Career help Archives - Page 22 of 29

3 Career Resolutions Youâll Need To Succeed In 2023

December 14, 2022

Are you currently afraid of typically the thought that youâll enter in the new year along with no success in your own career goals? Have you been uncertain of what you want to because of obtain noticed in your career efforts today? Do an individual have little to simply no success in getting discovered by employers? If therefore, you’re in the proper place!

Each year, millions of people create New Year’s resolutions around hopes to drive a good improvement. While there are usually different types of settlements you can choose to be able to implement, your career ought to be heavily considered.

Research has identified that people who have a tendency to make these promises are ten-times more probably to reach their objectives than people who donât create resolutions for on their own. The best way for you to get ready for your career achievement inside the new year is usually to develop these file sizes in advance!

In this training, youâll learn:

Why itâs thus important to get resolutions on place for your career development
How you can pinpoint effective career answers that will get anyone noticed while you enter this new year
The modern job research strategy you need to help implement that will push motivation

Join the CEO, J. T. O’Donnell, and Director of Coaching Development & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this survive event on Wednesday, January 21st at 12 pm hours ET.

CAN’T ATTEND SURVIVE? That’s ok. You’ll have entry to often the recording and the workbook following the session!

How To Update Your LinkedIn Profile When Youâre Employed

December 13, 2022

A key component of a successful job search means getting the word out that you’re looking for new opportunities. But when you’re still employed, it’s wise to take a more discreet approach.

This is particularly true for LinkedIn, where there are many contacts and connections happening on a daily basis and any small peep out of your account about a job search will likely get spread to your co-workers and your boss.

That is something to avoid if you don’t want to compromise your current job. You can be discreet and take precautions with the activities you conduct on LinkedIn by doing the following:

Change Your Privacy Settings

You don’t need to broadcast to your network of contacts the new connections you make with recruiters and the job search groups you’ve joined. Place your mouse on your picture in the top right and choose Settings & Privacy. Under the Visibility section, go to Visibility of your LinkedIn activity and turn off the features that might notify the wrong people about your job search. Also, go to Visibility of your profile & network to turn off any additional features that could inform others that you’re looking for a job.

There are a lot of subtle ways to signal to your network that you’re looking for work without advertising it on your LinkedIn profile.

Be Aware Of The Message Your Profile Is Sending

Social media allows us to openly speak what we’re thinking and feeling, but that doesn’t mean you should advertise to everyone that you’re looking for a new job or suddenly make an update that you’re willing to relocate in your status or summary. Even if you think it’s only going to your inner circle of friends, the word can easily spread on social networking sites. Things like “willing to relocate” are a dead giveaway.

These are details that should be left off your LinkedIn profile and saved for more personal conversations and job interviews.

Don’t Show The Job Search Groups You’ve Joined

When you start joining different job search groups, it is heavily hinting at your job search activity. You can continue to take advantage of using such groups, but change the settings so that the group’s logo does not get displayed on your profile.

Go to the group and click the More tab followed by Your Settings in the dropdown menu. From there you can click the Visibility Settings to uncheck “Display the group logo on your profile.”

How To Utilize LinkedIn During The Job Search

Now that you know what NOT to do, here’s what you can do to utilize LinkedIn for your job hunt…

1. Make your profile visible to employers and recruiters. Your profile needs to be made public in order for employers and recruiters to see your information. Under Visibility of your profile & network, you can check which content on your profile is made public.

2. Don’t be anonymous. When you begin to view recruiter profiles and employer contact profiles, adjust your settings so that you don’t come off as “Anonymous viewed your profile.” By offering your full information, it prompts the other end to take a look at your profile.

3. Accept messages. While setting up your account, indicate that you’re interested in career opportunities and that you will accept messages from other members. Disabling these features means employers and recruiters will have a harder time finding and contacting you.

4. Write a profile to appeal to your current and potential employers. Your LinkedIn profile doesn’t have to say, “I’m looking for a job,” in order for employers to take notice of you. By simply stating your key skill sets, the value you bring, and what you have to offer, employers will see the appeal and want to contact you.

