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Setting (Realistic) Goals
Back in early November, I wrote an article about career planning tips (link here) which included a suggestion that you set goals for yourself. At Career Solutions Group, one of our focuses is on helping clients’ career plan and come up with realistic goals. Talking with a friend about it the next day, I mentioned the way I phrased that suggestion: “Set (realistic) goals. You might want to become a multi-million dollar business tycoon, but your career plan should NOT be ‘Step one: become multi-million dollar business tycoon, end of plan.’” My...
read moreSetting Goals, Not Burdens
Setting goals can be invigorating or destructive. A well set goal will be motivating, energizing, and achievable. A poorly set goal will be a burden, a form of self-punishment. I am reminded of two ancient stories that convey the sense of a poorly set goal. The first is Sisyphus who spent eternity pushing a rock up a hill only to have it roll down again. The second is the Danaids who carried water in jugs with holes, the water always leaked out before they reached their destination. In myth, these eternal tasks are punishments set by an...
read moreLinkedIn Giveaway: Profile Makeover
Did you know that LinkedIn is the number one way our clients find new positions? With over 300 million registered users, LinkedIn is one of the best resources for job seekers or career changers on the search for their next opportunity. In honor of the new year, Career Solutions Group is offering LinkedIn Giveaway, offering you a free LinkedIn Profile makeover, complete with a professional head shot from our wonderful photographer Dawn (here is her website). Just send us a message at Katy@CareerSolutionsGroup.net about why you need a killer...
read moreUsing Social Media to Create an Effective Network
In our conversation about networking we’ll now be turning to the world of cyberspace. The internet is a powerful tool for job seekers and career changers because it allows users to grow a large network of like-minded professionals, and engage in new content much faster than ever before. In fact, at Career Solutions Group we work with our clients specifically on growing an online network. Having said that, getting comfortable with sending connection requests and growing your network can take some work. For many people (myself included) online...
read moreWhy We Love Networking (and so should you!)
Networking. A straightforward and yet perplexing task that we must all partake in multiple times over the course of our lives. Networking is the process of creating connections with others who might later help you professionally. Now, people in your network are not all necessarily business partners; I count friends and family in my network, as do many other people. But the process of networking is essential for finding new job opportunities, and potentially helping others to do the same. At Career Solutions Group, in fact, one of the things...
read moreNetworking: You, Me, & We
What is networking, really? Networking is the act of building relationships, of sharing new ideas and giving & receiving support. Being part of a good, supportive network can provide new perspectives, fresh ideas, and access to new opportunities. By being proactive in your network, you no longer have to wait for the perfect job ad to be posted. You can instead tap into a hidden job market, another 30% of the available job openings that haven’t been publicly advertised. Your network can and should consist of many different people in your...
read moreUsing Technology in Your Career Plan
We live in a rather marvelous age when it comes to technology. 100 or even 50 years ago, we did not have access to the same wealth of information that we do now, often wherever or whenever we want it. Really, it’s a rather marvelous thing that you can hold a compilation of all human knowledge in the palm of your hand and learn anything at the touch of the button, though I must personally admit to being partial to looking at funny cat photos. With access to such a wealth of information, it would be a shame not to use it to create and follow a...
read more7 Ways to Career Plan Effectively
In Elementary school, I was under the impression that when you graduated college you were handed both a degree and a career path. “Congratulations on finishing 16+ years of education, here is what your career path looks like based on those 16+ years!” You may be chuckling to yourself, but you can’t blame seven-year-old me for imagining this to be the case. However, it turns out that a “career” is a much more complex and mutable beast than 7 or even 21 year-old me thought it would be. Careers take planning, but planning something as capricious...
read moreUsing Social Media to Help Nail your Interview
I’ve written a number of posts about using social media in the job search: finding jobs, contacting recruiters, promoting a positive image, etc. But what about interviewing? The job interview is one of the most important parts of the job search process, as it allows the company to see if the candidate would be a good fit, and the candidate to scope out whether they like the company. This latter point is where social media can offer assistance. Before even considering the job interview, go back through your social media. Are all the pictures...
read moreFive Interviewing Tips (That You Might Not Normally Consider)
Interviewing is difficult at the best of times, and can be impossible if you struggle with nervousness or stage fright. Trying to showcase your best abilities while also stopping your hands from shaking is a daunting task, but there are ways to decrease your nerves and put your best foot forward in job interviews, several of which many people don’t think of. Stand while you’re waiting. This may not work, especially if you’re waiting for a while, but standing up does two things. First, it opens up your diaphragm for better air flow, which will...
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