2 Key Questions to Figure Out Your Career Goals

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As children, the question of what you want to be when you grow up seems so clear. My 6-year-old self answered, “Obviously I want to be a professional surfer and live off the land.” In reality I have never surfed, and Discovery Channel’s Shark Week continues to diminish that dream every August. If what we all really want to be when we grow up is happy and fulfilled by our professions, it’s possible then that we have been asking the wrong question all along. Maybe the real questions to consider are “Who do I want to be,” and “What environment do I thrive in as a person?”

“Who do I want to be” covers two areas: Where am I right now as a person and what changes should I make to be the person that I want to be? Before getting laid off last fall, I was in an extremely stressful and negative position. The stress and negativity was seeping into every area of my life both personal and professional. I began looking into other job opportunities, but eventually I was laid off and forced to make a change. It truly was a blessing.

The following actions helped me change my situation:

  • Where I am Right now? I took inventory of my professional skills. I kept a journal at my last job to note any projects or tasks I completed regularly, and made sure to have a resume that reflected as such.
  • Consulting with family and friends can help you look at the skills you possess in a different way, and may even help you see where you may naturally fit in. I had many conversations with my dad asking him “what am I good at?”
  • What activities do I engage in that I love? When I was in high school and college I loved to volunteer and work with a lot of different people. Luckily I found a company that fits both, but if you find that you love to help organize, you may be a great executive assistant or event planner. If you love to figure out what makes things work, and how to make them work better, you may be a great manager, executive, or engineer (with some schooling unless you already have the correct certification). It’s all about finding the simple things that you love to do, and then finding a way to do them for a job. What’s the worst that can happen? It doesn’t work out and you keep looking.

What environment do I thrive in as a person: When I was laid off I started thinking about the culture and kind of company I saw myself being happy in. Ask yourself these questions:

  • In what environments are you the best version of yourself? The best version of yourself can change depending on your age and your life outlook, but think about a time when you were truly happy at work. Where were you? What were you doing?
  • What type of people do you best get along with? Are you an extrovert or introvert? Do you like to deal with easy going people in an easy going industry or fast moving people in an industry that never sleeps? A great way to look at this is to see what type of people you are friends with. There is a good chance you get along with people like that.

Author: Elyse Lopez
Image from: weknowmemes.com 

 

3 Tips for Success at Career Fairs

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We have all been there; standing in line in a room full of strangers, attempting to catch the eye of that special someone while rapid firing facts about ourselves. No, I am not talking about speed dating; I am talking about career fairs. While nerve-racking, they can be a great way to get out and meet representatives of companies that interest you. Here are a few tips to maneuver the crowds like a networking Jedi:

Freshen Up

This goes without saying, but I still need to say it. At career fairs, representatives will be meeting you for 5 minutes at the most, so you need to make a great first impression. If you look your best, interviewers and representatives can focus on what you are saying and not the stain on the front of your shirt. Iron your outfit, brush your hair and pack a few breath mints, your interviewers will be happy to have met with you!

Find Blueprints

  • Before you go you will need to know who you are going to see at the career fair. Read over all of the companies from the event site and create a list of the top ten companies you would like to visit, the first five being companies that you would love to meet, the last 5 being ones that you would like to see.
  • After you have your rough plan of attack do some research on LinkedIn, Facebook , and the company website. Ask yourself these questions: How did the company get to be great? Why am I interested in the company? Why do I think I would be an incredible fit for the company?
  • Last but not least, check out the company’s job boards, this way you will be able to point out that you see they have a need for XYZ and you can fill this need with your superior professional skills.

Have the Right Tools

  • Similar to networking events and client meetings, you need to have your information together. Double check your resume by making sure it is cleaned up and neutral to appeal to several industries (Unless it’s an industry specific career fair. In that case showcase your skills for that industry). Make enough copies so that you don’t run out on nice resume paper.
  • Practice your elevator speech beforehand so if you get nervous you’ll have something planned (don’t make it sound robotic, but if you have your basic speech down, you will l be able to work it into a normal conversation. Remember it is not only what you say but how you say it):
    • “Hello my name is Elyse Lopez, I have been interested in your company for some time and I noticed that you had an opening in the sales department. I think you will find that my resume reflects a skill set that would very well suit the position, as I have extensive experience in corporate sales. I would be very interested in setting up a more formal interview.”