Just as the general advice goes to not quit your job before you secure a new job, you want to take every precaution possible when using LinkedIn to not impact your current job.

Need more help with your job search?

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

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

What To Do If You Were Rejected From A Job Online

December 12, 2022

Have you been rejected by a company that you applied to online recently? If so, I know how you’re feeling. Getting rejected stinks. You spend all this time applying for a job (sometimes it can take 45 minutes to fill out an application online only to get auto-rejected) and maybe even had an interview and still got rejected. It hurts and it’s frustrating.

And so I came up with an idea…

Companies That Reject You Should Give You The Tools & Resources To Get Hired Somewhere ElseÂ

@j.t.odonnell Have you been REJECTED for a job online? DO THIS… #jobtok #careertok #jobs #careers â¬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

I think that the companies that make you spend all this time applying for jobs should do you a serviceâa good deed. They should give you the tools and resources to help you get hired someplace else, especially with this upcoming economic downturn. During this recession, massive amounts of people will get laid off and it’s going to be a little bit harder to get a job. So, I believe these companies that reject you should do something about it.

Why do I feel this way? Well, because of Work It Daily. We’ve built an online platform where people get great job search results, but they have to invest in themselves. But what if the companies that rejected you invested in you instead? What if they gave you access to our platform so we could help you improve your resume, your LinkedIn profile, your interviewing skills, your whole job search strategy to help you get hired and attract the right employers? What if they funded this idea because of the time and energy that cost you money to apply for their jobs only to get rejected?

If you agree with me, here’s what I was hoping you could do. On the TikTok video above, comment the names of the companies that you think should be funding this idea because I’m going to try to contact them so we can work together to help job seekers like you who are struggling to find a job right now.

I want to make this my mission. I want to get a bunch of those big companies to fund this idea so that I can help you. You don’t have a lot of discretionary funds around to invest in career coaching, so let’s get the companies to do it for you.

Need more help with your job search but can’t afford career coaching right now?

I’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! I look forward to answering all of your career questions in our next live event!

13 Holiday Networking Tips You Need To Know

December 9, 2022

It’s that time of year again when job seekers think they should stop looking for a job throughout the holiday season. No one will be hiring anyway, so you may as well take the rest of the year off, right? Not true, according to HR and job search experts.

Although some companies may have no budget left for hiring, others still have openings they need to fill by the end of the fiscal year. That means it’s unwise to assume a company won’t be bringing on new candidates unless they announce a hiring freeze.

The savvy job hunter maintains job search momentum throughout the holiday season and finds fresh ways to leverage networking to open doors with hiring employers. After all, there are increased opportunities to network offline throughout this period, and each event you attend offers the gift of connecting with people you haven’t met or haven’t seen in a while.

Also, since the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual networking has become an essential part of your career, allowing you to continue to grow your professional network from the comfort of your own home. Over the holidays, attending a few virtual networking events will be easy, since you should already be familiar with them from your experience working from home or attending some in the past.

As you launch your own holiday networking campaign, make sure you avoid these ânaughty” tactics and follow the “nice” holiday networking tips instead.

“Naughty” Holiday Networking Strategies To Avoid

1. Focusing only on your search needs. Leverage a give-to-get strategy instead by cultivating your relationship with the people you encounter in your holiday merrymaking. Ask them astute questions about their workplace needs, and look for ways you can help.

2. Asking for jobs, information, or leads without offering to give one or more of the same first. Above all else, the holiday season is a time to connect in meaningful ways with people you already know and those you don’t. You can’t do this if your sole focus is on you.

3. Pushing your job search agenda on influential contacts. If you focus on proving your usefulness first, you won’t have to push your agenda at all.

4. Sending out networking requests disguised as holiday greetings. Remember: you don’t have to ask for something each time you connect with your network. Focus on giving something every time instead.

5. Expecting quick responses from anyone about anything. The closer we get to Christmas and New Year’s, the more delay you can expect in any job-search-related communication. Accept this and move on.

