through a career crisis? Sometimes the best thing you can do is listen!

It's never a good idea for people to let things bubble up inside to the point where it consumes them. Everyone needs to vent sometimes.

However, there is a balance. While you want to lend an ear, you also don't want it to get to the point where the other person is feeling sorry for themselves and it turns into a pity party.

If you're able to offer advice based on your own personal experience, you should share it. But if you're not in a position to offer advice, try to offer some motivational words of encouragement or share a resource that may help.

Share Your Network

Young professional on laptop thinks about introducing two colleagues

You never know when a new connection may lead to a new career opportunity! With that in mind, think about the difference you could make in someone's life by introducing them to just one connection from your professional network.

Maybe you have a friend looking to break into the healthcare industry and you know the perfect professional to introduce them to. It doesn't have to be industry specific; sometimes particular people are just good resources and mentors for others.

Such introductions are usually made at networking events, but introducing connections through LinkedIn works just as well.

Share Content

Man on laptop shares content with his professional network to help others

Will live in an era where content is abundant and diverse, and similar to introducing a new connection, you never know when a single piece of content could have a positive impact on someone.

The best part about sharing content is the fact that it's easy. It's as simple as sharing an article on LinkedIn or writing your own.

Sometimes these industry and career-related articles can reach hundreds of people based on how many times they are shared. The information within the shared content could prove valuable to some. You never know!

Give A Reference

Woman on laptop writes a reference for a colleague

Obviously, you don't want to give a professional reference or LinkedIn endorsement to just anyone. But if the person asking is worthy of it, then it's a wonderful thing to do for someone.

A good resume and cover letter can get a person in the door for an interview, but once they're there it's how they handle the interview and their character that ultimately helps to set them apart from the competition,

Many employers use professional references as a way to get a sense of a person's work ethic and character. If you enjoyed working with someone and appreciated their work ethic, then giving them a reference will not only help them out, but it will make you feel good as well.

Pay It Forward

Co-workers share a laugh during a meeting after agreeing to buy coffee

It's important to remember that whenever someone helps you in your career, you should find a way to pay it forward, either to the person who helped you out or to someone else. This should work both ways; hopefully, someone who you helped out in their career will return the favor as well.

The act of paying it forwardâresponding to an act of kindness with another act of kindnessâis something that doesn't just apply to career, but to life.

Any act of kindness throughout the day can make a huge difference in someone's life. Even something as simple as paying for someone's coffee.

You can pay it forward by recommending Work It Daily to a friend.

Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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5 Acts Of Kindness To Help Get …

#1 Secret To Successfully Changing Careers

I'm going to let you in on a little secret about successful career changes. So many people spend years not being able to pivot their career into a new industry or a new skill set because they haven't done the most vital part of the process.

The most important part of the career change process is the professional strengths assessment. That's the secret to successfully changing careers. Without going through the professional strengths assessment, you won't know which career direction is right for you.

Discovering Your Professional Strengths Helps You Understand Your Intrinsic Motivation

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @luciahawleynutrition No. 1 SECRET to changing careers, or finding a new, better job is to do proper professional strengths assessment. #strengths #strengthsandweaknesses #knowyourworth #knowyourstrengths #careers #jobs #career #job #careertok #jobtiktok #careertiktok #jobsearchtips #jobsearch #workitdaily #howto #work â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

School never taught you this. They never taught you how to properly assess your professional strengths. And, just so you know, employers will never teach you this either. And that's because when you understand your intrinsic motivation (how you like to create value and what makes you feel insanely productive on the job), when you tap into that and understand your unique combination of professional strengths, you will be able to identify careers that are a fit for you. You will know what to say during interviews. You'll be able to market yourself. And, better yet, you will be much happier on the job, which leads to career growth and success.

Ask anyone who's dialed into their career. They'll tell you they have a very clear sense of their intrinsic motivation and the value they create through their professional strengths.

Now, how do you inventory this? How do you discover your professional strengths and understand your intrinsic motivation?

