Sometimes career gels. You're happy, successful, and producing well. Other times, it just feels off. 

Looking at the whole of your career can be daunting. Don't.

Consider your current situation and break the whole career into steps.

Consider the following questions. These represent a few key moments that can cause us to feel stuck. If you feel you have the answer, move on to the next. If you initial response is, "I don't know" or "I'm not sure," dig deeper.

The start of a new year is always a good time to make plans. Here are a few suggestions for New Year's Resolutions for the career minded. We would also love to hear about any resolutions that you have personally set. Submit your comments through our blog. 

Planning for your own professional performance development.
A big change for everyone is that companies don't spend as much money on training as they once did. Even if they offer training, it is based on their needs for today. Each person needs to take responsibility for their own personal performance development plan. Set your goals for 2018.

Understanding functional and industry skills
If you already understand the changing nature of your field, map out the skills and knowledge you need to build. If you are unsure of what the future holds ...

An often overlooked, yet high impact, part of the interview is the chance to ask questions.

Ask good questions. Prepare a list of possible questions and priorities the top 2-3 questions that you want to ask. 

Since, you may only get 5 minutes at the end of the interview. Use them wisely.

Consider what you still need to know in order to assess whether the job is a good opportunity for you.

• Would you give me more details about [Insert the area you need to know more about to understand the scope of the position]?
• Would you give me an example of a [project, problem, challenge] that is typical for this position?
• How would you describe the ideal candidate?
• What are the goals for this position and your expectations for the first 30/60/90 days?
• What happened to the person who was previously in this position? Is this a new position?
• What is the biggest problem/challenge that you want this person to solve for you?
• At the end of the year, how would you know this person was successful?
• What are the resources for this position? (Will you have the resources, money, supplies, people, and information to do your job?)

Decide what factors about the culture and which values are important to you and ask for details. Confirm the fit with your work values and priorities

• Using one word, how would you describe the company culture / the team?
• The "About Us" description on the website says that the company values [its employees, innovation, its customers], would you give me an example?
• Why did you join the company? Why do you stay?
• How was a recent decision made and implemented? (Listen to understand process and involvement of team members)
• Ask your supervisor
  
  • Would you describe your management style?
    
  • How would this position interact with other staff members and other departments?
• Ask the team
  
  • How would you describe the supervisor's management style?
    
  • Would you give me an example of how the team worked together on a recent project?

Understand the process

• What is your timeline for making decisions? 
• What is the next step?
• Do you have any concerns about my candidacy?

Show what you know and verify what you've learned

• I read that [ABC company is merging with DEF]. How will that impact this team?
• I heard that a competitor is launching a new product? How will that change your strategy?

Something you just need a break. Take a step away from the big project, the difficult decision.

Do something that uses a different part of your brain.

I was inspired by the current #OrigamiTMA exhibit at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. (above)

​While I don't think I can jump into the complicated folded crane origami, I can fold a simple paper airplane. (right)

I did have to look up the steps, because if has been a long time since my last paper airplane.

Whether you are actively in a job search, preparing for a specific interview, prepping for an annual review, or considering your personal performance plan, it is a good idea to assess yourself first. Can you list your skills and strengths? Can you recall and communicate your accomplishments and contributions to your organization? Can you honestly assess your readiness to be successful in your current position or in your next position?

If the answer is yes, congratulations! Keep up the good work and keep moving yourself forward. 

If the answer is no, sort of, not really, or something similar, here are a few ways to start.

SWOT Exercise
Conduct a SWOT Analysis to assess how competitive you are

• What does a successful candidate for your current or targeted position look like?
• How do you compare? What are your strengths and weaknesses in relation to the ideal candidate?
• What market opportunities are available that could increase your chances of success?
• What market threats exist that could decrease your chances of success?

What can you do to maximize your strengths, take advantage of the opportunities, minimize your weaknesses and diminish the impact of threats?

For your career development plan, identify a skill or knowledge area that is weak and develop a plan to strengthen. Map out short- and long-term goals and objectives.

Considering Key Questions
1. What one skill do you possess that has most impacted the organization's bottom line/ability to deliver on its mission?

2. Which single project or task do you consider your most significant accomplishment this year?

Sometimes we need to pause from our day to day work to assess ourselves, our performance, and contributions. You can then use this information to talk about accomplishments or build a personal performance plan.

For additional career management and job search information, visit the Resources section. 

#Strengths #SWOT

If you don't know your skills and can't talk about them with others, how is your boss or a prospective employer supposed to see and understand your skills?

The advice and exercises in the Self Assessment page will help you identify your strengths, identify those skills you enjoy using, and describe examples of your work. These steps will ensure that you can offer proof of a competency. 

If you are contemplating a larger transition, these steps can break what you accomplished out of the box within which you worked and reframe them for the new field.

What are your first thoughts about what you do best? Make a list that is a working document, a list you can continue to add to. You can use the Transferable Skills List PDF, linked from the page, as a prompt for skills you may have forgotten from your earlier list.

List your accomplishments (from your work history to volunteer activities; for new graduates, write down your leadership positions in college organizations). The Transferable Skills in Context PDF, linked from the page, can help you remember your accomplishments and write your stories

List examples of work and note the value of each example to current and past organizations, within and beyond the scope of your position. Think of as many examples as possible that you would like prospective employers to know about. 

These skills and stories are then used in your verbal and written communication to exercise your strengths, competencies, and their potential benefits to an employer.

#CareerAdvice #Skills

Before you can begin to tell your story in an effective way, you need to understand your audience and decide on your focus.  This is true of business networking, job search networking, and job interviews.

Most of us, when left to our own devices, tell an unfocused story and don't lead the audience to the conclusion we would like them to reach.

Audience, Setting, and Goals

• Who is your audience?
• What is the setting?
• What are your goals for the conversation?

As these answers change, so should change the focus of the conversation. 

​#Networking #MondayMotivation

"But enough about me, let's talk about you … What do You think about me?"
~ CC Bloom, played by Bette Midler in "Beaches" 1988

When networking at events, do you think other people want to talk more about you or more about themselves?

(Not) surprisingly, people like to talk about themselves and are looking to do that at networking events. 

You don't need to overwhelm them with your accomplishments to impress them. You can impress them and create a strong rapport by showing a genuine interest in who they are, asking intelligent questions, and helping them connect with other people.

Additionally, networking is a conversation and not an interview. Ask a question, actively listen to the answer, comment on the answer, and ask for additional information.

You can help a shy person come out of their shell and direct the conversational stream of a talkative person.

To help connect with someone and increase rapport, here are a few questions to consider asking:

• How did you get started in this field?
• What are some interesting trends that you are noticing?
• How has the work changed? 
• How do you stay up-to-date in the field?
• If I wanted to learn more about ___, who would you recommend that I talk with?
• What do you enjoy most about your work/job? 
• What are some of your current frustrations/challenges?
• Which skills and personal characteristics have helped you be successful?
• What are some big challenges a career changer faces when entering this field/industry?
• What are the major ways technology is used across all functions in this industry? …in your company?

What are questions that you like to use when you meet a new person? Share your suggestions in the comments.

#Networking #NetworkingQuestions #ThursdayThoughts