Focus your holiday energies on leveraging these “nice” door-opening strategies even Santa would love…

“Nice” Holiday Networking Strategies To Try

1. Attending a wide variety of holiday events and being prepared to make connections. Whether you’re going to parties or open houses, joining a friend for a company event, or enjoying dinner with one or more friends, use every outing to gather insight and information. Replace your usual holiday networking outings with virtual networking events if you have safety concerns (or just like the convenience of it).

2. Preparing a two-sided business card for on-the-spot networking. Present your personal branding statement on side one, and showcase your experience, credentials, and impacts briefly on side two. If a two-sided card is too small, try a fold-over card that allows you to print text inside and out. If this is still too small, why not try a postcard instead?

3. Building a holiday list. Like Santa, you need to know what everyone on your target list is seeking. Ask the contacts and job seekers you meet how you can help them, and keep a record of their responses for immediate follow-up. Look for ways to refer job seekers to recruiters and companies, and suggest recruiters and companies to job seekers.

4. Proactively referring potential candidates to recruiters, companies, and hiring managers. Be the star in your network by preparing a brief intro about job seekers you know and feel comfortable recommending, then offer their contact information (with permission, of course) to recruiters and companies that match the job seekers’ search targets.

5. Following up promptly. Don’t let those holiday connections go to waste! Make sure you follow up with new members of your network soon after meeting them, to let them know how nice it was connecting with them, and to keep the communication lines open.

6. Using the period between Christmas and New Year’s to re-contact all previous interviewers. Let your past interviewers know that you’re still available. I’ve known more than one candidate who reopened an opportunity by proactively reaching out during an otherwise slow period.

7. Sending out New Year’s greetings to influential contacts in your network. Include a short, brand-driven message about your value proposition, assuming that you have previously sent a holiday message with zero branding included. This strategy allows you to refresh the memories of your influential contacts with your candidacy as they put the holidays behind them and return to work in the new year.

Remember persistence and assertiveness are always in season. When paired with smart search strategies, your holiday networking can yield a bounty of new gifts in the new year.

Need Some Help With Your Networking Strategy?

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Networking is something most professionals struggle with. But the truth is, your network is your net worth.

If you don’t have a strong network, your career will suffer. It will also make your job search more difficult than it needs to be.

Need help building your professional network? We can help!

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

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Successfully Change Careers After A Layoff

December 8, 2022

For most workers, being laid off or furloughed is a scary thought, and, unfortunately, this scary thought became a reality for many professionals who had their jobs impacted by COVID-19 and the recession that followed. However, for some, losing their job is the push they need to make a career change.

It’s not as crazy as it sounds!

Some people need a change but are too afraid to make one, and losing their job is the perfect opportunity to do so. In addition, many workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis may find it difficult to get back into the industries they were working in.

Making a career change isn’t easy, but with an organized approach, it can be done successfully. It won’t happen overnight, but with patience and commitment, you can ultimately end up in a better place.

Here’s what you need to know about the career change process as you embark on the job hunt after a layoff…

Commit To A Career Change Plan

Before committing to a career change, make sure you’re ready to close the door on your current career.

A career change should not be an impulse decision or strictly driven by the trauma of a layoff. So, it’s important to take some time to really think things over.

But if your decision comes from a prolonged period of career unhappiness, then the time may be right.

Identify the new industry that you’re looking to get into and then create an interview bucket list of 10-12 companies where you would like to work. Take a self-inventory of yourself and identify the transferable skills you possess that would also apply well to this new industry. Identify where you need to upskill.

What skills are you missing for this new position? Come up with a plan for gaining these skills. Attend training courses, workshops, classes, or certification opportunities.

Changing Careers Is About Who You Know

Now that you’ve drafted a career change plan, the real challenge begins: building your network.

When applying to a new industry, it’s not enough to just apply online and pray that you’ll get an interview. You have to put the work in.

Go to the company’s website or LinkedIn account to identify the human resources manager and the company’s key players. Try to make an actual connection. Tap into your current network to see if you already know someone working at the company or have a friend who knows a current employee.

Use any connection you make to learn more about the company and to tell your career storyâwhere you’ve been, and why you are choosing to change careers. Any connection that you make is a foot in the door.

