Career

Make Your Career Transition Easier on Yourself…

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The accelerated pace of technological change is reshaping jobs in ways that require you to constantly reinvent your career. Here are three ways to make what can feel like a daunting transition easier.

First, finding your next role almost always takes longer than you expect. If you want your liminal period—where you must navigate between a past that’s over and a future that’s still uncertain—to lead to real discovery, you need to experiment with divergent possibilities while delaying commitment to any one of them.

Next, human beings are very good at either-or thinking: Either I’m leveraging my old skill set or I’m pivoting to something new. But making a career transition usually entails doing both simultaneously. Consider staying in your old job while exploring your options until something new becomes viable.

Finally, when it comes to making a career change, the connections you already have might not be that helpful. You need to build new relationships in two ways: by bridging, which involves creating or reactivating relationships beyond your current social circle; and by bonding, which involves deepening ties and finding community within a close circle of kindred spirits.

Silence Your Inner Critic Before Your Next Job Interview…

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Job interviews can make even the most confident person question themselves. But it’s important to quash those negative thoughts so that you can allow your best self to shine.

First, remember that the interview isn’t about proving your technical expertise or subject-matter mastery. You already demonstrated that in your application, and the interviewers want to know what it will be like to work with you. So let go of needing the interview to be technically perfect.

As with every skill, the more you do it, the better you’ll be, so practice, practice, and practice some more. As your aptitude improves, so will your confidence level. Manage your anxiety by focusing on the elements you can control. For example, if you’re worried about arriving on time, try taking multiple routes to your destination before the day of the interview to see which one gets you there fastest. Above all, put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. Articulate the team’s needs as you understand them, and tell a story of how you’ve solved similar problems.

Following these tips will help you overcome your nerves and place yourself head and shoulders above the competition.

Leaders Need to Learn How to Take Criticism…

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If you’re in a leadership position, you need to know how to take criticism well. Being resilient will help you stay focused on what the company needs, rather than on the naysayers.

One strategy is to brainstorm several ways to respond to criticism and write them down for reference. It can be hard to know what to say at the moment, so general responses will ensure you have something ready. They could include: “Thank you for sharing your point of view. I’d like to consider it more and get back to you” or “Let me repeat what you said, to make sure I understood you.” Another good strategy is to remind yourself that the criticism may be aimed at your role rather than at you personally. If you’re the head of product, for example, it’s possible that the head of sales will always clash with you, no matter who has the job.

Distancing yourself from criticism this way can help you think through what was said — and what the criticism is really about.

Keep Up Your Confidence During a Long Job Search…

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If you’ve lost your job, it can be hard to stay positive and remember your past successes. But in order to sell yourself to prospective employers and land the next job, you need to believe in your abilities. Here’s how to hold onto your confidence during a lengthy job hunt.

  • Write down 10 reasons why you’re successful—and read them every morning. What led to your past accomplishments? What skills do you possess? What relationships do you value? Remind yourself of these facts every day.
  • Set daily and weekly goals. Determine the specific period of time you’ll spend updating your resume, practicing interviewing, researching opportunities, and applying to jobs. And don’t just look at your career—consider personal goals you haven’t had time to reach.
  • Network. Reach out to former colleagues, managers, and classmates. You don’t have to do this alone.
  • Take care of yourself. Job hunting can be exhausting. Take time to do things you’re good at or love, such as playing a sport, biking, or simply reading a book. Adding low-pressure, achievable goals to those activities—for example, “I will read 30 pages a day,” or “I will bike 10 miles this week”—can help you feel accomplished.
  • Volunteer. This is a great way to keep your skills sharp and even develop new ones. Bringing your expertise to a volunteer space will remind you of your value, and helping others will boost your confidence, gratitude, and mood.

Choose a Career That Matches Your Personality…

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Don’t beat yourself up if you have the type of personality where you get easily bored or distracted. You’re not alone. And as long as you choose a job or career that matches your natural temperament, there’s no reason you can’t be successful. 

For example, you might consider entrepreneurship, a career path that provides lots of variety. From coming up with an idea, to finding the resources to turn that idea into action, to interact with customers or clients, there’s rarely time for boredom or routine. 

If you have difficulty switching off or disconnecting, you may want to consider a career in PR or media production. There’s never a dull moment in those jobs where you have to be prepared to react to news or learn how to communicate with very different audiences in a wide range of media. 

Another career if you want to avoid monotony and routine is consulting, where you regularly interact with new clients and take on novel problems. 

Your personality is an inherent part of who you are. Identifying a role that is a fit for your natural disposition will help you improve your job performance and maximize your career potential.

How to Answer One of the Hardest Job Interview Questions

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The job interview question, “Tell me about yourself,” can be the most challenging to answer. It requires careful consideration to provide an effective response. Rather than sharing your life story or job history, focus on what the company needs from the role you are applying for.

Begin by reviewing the job description and identifying key requirements and desired skills. Look for phrases like “required,” “must have,” and “highly desired.” Then, research the company’s corporate culture and core values. Visit their website’s “About Us” section to understand what they stand for and what they’re looking for in a candidate.

Consider how you can connect your background and interests to what the company is seeking. Practice your response so that you can confidently deliver it during the interview. You want to sound like your career has been building towards this role and that you are the best candidate to fill it. Remember, the interviewer is not looking for a monologue of your professional and personal life, but rather a clear and concise statement of your qualifications and relevance to the role.

Effective Soft Skills in Any Job…

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Even if you’re working in a job that feels temporary, dead-end, or just isn’t the one, you’re not wasting your time. You can use this opportunity to develop some invaluable soft skills that will serve you in any career you might pursue down the road.

  • Problem-solving. Every job has challenges, some more complex than others. Being adept at problem-solving—which includes understanding the problem and root cause, then brainstorming solutions and alternatives—shows structured thinking with logic-based reasoning.
  • Effective communication. Being able to translate complex ideas for any audience (customers, clients, coworkers) is a critical capability in every field. Think of your job as an opportunity to practice adjusting your communication with each person you interact with.
  • Teamwork. Every job, on some level, requires some degree of collaboration. Practice new ways to resolve conflicts, align stakeholders, and partner with colleagues to advance your team’s goals.
  • Leading and influencing (even without authority). You’re more than just a cog in a machine. Look for opportunities to voice your opinions and ideas, mentor others, and contribute to your workplace culture.
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