You use a set of FREE tools:

If you're serious about changing careers, take the free quizzes above and sign up for my Professional Strengths Bootcamp. In this bootcamp, I walk you through the professional strengths assessment so that you can take a step back, understand your strengths, and then translate those into what you want to do next. When you can do that, everything gets easierâjob search, career growth, networking, everything.

You can do this. You can successfully change careers. And it starts with unlocking your professional strengths. So, I hope you follow my advice above. Go get 'em!

Need more help with your professional strengths assessment?

Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

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#1 Secret To Successfully Changing Careers

If you're tired of feeling dissatisfied and lost in your career, our Professional Strengths Bootcamp is the help you've been looking for.

Understanding WHO you are as a worker is the KEY to achieving career satisfaction. With our Professional Strengths Bootcamp, achieving career satisfaction has never been more attainable.

Do any of these sound like you?

Can't find a career path that gets you excited.
Unable to get promoted or move up in your field.
Failing at job search.
Struggling to switch career directions.
Being told you're "overqualified" or "underqualified" for jobs.
Confused about what you should tell employers about yourself.

If you answered "yes" to one or more of the above, then you won't want to miss this FREE 60-minute bootcamp!

Professional Strengths Bootcamp

Learn how to UNLOCK your professional strengths so you can get what you want from work!

WHEN: Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT

WHERE: Online (Attend live or get the recording!)

WHO: J.T. O'Donnell & Christina Burgio, your favorite WID career experts

HOW MUCH: Free!

In this info-packed, hour-long session, you'll learn:

Why working "in" your job is hurting your career.
How your unique personality is impacting your success.
How to determine which strengths to use to build your dream career.
And so much MORE!

This 60-minute bootcamp will change your life! Don't miss your chance to DRAMATICALLY improve your career.

SIGN UP to attend live (or get the recording).

We hope to see you there!

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Want To Find Out WHO You Are …

When it comes to professional development, there are many resources you can use to get to the next level in your career. Courses, online trainings, books, and podcasts are the most popular for their accessibility and effectiveness. Podcasts specifically are great resources for busy professionals looking to develop their careers because they are convenient and can be listened to on the go or while multitasking.

We recently asked our executives for their best podcast recommendations for professional development.

Here are their responses...

John Schembari, Senior Education Executive

âI am fortunate in that there are many quality niche podcasts in my field of teaching, leading, and learning. One of my favorites is Cult of Pedagogy because the topics are applicable across the scope of K16 education (i.e., strategies that can be quickly implemented the next day in most classrooms).

I think the bigger question, given how many quality podcasts there are across industries and because they tend to be ethereal, at least in my field, is "what TYPE of podcast do I prefer for professional development?"

I look for the following in a podcast for professional development:

An easy takeaway - something that I can immediately use in my practice.
Podcast guests/hosts with whom I can connect/are approachable.
Podcasts that provide relevant resources for further information.
Podcasts that mention other podcasts in the space - collaboration not competition.
Podcasts that are focused on a specific theme per episode.
Podcasts that are conversations, not monologues.
Podcasts that might have me as a future guest.

âJohn Schembari is a current K-12 teacher/school leader academic improvement coach and former school building and district administrator. He loves to draw, travel, swing dance, and read nonfiction.

Percy Leon, Digital Media Content Executive

Young woman listens to podcast episodes while working

There are two podcasts that I listen to as a creator. The first is the Think Media Podcast, presented by company owners and digital marketing specialists Sean Cannell and Heather Torres. It is a fantastic resource for anybody looking to increase their online presence and business utilizing these strategies.

With an emphasis on YouTube marketing and other related topics including social networking, podcasting, and email marketing, this program gives insightful advice and suggestions for both beginning and seasoned artists.

For the most recent information about digital marketing, listeners may find it in the Think Media Podcast, which contains conversations with successful entrepreneurs and content creators.

The Creator Economics podcast is the second one that I regularly listen to. Reed Duchscher and Blake Robbins served as the hosts.