This is a much more efficient way to conduct a job search, rather than just applying for every online job posting (spraying and praying). Most resumes don’t even make it past the applicant tracking system (ATS).

In addition to trying to secure an interview, putting in this work will also help you build networking skills and expand your professional network. No matter where you are in your career, it always pays to network. This would also be a good time to update your LinkedIn profile, too.

Ease Your Way To Your Dream Job

What if you could get a job at the company you want to work for, just not in the position that you wanted?

That would actually be a career victory. When it comes to career changes, very rarely can you just switch lanes and land your dream job. Sometimes you need to ease your way in.

If you’re struggling to get the position you want within a certain company, research other positions at that company to see if there are any positions that better fit your current skill sets. If there is, apply for that position. That way you at least get a job at the company.

From there, you can figure out a way to gain the skills that you need, so that you can one day move into your dream position.

Beware! Career Changes Come With Salary Implications

This may be hard to believe, but when it comes to a career change, sometimes salary is the last thing that you think about.

That’s because the career change process is so involved. It takes a lot of effort to come up with a plan and eventually secure an interview. Salary considerations are something that gets placed on the temporary back burner.

But if you’ve reached the point in the process where it’s time to discuss salary, you’ve done something right and don’t want things to unravel.

Depending on the type of industry you’re going into, you’ll be looking at either a salary increase, decrease, or match. It’s essential that you do your research about the position and the average salary for such a position in your geographical area. Websites such as Salary.com and Glassdoor can be good resources for this information.

Having this information could be helpful in salary negotiations or, at the very least, mentally prepare you, particularly if you’re facing a salary decrease.

It’s also important not to lie when asked about your current salary in order to get a higher salary. It never pays to be dishonest.

Being laid off and then deciding to change careers is a lot to take on. If you’re organized and committed, you can do it, but you don’t have to do it alone!

Need more help making a career change after a layoff?

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

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

4 Easy Steps To Speed Up Your Job Search

December 7, 2022

I got an email yesterday from a client wanting to know if I had any job search tips. Unfortunately, he had been recently laid off and found himself on the job market. Talking to him got me thinking…What really makes a job search successful?

The bad news is that there isn’t a magic formula. The good news is that there are a number of very simple things you can do to improve your marketability.

Here are four easy steps to follow if you want to speed up your job search:

1. Update Your Resume As Soon As Possible

This might sound simple, but it is by far the most important (and first) step in a job search. You need to have your resume ready to roll at a moment’s notice.

The way I see it, there are two kinds of job seekers. There is the job seeker that draws confidence from being prepared and then there is the kind of job seeker that gets blindsided by the unexpected. I know which kind I’d rather be.

The best time to focus on your resume is when you don’t need it.

2. Figure Out Who Your Resume Is For

Is your resume for you or is it for prospective employers? The resume might have your info, experience, and accomplishments on it, but, ultimately, the documents that make it past the ATS not only have the right amount of keywords peppered throughout but also show, very clearly, what the applicant can do for the potential employer.

When writing your resume, always keep potential employers at the forefront of your mind. Make sure you quantify your experience, skills, and accomplishments. Give them a preview of the kind of positive impact you could have on their organization if they were to hire you.

3. Realize It’s Not About You

Really. It’s not. The most successful job seekers understand that it’s about what you do for others, not about what they can do for you.

This is a fundamental idea that for some I hope turns the act of “networking” completely upside down. In every interaction, the most important thing is to demonstrate, “How can I help YOU?” It’s the folks who unselfishly look out for those around them who make opportunities happen. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

What connections can you help make? Ask open-ended questions. You may even choose to treat the conversation like an informational interview. What professional needs does the other party have and how can you fill them?

4. Determine Your Target

This is such a simple concept, but it’s probably the biggest obstacle I see with many of my clients. You need to have a target. It is as easy as that. How can you expect to reach the goal of employment without aiming for a bullseye?

The first step is to clearly identify the job/profession/industry you are targeting. You may even have a company that you’ve always wanted to work at. (It’s always a good idea to have an interview bucket listâa list of companies you’re passionate about that you’d love to work for someday.)