Be sure to arrive to the career fair early so that you are able to see at least your top three, and if you’re lucky, all of them. We wish you good luck on your search, and remember if you need a friend in the process, Brightwing would be more than happy to help you out!

 

Author: Elyse Lopez

Image from: www.newschools.org

How to Join the Workforce When You’re Short on Experience

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What do you do when you’re starting out? What do you do when you’re switching industries, or rejoining the workforce?  While every situation is different, many companies are looking  for people with experience.  Here are a few ideas for students, professionals switching industries or those rejoining the workforce:

Students leaving the nest

  • If you are a current student or a recent grad, you may have a few advantages…
    • Internships are usually reserved for students or recent grads. If you are a junior, senior or just graduated, you may have a very good chance at scoring an internship that will essentially be a business school education and your base for an entry level position.  Look for an area and companies that interest you and apply/network like crazy. When you land said internship, be a sponge. Soak up everything you see, hear, habits that successful people have and the way that successful people carry themselves.  Take notes, ask questions and at the end of it, you will have a lot to add to a resume.
    • Clubs and projects are a part of the everyday. You can gain “ideal world” experience that may not be what you actually do in the “real world”; however, the project management skills, planning and presentation experience you gain are invaluable.
    • Networking opportunities are constantly made available. Talk with your peers, professors and guest speakers about their ambitions, where they had success, mistakes they made or tips on how to be successful are all information that you will need.  These people may also help you land a job or internship.
    • College centers can help you market yourself! Never be afraid to go to your college center and have them format your resume, give you interviewing tips or a heads up on volunteer or internship opportunities. It’s their job to help you find opportunities for employment; use them.

Changing Industries with Work Experience

  • Assess the pros and cons: The New York Times quoted John A. Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, who suggests, “For mid-career people, it’s risky to make a wholesale career switch. Unless they are at the beginning of their working lives, many people can’t afford to give up the time and the income required to develop entirely new skills.” If this description fits you, then applying your learned skills to a new industry may be the most economical and fulfilling choice.
  • Research and compare your skills to those of your potential colleagues. Robert Hawthorne, president of search firm Hawthorne Research suggests, “Compare your accomplishments and skills to someone in a similar job who has been working in the industry you’re targeting. That will give you a better read on your chances and help you figure out how to position yourself against incumbents.” This can also help you see the way that industry experts talk about their skills and experiences. You can catalogue your existing skills, and find where you may need more research or experience.
  • Network, network, network! Do research, learn the lingo, see any forecasts for successes or challenges in the industry and then hit the networking circuit. Attend events that are either industry specific or position specific, listen, learn and ask questions. The people you meet here may be able to help you directly, or know someone who has employment needs. If getting a job is about who you know, then go out there and meet people.

 Re-Entering the workforce

Stay-at-home parents, those coming off of extended sick leave, or those coming out of retirement please do not get discouraged. Any volunteering during your time off and past work experience (years ago), can be relevant if you are able to present them in a way that shows you are keeping up with your industry. Our resident interview expert, Karen Melvin, had insight as to how a company may look at an extended leave candidate’s experience:

“First and foremost, if you have been on extended leave you may want to research companies who value a work/life balance. Those are the kinds of companies that are more likely to keep an open mind about extended leave, as opposed to companies that view employees as a number. Before interviewing I would suggest researching the industry to show that you are up on trends, review your resume to refresh your memory about how you acted/ re-acted in certain situations and network to find out any inside industry knowledge.”

As a last resort, or if you are seriously wanting to not only re-enter the workforce, but switch industries and/ or professions altogether, you may want to look into going back to grad school or college. Remember what Christopher Robin said, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” You can do it!

The Unemployment Survival Guide

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Your company tanks. You get laid off. You get fired. You quit. You find yourself without work, and suddenly you lose sight of what you can do to turn life’s lemons into lemonade. Pity parties are natural, but are not a productive way to spend your newly found free time.

Job hunting is a given, as you will be networking like crazy to find new opportunities and to re-connect with those whom you have lost touch, but networking and job hunting will only take up a few hours of your day. What will you do with the free time you have been allotted? Here are a few ideas that may help you grow your talents and re-focus your life.