Reed is a businessman, the CEO of Night Media, a talent manager for well-known artists including Mr. Beast, Typical Ganer, and Preston, as well as a keynote speaker.

Blake is a VC at Ludlow Ventures. Blake Robbins is the person responsible for making 100 Thieves one of the biggest eSports brands ever created.

Creator Economics offers helpful advice and insights for creative professionals looking to build successful professions and enterprises.

Because of Reed's experience as an entrepreneur, talent manager, and keynote speaker, the podcast addresses a variety of topics, including branding, marketing, pricing strategies, and building a community of fans and supporters.

The program has discussions with successful creative entrepreneurs and personal development.

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

Michael Willis, Sports Business Operations Executive

Man listens to professional development podcasts

Outside of the Executive Table Talk with Work It Daily, my favorite professional podcast is with Kelly Merbler. Her podcast is called Coffee with Kelly.

Coffee with Kelly meets every Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Occasionally the meetings are on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. to accommodate some West Coast attendees.

Kelly Merbler started this podcast three years ago to respond to the nation closing due to COVID-19. The call began with five women looking to stay connected during this national shutdown.

The Friday calls have swelled to over 80 attendees. There are women and men from various walks of life. They are also reaching several countries.

Kelly also has a Slack channel to track podcast records, a job board, past and upcoming events, etc.

I canât exactly remember how I met Kellyâboth of our moms passed away from Alzheimerâs. At Christmas time, she goes to the nursing home where her mother stayed and visits with all the patients. These visits add smiles and laughter to many patients.

By trade, Kelly is a leader development consultant and a motivational speaker who can rally any crowd. The podcast topics range from guest motivational speakers who have started a business to job search ideas.

I love Kelly Merbler for her energy and love of people. Her heart is in a beautiful place. I am proud to be part of her tribe!

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.

Georgia Musgrave, Vice President Strategic Initiatives

Woman listens to a professional development podcast

Are you wondering where all the talent has gone?

Are employees leaving your company?

Do your job openings attract interested and experienced candidates?

Listeners interested in recruiting, talent development, retention, leadership, and organizational culture should tune into Revolutionizing Recruitment: The Art of Attracting, Acquiring and Retaining Talent.

Recruiting talent is more than simply finding great employees. Join Kathleen Duffy, a revolutionary recruiting visionary and founder of Duffy Group, Inc. as she talks to the best in the industry. Past guests have included Chief People Officer at Intel Christy Pambianchi, the Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Spotify Jon Singel, SHRM CEO Johnny Taylor Jr., and New York Times best-selling author Marcus Buckingham.

If youâre searching for a strategic and collaborative approach to uncovering hidden talent, Revolutionizing Recruitment is the podcast for you.

Georgia Musgrave is the VP of Strategic Initiatives at Duffy Group. She educates leaders on the value of "passive talent" as a means of attracting the best human capital to their company.

Mark Taylor, Product & Operations Executive

Man listens to a podcast while sitting in the park

Heroic with Brian Johnson.

That being said, the daily podcast, which consists of what Brian calls â+1s,â is the tip of the iceberg.

Many personal and professional development podcasts seem to consist of disparate âtechniquesâ that are shared with listeners as ways of solving life or business challenges on a tactical basis.

Brian is, in the truest sense of the word, a philosopher (i.e., one who both studies âphilosophyâ but also implements it on a minute-to-minute basis). As such, rather than simply throwing ideas out as daily â+1s,â heâs combined these and the other information he has distilled from a gamut of ancient and modern-day ways of thinking into an integrated philosophy of his own (see his website heroic.us).

As someone who seeks out practicality, âadultâ wisdom, and things that are âfit for purpose,â I find it to be an exceptionally useful source ofâdare I say itâenlightenment.

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+.

What do you think are the best podcasts for professional development? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily's Executive Program.

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Executive Spotlight: Best Podcasts For Professional Development

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.

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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4 Ways To Tell If A Job …

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.

Need more help with your job search?

Join our community to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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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.

Need more help finding the right internship for you?

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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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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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