WOKEN

Since it’s Employee Appreciation Day, remember that employees give so much of their lives to you. Specifically, I want to share a PSA for anyone in charge of developing a RTO policy: People are out there working hard and driving or commuting to work day in and day out, while the sun is still rising and don’t get home until sunset or later. What a damn long tiring day. A 50-hour workweek translates to ~200 hours per month, and 2,600 hours per year… Sure, they may “need” this job too, but think of the time, consistency, and energy they devote to you and your workplace. Personally, I feel lucky and enjoy working from home. But every so often when I get a reminder of the MANY commuters out there, I am in awe at their persistence, diligence, and commitment. Working in person all the time used to be the norm, but now that it’s not, I think it’s okay to recognize the extra energy it truly requires. I’d encourage employers to think about arrangements that give your employees flexibility and empowerment. You can find a way to have people be in person sometimes but also do what they need to do, when they need to do it (make a doctor’s appointment, take your kid to their soccer game, etc.) if it still means that they will get your work done. Set expectations for the work and deadlines, set guidelines for some in person time so that the team can collaborate, but don’t forget, they are human. They’ll appreciate the autonomy and they might just reward you with their retention. _____________________________ ?? Ready to identify your best-fit career? Let’s talk—DM me! ?? Found this valuable? Share it with others who are exploring career paths. ?? I post tips on career exploration and career navigation weekly—follow me for more tips....

How do you figure out what work you’d enjoy doing? For me, I always say you should think about suitability and alignment. There is no perfect dream job, but you CAN figure out what career path feels right for you based on your priorities and your strengths. Here’s how to get deep into figuring out what role and industry you would most align with: - Think of past projects when you were in flow – Maybe these were projects you initiated or chose to take on. They could’ve been within work or outside of work. (Hint: I used to volunteer as a career coach for many years before becoming one full time!!) - Break it down – Once you think of past projects you loved doing, think about what key skills went into those projects. Were you researching? Training others? Selling? Consulting? Analyzing data? Get deep to articulate and document everything that went into those projects, so you can identify transferable skills you want to make more use of. - Imagine you had a blank slate to design your work week – What would you fill the time with? - Imagine you could be given any project today, what would it be? – What should someone ask you to do? What would you like them to ask you to work on? (can separate this from your current company if your work feels irrelevant – imagine you’re at a fictitious company, what project should you work on?) - What topics or problems get you fired up? – What could you talk about or think about for hours? What are you more bullish and energetic on than your friends? Are there topics you care more about or know more about than others? - What do you enjoy helping others with? What do others come to you for help with? Interested in going deeper? We have an 80+ question career assessment that is DEEPLY reflective. DM me to try it!...

People often think they won’t ever know which role they’re best at- let’s dispel that. Here’s a FORMULA to clarify your most suitable path: 1. Reflect ?? (know your affinities, propensities, strengths, DEEPLY) 2. Identify role options?????? 3. Learn a LOT via research & networking with people in those roles —> deeply understand what those roles entail?????? 4, Pivot… ??based on what you’re hearing, what else should you look into? If you keep doing this, you WILL reach a point of knowing your best fit role!!

We often generalize the “???????? ???? ??????????” without pinpointing exactly what we need to change about our career. ?? Reflect on past roles to know what has and hasn’t gone well and what you’re missing. Is it the role, industry, or environment that needs to change? Or 2 of the 3? All 3? It can be hard to change 2 ingredients simultaneously, so prioritize one factor at a time, based on which is most impactful or which makes it easiest for you to pivot, depending on your goals. Which are you prioritizing?

??????’?? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????. Your mindset can and does often affect your career choices, whether you believe it or not. ???? ?????????????? ????! We have subconscious + conscious thoughts that can either serve us or hold us back. Be sure to regularly (weekly) and explicitly reveal those feelings (journaling, meditation, coaching, peer/peer, therapy, etc) in order to work through, alleviate & overcome them. Turn hesitations —> questions —> information —> career strategies. ??

?? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ?? BUT don’t only blame it on them. The recruiting system at large should be better at getting back to you. But don’t sit back and wait. Take initiative. If you’re following up after an interview, ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????????????; ????’?? ???? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????????. Make it ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? with the 3-5 main skills needed for the job. ?? What else can you send/share to ensure you’re the candidate who stands out? ??

A lot of people THINK they’re networking when they may not be. Make it a part of your job search strategy to…learn how to job search well. ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????. Often we “check the box” by doing easier activities. We often think we’re doing the right things but ask yourself is it working? And if it’s not, how can you adjust your networking approach? Get more informed with how to do stronger outreach or how to consider ways to solicit more intros? Get curious to understand new methods.

Landing interviews is an exciting step forward—?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????? ?? Join our upcoming event with our CEO & Career Coach expert Rachel Serwetz, where you’ll learn how to strike the perfect balance between preparation and authenticity to make a strong impression. What You’ll Learn: 1?? How to balance practice with spontaneity so you’re ready to tackle questions without sounding scripted. 2?? Effective techniques to boost your confidence before and during the interview. 3?? Proven strategies to stand out and showcase your unique strengths throughout the process. ?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????? Join and gain expert insights to take on your next opportunity with confidence. ?? Date: 11/04 ?? Time: 3 PM EST ??? RSVP: https://bit.ly/3NTSXao

You’ve found a job posting. What do you do next? (hint: it’s not applying!) Assess if you’re a fit!: Break Down the Requirements: For each qualification listed, rate yourself. How competent are you in that area? Have you demonstrated this skill in other roles? Could you communicate that effectively in your application? Rank Your Interest: Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you want to. For each skill or responsibility, assess your level of interest. Are you excited by this role, or are you just going through the motions? Apply if You Meet 70% of the Qualifications: You don’t need to check every single box to be a strong candidate. If you meet 70% or more of the qualifications, go for it! Identify Skill Gaps: If you notice areas where you’re lacking, that’s valuable insight. It could mean you need to upskill, or it could indicate that this role may not align with your strengths or future goals. Job postings are actually a great tool for reflection and growth. They can be used to make intentional moves for your career development. Keep in mind, job postings also can often be confusing, vague, and misleading. Take time to learn how to properly read and interpret the relevant job postings in your field by leveraging a mentor’s help to do so, so you can effectively narrow down which postings are most worth your time, given your fit and goals.

Self belief > imposter syndrome, obviously. But how do you *actually* build that confidence? Become your own coach. Here’s how: First, you need to hear yourself think. Identify what you’re feeling and then, the next step is figuring out why you are feeling that way. Sometimes, our imposter syndrome comes from an untrue story we started telling ourselves years ago that’s not even relevant anymore but for some reason, you still believe it, or something that one person did to you many years ago. “De-associate” those old beliefs from who you are at present. They perhaps had more relevance or validity at the time that they occurred, but they should not affect or hold you back now. You are likely a VERY different person since that point in time! Spend the time you need to work through this. Sometimes the “aha moment” comes quickly, other times it takes longer. Either way, the process is valuable. Every limiting belief is an opportunity to move yourself forward. Instead of judging your feelings, recognize that they’re showing you exactly where you need to grow. Be grateful for the chance to notice and rewire your thoughts. Reframing is key. For example, instead of thinking “I’m stuck,” you could shift to “I’m going to concretely identify what I need more support with.” It’s valid to feel stuck, but translate that feeling into something constructive, actionable, positive, and forward-looking. Finally, put habits in place to help you handle these feelings when they pop up again. Self-talk is powerful. You may not be able to eliminate doubt forever, but you can train yourself to respond to yourself in a kinder way that propels you forward each time.