Learn new work-related skills:

The “summer brain drain” that happens to students during the summer, can also happen during a lapse in employment. Keep up on your learned skills while out of work to stay sharp, but also find a way to learn new skills that can update your resume, introduce you to new groups or even take you on a new career path. Are you established in your career? Find a reverse mentor and learn what they know. Lisa Quast, Forbes Magazine Contributor, says that reverse mentoring is when a younger worker educates and mentors established workers in new skills (ex: social media, online networking, and having a pulse on what’s going on). If you are looking to hone your IT skills, sites like codecademy.com, can teach you basic IT programming languages for free.

Hit the books:

Going back to school to get your master’s degree or to obtain a bachelors degree may fit in perfectly with this time slot. You can take classes during the day and have more time to work on projects and homework in the evening. If you are looking to brush up on general education subjects like math or history, websites like kahnacademy.org can teach you about history, math, science, business, etc. All you have to have is patience, time and curiosity.

Roam where you want to:

Depending on what your finances look like after leaving a job, now is the perfect time to take that road trip, visit countries you’ve never experienced, and see your friend from school that lives on the other side of the country. You may never have a chance like this again until you retire, so make the most of your time. This can be linked to honing new skills, if you decide to start a blog about your travels and experience (hint, hint).

Get involved with your community:

Have you always wanted to help out at a hospital, community center or homeless shelter? Now is the time! For the foreseeable future you will be able to volunteer during normal operating hours, providing maximum help to the organizations regular workforce. In addition to growing yourself as a person, you will be able to work with and meet new people, which can potentially lead to new networks, new opportunities or even new friends. As we have said in previous articles, refreshing your surroundings can refresh your mindset. Helping people is a fantastic way to gain perspective and re-establish your personal and professional goals.

Work out!

Like it or not, life catches up to us and with our schedules as well as the schedules of our loved ones, finding the time to work out can be hard to fit in. If you are already part of a gym, go to the early classes and workout with people who will be on their way to work. You may meet new professional connections or friends. This way after class you will have time to work on yourself. If you are not a gym member try exploring new places such as nearby state parks, road running routes or taking up a kickboxing class. Any way you get active will help your mind and body.

Give yourself a break

Depending on the nature of your newfound freedom, one of the reasons you may not have been performing at your peak at work is stress. We all experience stress in one form or another at different times in our lives, but now that the stress of work is not on your plate it would be in your best interest to give yourself a moment to breathe. Don’t be so hard on yourself, and remember that the only thing you can do now is focus on re-balancing your life, so have fun with it!

 

 

Author: Elyse Lopez

How to Work with Someone with ADHD

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So you worked really hard on your presentation.  You are confident the information you compiled is factual, relevant, and will knock the socks off your boss – maybe change the whole direction of the organization and result in a huge promotion for you.

And then you present. You see your boss’ eyes glaze over; he’s scrolling through his emails on his phone, flipping ahead in the handouts you prepared, and glancing at his watch. Halfway through your most important point – he asks who is taking care of lunch. What happened?

Maybe it’s not you. According to statistics from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention  about 5.2 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Children with this diagnosis may exhibit tendencies to be bored and distracted, procrastinate and be careless with their work product. Those children grow up to be adults and enter the workforce.

Whether they truly have ADHD or are just distracted people, there are a few things you can do to help keep your boss and co-workers on track (and hopefully, focused on the message you want to convey):

  • Keep your presentations short — 20-30 minutes on average
  • Take short breaks during long meetings to allow people to move around
  • Solicit feedback from your audience to keep their interest
  • Follow up with written documentation of your main points

If you manage someone with ADHD symptoms, make sure you:

  • Give precise directions
  • Reward behaviors  you want to encourage — positive feedback is important
  • Break projects into smaller tasks
  • Have checkpoints to ensure they stay focused

Lastly, excluding ALL electronic devices from meetings (whether willingly or by force) couldn’t hurt either!

Information sources:  http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_adult_strategies.htm; http://www.ehow.com/way_5489803_adhd-coping-skills.html.

 

7 Questions to Ask in an Interview

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We have all heard the question at the end of almost every interview, in every industry, at every level. A seemingly simple question, “Do you have any questions for me?” can make a big impact on the outcome of your next interview. As a recent hire here at Brightwing, I had to prepare myself for such a question knowing that I would have to answer it at some point during the interview process, that being said I have a few question ideas for those currently interviewing.