Make sure that your goal aligns with your experience. Then (and only then) are you free to begin outlining a plan to achieve your goal.

Here’s an example:

I have an open door policy with my resume clients and I keep tabs on them throughout their job searches. Out of all the resumes and resume clients I’ve ever had, only one resume didn’t work. One. When I wrote the initial resume, my client was targeting retail sales positions. Then she called one day a couple of months into her job search wondering why she wasn’t getting any responses. I asked her to send me an example of the jobs she was applying for and guess what? All the online job applications she had filled out were for human resources positions. No wonder her resume didn’t work!
After rewriting her resume, she found work relatively quickly and it just goes to show how important it is to aim before you pull the trigger.

Know your audience, be proactive, and remember that it’s not about you. If you apply these things to your job search, you’ll be employed in no time!

Need more help with your job search?

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

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

3 Tips For Staying Positive During A Holiday Job Search

December 6, 2022

Don’t let your employment status dictate how much you enjoy the holidays. This is a time for happiness, family and friends, and delicious food!

I mean, c’mon. There’s no reason why your job search should interfere with Grandma’s famous pumpkin pie. But it can be hard to stay positive during the holidays when those aunts and uncles are nagging you about your job search and old friends are asking what you’re doing for work these days.

It can be so tempting to completely remove yourself from holiday festivities so you don’t have to experience that agonizing awkwardness of answering the same dreaded questions over and over again. Don’t let your insecurities ruin the most wonderful time of the year. Here are our three tips for staying positive during your holiday job search:

1. Don’t Allow Yourself To Feel Sorry For Yourself

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You don’t have time for that pity party nonsense! You’ve got to bake cookies, play with your dog, and sip hot cocoa with your family.

Whenever you start feeling worn down from the stress or start feeling bad for yourself, do something productive. You could make yourself a structured job search plan that incorporates, or research companies you’re interested in. Or you could do something that’s not related to your job search at all.

You can hit the gym, take a walk outside to get some fresh air and sunshine, or you can indulge in a good book for 30 minutes. Don’t feel guilty about doing these thingsâthey’re necessary for your mental and physical health, which are two things you can’t neglect, especially during a job search.

2. Focus On What You’re Excited About

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When someone asks you, “How’s the job search going?” don’t focus on the negative. Remember: you have the power to control the tone of this conversation. If you focus on your lack of successâhow many interviews you haven’t gotten or how many companies didn’t call you backâyou’re not only going to make the conversation awkward for both of you, but you’re going to feel awful about yourself.

Instead, tell them about a few companies and opportunities you’re excited about. Focus on your little wins like having a great informational interview with someone from one of your target companies. Convey your enthusiasm for finding a new job opportunity. It’ll make you feel uplifted, and it gives you the opportunity to talk about your job search in a positive way.

3. Laugh, Dance, And Be Merry

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What makes you laugh out loud, even when no one is in the room? What songs make you want to get up and dance, even when people are looking? Find those little things that make you happy and pepper them in throughout your day. There’s honestly nothing better than a good laugh.

Distract yourself with positivityâand don’t feel bad about taking a “Happy Break” every once in a while. It will help keep you in balance during your holiday job search.

Need more help with your job search?

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

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Job, Career, Or Calling: Which One Do You Need?

December 5, 2022

If you read my article from last week, I talked about COVID-19 career PTSD. There are so many people who are stuck in their careers right now and can’t figure out what to do next. I know from 20 years of career coaching that the answer lies in figuring out whether you need a job, a career, or a calling.

The Difference Between A Job, A Career, And A Calling

@j.t.odonnell Do you need a JOB, CAREER or CALLING right now???? @j.t.odonnell #careers #jobs #jobtok #careertok #tiktok #howto #dreamjob #workitdaily â¬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

A job is something that just pays the bills. It’s serving a singular purpose. You don’t feel any identity tied to it. A really great example of people who work jobs would be Olympic athletes. A lot of them will work at places like Home Depot because they can just go in and do the job. A job like that has flexible hours, which is perfect for them because their main pursuit is becoming an Olympic athlete. Or maybe you’ve got something going on with family right now that’s way more important than feeling connected to the work that you do. Whatever the reason, you just need a job where you can punch in and collect a paycheck.

Then there’s a career. I would say the majority of people fall into this category. These are people who want work to be meaningful to them. We’ve seen a big shift in this as a result of the pandemic. People are becoming purpose-driven professionals who don’t just want to do a job. They want the work that they do to have some sort of impact or meaning or at least make them feel satisfied. Careers support intrinsic motivation, meaning you do the work because of the connection that you feel to it, whether it’s the connection to the work itself or maybe to the organization and what they do. And that becomes very important for satisfaction. We have to do work that works for us. So when you know you want a career, you have to pursue it differently. You have to become a job shopper. That’s how you’ll find the right career for you.

The last category is a calling. Very few people fall into this type of work. This is when what you do becomes a large part of your identity. Finding a calling happens when people get super passionate about solving a problem, alleviating a pain, and creating more happiness. I have a calling. I left corporate America 20 years ago because I got very frustrated about the fact that the people that we were recruiting that we weren’t able to place could have secured better jobs if they had received coaching. So I became a career coach, and for the last 20 years, I’ve been trying to disrupt that industry and build an online platform for people. It’s come at a sacrifice. I’ve traded out a lot of hobbies and recreation to put toward work. Also, financially, this isn’t overly lucrative. But I’m doing it because it makes a difference. And that’s important to me. That’s a calling. It’s not for everyone, but it might be for you.

So which one do you need right now? A job, a career, or a calling?

Need more help finding a job, career, or calling?

I’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! I look forward to answering all of your career questions in our next live event!

Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words

December 2, 2022

In today’s job marketplace, your resume is the very central document you possess to get your job application in the fingers from the hiring manager. In case you can’t get your individual resume past the OBTAIN THE, it doesn’t matter just how much experience or how great your cover letter will be. That’s why you have to be tactical and intentional concerning the words and phrases you include in ones resume.

The particular significance of Powerful Job application Words

When a hiring office manager is viewing the same kind of resume time in addition to time again (which consists of the clichÃ© words and even phrases like “highly devoted individual” or “great group player”) you might be guaranteeing that will your resume is going to be thrown. Not only is this probably not optimized together with the right keywords, yet if you take up space using subjective statements, you’re lacking out on the opportunity to evaluate your experience , abilities, and accomplishments on the resume.

Poorly selected words and clichÃ©d terms can destroy the eye associated with the reader. Powerful thoughts, when chosen correctly, might have the opposite effect regarding motivating and inspiring a reader.

Right here are the most effective resume words you ought to use to stay ahead of the main competition and increase your company likelihood of getting hired…

Top 100 Effective Resume Words

Advanced
Designated
Assessed
Absorbed
Accelerated
Achieved
Attracted
Announced
Appraised
Budgeted
Bolstered
Balanced
Boosted
Bargained
Benefited
Beneficial
Comply
Critiqued
Closed
Collaborated
Designed
Assigned
Demonstrated
Developed
Detected
Effective
Enhanced
Excelled
Exceeded
Rampacked
Fulfilled
Financed
Forecasted
Developed
Generated
Guided
Granted
Assisted
Hosted
Implemented
Investigated
Improved
Initiated
Influenced
Integrated
Electricity costs
Instituted
Justified
Listed
Logged
Maintained
Mentored
Measured
Increased
Negotiated
Observed
Operated
Acquired
Promoted
Presented
Programmed
Offered
Projected
Qualified
Quantified
Cited
Recommended
Refine
Revamp
Responded
Retained
Recovered
Reinstated
Declined
Sustained
Skilled
Saved
Planned
Supported
Secured
Simplified
Tested
Segmented
Streamlined
Strengthened
Triumphed
Troubleshot
Taught
Tutored
Converted
Trained
Uncovered
United
Single
Updated
Upgraded
Validated
Seen
Worldwide
Witnessed

Typically the next time you’re composing your resume, be certain to include a number of the strong words above. Your job search depends on that!