Who would I report to?
A question like this opens the door to learn and also ask follow up questions about managerial style, culture, departmental norms, and their corporate structure. It also allows you to find out how your success will be measured, how often etc.

What are your current challenges?
I have asked this question in the past as clearly there are points of pain if the position is open and needing to be filled. This can help you identify and speak up about strengths that you have that may be able to solve their problem or need.

What do you consider to be the most important aspects of this position?
This is the glass half full side of the challenge question. Why is this position needed and important? This optimistic question opens up the door for you to be positive and share your related experience and what you may be able to bring to the table if hired.

Is this a newly created position?
In growing companies the position you are interviewing for, may indeed be a new one. If it is new, you will be able to then ask why it was created and what they see for the evolution of the position. If the company you are interviewing for is an established company, and the position has long been established, it is a tactful way of asking why the last person left or was let go. If someone was let go, what issues did they have? What was the problem that they couldn’t solve?

Do you enjoy your job?
I have asked this question in an interview a few times, and it’s actually an interesting one because you turn into the interviewer. On one occasion, the interviewer said that he was unhappy with what he was currently doing, but that he enjoyed the company and aspired to change departments. After he opened up, conversations were more natural.

Does your company have paths for professional growth?
If you are an entry level employee this is a good question to ask as it can show that you are interested in learning and growing with the company. If you are an established worker, it shows that you want to mature in your position or learn to be a part of leadership. If you are at managerial level it can show that you want to learn to be a better manager, or are interested in helping the team you will manage grow to be successful. Never stop learning.

What are the next steps?
As a closer, it is important to know if they are keeping interviews open for a while or if they have a specific timeline. It may also give you peace of mind as to how long you may wait to hear back.

“The opportunity you have is what I am looking for”
Tell the company that you like them and that you want to work for them. If you are just looking for a paycheck, I am sure that they wouldn’t be very excited to see you for 40 hours a week either.

I hope you find these tips useful on your next interview. If you are searching for a new position, send your current resume to the Brightwing website to see what opportunities we may have available for you!

 

 

Author: Elyse Lopez

 

7 Questions to Ask in an Interview

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We have all heard the question at the end of almost every interview, in every industry, at every level. A seemingly simple question, “Do you have any questions for me?” can make a big impact on the outcome of your next interview. As a recent hire here at Brightwing, I had to prepare myself for such a question knowing that I would have to answer it at some point during the interview process, that being said I have a few question ideas for those currently interviewing.

Who would I report to?
A question like this opens the door to learn and also ask follow up questions about managerial style, culture, departmental norms, and their corporate structure. It also allows you to find out how your success will be measured, how often etc.

What are your current challenges?
I have asked this question in the past as clearly there are points of pain if the position is open and needing to be filled. This can help you identify and speak up about strengths that you have that may be able to solve their problem or need.

What do you consider to be the most important aspects of this position?
This is the glass half full side of the challenge question. Why is this position needed and important? This optimistic question opens up the door for you to be positive and share your related experience and what you may be able to bring to the table if hired.

Is this a newly created position?
In growing companies the position you are interviewing for, may indeed be a new one. If it is new, you will be able to then ask why it was created and what they see for the evolution of the position. If the company you are interviewing for is an established company, and the position has long been established, it is a tactful way of asking why the last person left or was let go. If someone was let go, what issues did they have? What was the problem that they couldn’t solve?

Do you enjoy your job?
I have asked this question in an interview a few times, and it’s actually an interesting one because you turn into the interviewer. On one occasion, the interviewer said that he was unhappy with what he was currently doing, but that he enjoyed the company and aspired to change departments. After he opened up, conversations were more natural.

Does your company have paths for professional growth?
If you are an entry level employee this is a good question to ask as it can show that you are interested in learning and growing with the company. If you are an established worker, it shows that you want to mature in your position or learn to be a part of leadership. If you are at managerial level it can show that you want to learn to be a better manager, or are interested in helping the team you will manage grow to be successful. Never stop learning.

What are the next steps?
As a closer, it is important to know if they are keeping interviews open for a while or if they have a specific timeline. It may also give you peace of mind as to how long you may wait to hear back.

“The opportunity you have is what I am looking for”
Tell the company that you like them and that you want to work for them. If you are just looking for a paycheck, I am sure that they wouldn’t be very excited to see you for 40 hours a week either.

I hope you find these tips useful on your next interview. If you are searching for a new position, send your current resume to the Brightwing website to see what opportunities we may have available for you!

 

 

Author: Elyse Lopez

 

Halloween Dos and Don’ts for Work and Home

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It is almost Halloween ~ frighteningly fun for adults and children alike! For dogs like me, sometimes it is just plain frightening. Here are some helpful hints for my canine and feline friends as well as our human caretakers.

If you are thinking that your favorite fido or feline companion might look smart in a costume here are some things to think about. Some small and toy breeds (dogs I refer to as “snack dogs”) are used to wearing clothing and probably do not mind dressing up. Most dogs and especially cats are not used to wearing clothing or anything on their feet. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns that “costumes should not limit an animal’s movement, hearing, sight or ability to breathe, bark, eat, drink or eliminate. And watch for choking hazards.” It is also important to remember that common Halloween treats are toxic to dogs and cats: chocolate, raisins macadamia nuts and XYLITOL (the sweetener used in candy, baking and sugar free gum). Do not leave those treat sacks on the counter or close to where your canine and feline pals can get them. Noises and costumes, screams and squeals may scare us. Keep us in a calm place when goblins are trick or treating at your house.

Now you humans have a whole different set of DO’S and DON’T’S for costumes at work. First, DO make sure it is OK to dress up in the first place. Nothing worse than showing up for work and being the only one dressed up. DO make sure people know that it is optional. Some people do not like to dress up or do not believe in celebrating Halloween. DO NOT make people uncomfortable! DO NOT wear something revealing, sexy, gory or offensive. DO NOT make fun of anyone’s religion or political beliefs! DO consider group costumes. It gives people who might otherwise not dress up the chance to participate. DO stay current, if it is old news then it is boring. DO try to involve everyone – make it a party, decorate your workspace have a contest!

For after hours, a Fandango.com survey reveals the top costumes this year are pregnant Bella from the soon to be released  “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -Part 1” and Captain Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean’s”.

Remember the things that go bump in the night may make us animals and people act out of character. Remember these DOs and DON’Ts and everyone will have fun!

Happy Howl~loween!

 

Halloween Dos and Don’ts for Work and Home

,

It is almost Halloween ~ frighteningly fun for adults and children alike! For dogs like me, sometimes it is just plain frightening. Here are some helpful hints for my canine and feline friends as well as our human caretakers.

If you are thinking that your favorite fido or feline companion might look smart in a costume here are some things to think about. Some small and toy breeds (dogs I refer to as “snack dogs”) are used to wearing clothing and probably do not mind dressing up. Most dogs and especially cats are not used to wearing clothing or anything on their feet. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns that “costumes should not limit an animal’s movement, hearing, sight or ability to breathe, bark, eat, drink or eliminate. And watch for choking hazards.” It is also important to remember that common Halloween treats are toxic to dogs and cats: chocolate, raisins macadamia nuts and XYLITOL (the sweetener used in candy, baking and sugar free gum). Do not leave those treat sacks on the counter or close to where your canine and feline pals can get them. Noises and costumes, screams and squeals may scare us. Keep us in a calm place when goblins are trick or treating at your house.

Now you humans have a whole different set of DO’S and DON’T’S for costumes at work. First, DO make sure it is OK to dress up in the first place. Nothing worse than showing up for work and being the only one dressed up. DO make sure people know that it is optional. Some people do not like to dress up or do not believe in celebrating Halloween. DO NOT make people uncomfortable! DO NOT wear something revealing, sexy, gory or offensive. DO NOT make fun of anyone’s religion or political beliefs! DO consider group costumes. It gives people who might otherwise not dress up the chance to participate. DO stay current, if it is old news then it is boring. DO try to involve everyone – make it a party, decorate your workspace have a contest!

For after hours, a Fandango.com survey reveals the top costumes this year are pregnant Bella from the soon to be released  “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -Part 1” and Captain Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean’s”.

Remember the things that go bump in the night may make us animals and people act out of character. Remember these DOs and DON’Ts and everyone will have fun!

Happy Howl~loween!