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This particular article was originally released at an earlier day.

18 Easy Conversation Starters For Networking Events

November 30, 2022

I think one of the hardest things about networking events is just getting a conversation going with someoneâwithout being awkward about it. Approaching someone new can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. So, what are some natural and easy ways to break the ice?

Here are some tips and tricks for starting a conversation at a networking event:

Go Fishing At The Food Table

While waiting in line for food, start chatting up the person next to you. This is a great opportunity to get a conversation started because you already have something in common: the food. Everyone is thinking about the same thing. What am I going to try? What looks good? So instead of just standing there in silence, start a conversation.

Here are a few conversation starters for this situation:

“Oh man, everything looks so good. I’m not sure what to get! What are you thinking?”
“Yummy, they have ____! Have you ever tried it?”
“Hmm, I’m not quite sure what that dish is…do you know?”

Who knows, you might leave the buffet with a better plate of food AND a new contact! That’s a win-win in my book.

Find A Loner

If you see someone standing alone in the corner, clutching his or her drink, and looking miserable, don’t be afraid to walk up and introduce yourself. Typically, these people need a little help getting the conversation going.

Here are some icebreakers:

“Man, these networking events can be so crazy. Mind if I join you over here where it’s a little quieter?”
“Wow, there are a ton of people here! The food must be good, huh?”

If someone is standing alone, he or she is probably feeling uncomfortable or unconfident. If you initiate the conversation, it could make them feel more relaxed and willing to connect.

Compliment Them

Everyone loves compliments, especially when they are feeling insecure (and many people do feel that way when attending networking events). If you’re struggling to start a conversation with someone, find something to compliment.

Here are some ideas:

“Yum, that drink looks good. What is it?”
“Cute shoes! Where did you get them?”

Talk About Sports

People love talking about sports. If you’re a sports person, use it to your advantage!

See someone wearing a Red Sox cap? Say something like, “Red Sox fan, huh? Did you catch the game yesterday?” Overhear a group of people talking about last night’s game? Express your interest in the conversation by saying something like, “Are you talking about ____?” and then chime in.

Just Say Hello

Sometimes, the easiest way to meet someone is to offer a handshake and say, “Hi, I’m Peter.”

Simply introducing yourself with a smile and a dash of confidence can work wonders.

Keeping The Conversation Going

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, yes, that’s all well and good, but how can I keep the conversation going after the initial question? It’s easy! Talk about something else you have in commonâthe event itself!

Here are some ideas:

“I’m Gina, by the way, nice to meet you…”
- “So, is this your first time at one of these events?”
- “So, how did you hear about this event?”
- “What a great place for an event, huh? Have you ever been here before?”

After that, try learning more about them. Questions can include:

“Are you from the area”
“What line of work are you in or trying to get into?”

Next step: get them talking. Remember, people generally like to talk about themselves. So, once they tell you what they do, ask questions about it. Here are a few:

“That’s very interesting…”
- “What drew you to that line of work?”
- “What do you like about your job?”
- “Why are you interested in working in that industry specifically?”

BONUS: Your Exit Strategy

It’s that time: your drink is dry and you’re ready to move on. When the conversation starts to wind down, don’t try to force more. Remember, you’re there to mix and mingleâdon’t chain yourself to one person all night.

If you’d like to exit a conversation, try one of these lines:

“Alright, I’m going to get some food now that the line has died down a bit. It was great meeting you!”
“Have you met Lisa She works in your industry as well. I’m sure you both will have plenty to talk about. I’ve got to say hello to someone, but I’ll be back.”
“Well, I think it’s time for me to head out. I would love to talk with you again, though! May I have your card/contact information?”

Remember these conversation starters (and enders) during your next networking event to get the most out of your time there. Happy networking!

Need more help with your career?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date and was inspired by the author’s personal experiences and the advice of Susan RoAne, author of How to Work a Room.

How To Recover From Career PTSD After COVID-19

November 28, 2022

We’re seeing a rise in cases of “career PTSD” since the COVID-19 pandemic. If you don’t know what this is, it’s when you’re feeling anxiety and stress related to work. You feel in a funk. You feel like you can’t find the right career or job for you.

Maybe you quit during the Great Resignation and haven’t been able to find the right job. Or maybe you’re really out of it at work and you want to fix it. But you’ve got depression. You’ve got anxiety. Work stresses you out.

Why do you feel this way?

Well, during the pandemic, we all had to juggle so much. Mental safety, physical safety, our health, our family, our friends, our work. And now, as we’re trying to come back to some normalcy, our body’s sort of catching up with us, and it’s giving us a hard time.

So, what can you do to recover from this career-related post-traumatic stress?

Microlearning!Â

@j.t.odonnell Do you have COVID Career PTSD? #careertok #jobtok #jobs #careers â¬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

The solution lies in something called microlearning.

Microlearning occurs when you stop and take a minute or two to learn something. You’re curious and that changes you. It’s firing some synapses in your brain and you’re getting little dopamine hits. You don’t need to (and shouldn’t) do hours and hours of learning every day. Just a few minutes would be a great start because your brain is going to get more curious. You’re going to see more and you’re going to want to learn more. And you’ll actually get to a point where you’re ready to learn. Then you’ll ask yourself, “What’s something I need to learn?”

This is where the choice becomes paramount because the secret to getting back to health is feeling a sense of control and the way we feel control is through choice. If you choose to engage in microlearning today, you’ll eventually get more curious, but you’ll choose what you want to learn and you’ll be able to feel that sense of control again.

Microlearning is the secret to regaining that sense of control that you lost during COVID-19 and reigniting your motivation in your career. Trust me, I’ve been doing this for 20 years. I know it works. This is what my company has been helping people with.

With Work It Daily’s Event Subscription, you can choose what you want to learn. It’s an affordable resource that you can use to try the microlearning process and get your sense of control back. There are thousands of people in there right now, all talking to one another, learning together, and getting their mojo back. I hope you decide to join them. Your future professional self will thank you.

3 Sneaky Ways To Research A Company

November 22, 2022

When you apply for a job, it’s important to do your homework on the company so that when you get a job interview and your interviewer asks, “What is it about us that drew you to our company?” you aren’t left stumped or jobless.

Not only that, but it’s important to figure out if the company is a place YOU would enjoy working at. So, before you send off that resume, check out these sneaky ways to research a company:

Learn About The People Who Work At The Company

Most companies have a staff page on their website. On this page, the company will list some, if not all, of the employees at the company. Here, you can get the names (and sometimes contact information) of people who you’d be working with if you got the job.

How to learn more:

Check out their LinkedIn profile to see what kinds of work/projects they do.
Start a conversation with them.
Request an informational interview.

Warning: Don’t be creepy or demanding when contacting these people! Simply reach out to them in a professional manner, introduce yourself, and tell them you’re interested in learning more about the company and work environment. If they respond, go you! If not, move on and leave them alone.

Find Out What The Company Is Sharing On Social Media

These days, everyone is on social mediaâincluding employers. Look them up on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and so on. Look closely at what they’re tweeting, posting, or filming. This is a great way to get a feel for the company’s values.

When browsing the social channels of companies, ask yourself these questions:

What events are they promoting?
What articles are they sharing?
How are they interacting with their followers?

Take note of anything that jumps out at you. If something fascinates you, mention it in your cover letter or interview.

See What The Employees Are Saying

Ever wished there was a place that rated companies based on how much people like working there? Well, now there is! Sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Comparably are great places to learn about a potential employer and how people like working there. With these sites, individuals can comment on the company’s benefits, culture, work, and more. Not only that, but they can rate a company based on how much they like working there.

You can also learn more about salary and past interviewing experiences! According to Indeed’s Employer Branding Survey, 83% of job seekers say their decisions on where to apply are influenced by employer reviews.

So before you apply for a job, make sure you do your research. Doing a little research can go a long way in your job search. Don’t be lazyâlearn more about your dream company now!

Need more help with your job search?

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

This article was originally published at an earlier date.