Jumpstart Your Career Passion

January 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

According to a Gallup survey, 71% of US employees are disengaged and this is not just linked to productivity but your health and wellbeing. I read a great piece in The Glass Hammer by Henna Inam about reigniting your career passion. Sometimes we all need a little jumpstart to reinvigorate a fading career passion when burn-out or the stagnancy of a career rut slows us down.

Henna Inam’s five steps to reigniting your career passion will help you fall in love again with what you do. Sometimes you don’t need a new career – just a different lens to look at the career you already have.

1.      Peak Experiences

Start by writing down the job tasks or experiences in your career that you absolutely love. Focus on those that bring a spring to your step, according to Inam and look for common themes. These are the things you want to do more of.

2.      Personal Brand

Reflect upon your purpose, strengths, and core values. A big part of personal engagement is whether or not you are playing to your strengths and honoring your professional values. What is your personal brand? You must know what gives you a sense of purpose in order to maintain the passion in your career and seek out opportunities to enact those values more regularly in your workplace.

 3.      Position Alignment

Does your current job align with your personal brand and your values? Do whatever tweaking is necessary to realign your career to be fulfilled at work.  Are you playing to your strengths every day? If not, find ways to transition into work tasks that better match your authentic professional self.

4.      People

Relationships are very important in our feeling of fulfillment and engagement at work. Do you have a direct supervisor who recognizes your contributions and encourages your development? The perfect boss is not always possible so seek out mentors and sponsors to foster positive professional relationships and play that role for others in an effort to pay-it-forward.

5.      Past-times

Having hobbies or avocations outside of work can energize you while you are on-the-job. This personal passion on your own time is contagious and spills over into your work life in positive ways. Your energy is a precious commodity and you deserve to spend this on non work related activities as well. Having outside passions will keep you motivated at work.

Consider Henna Inam’s 5 P’s to help you reignite your passion at work. Sometimes a little jumpstart can make all the difference in bringing more fulfillment back into your work and your life.

 

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Everyone Should Have a Business Card

March 31, 2010 By 2 Comments

Business cards can be traced back to the 1600’s in France during the reign of Louis XIV. They were first known as visiting cards and individuals wrote promissory notes and messages on blank cards. They later evolved into a business tool and a way for merchants to market their wares. Today business cards are still a tool of the trade and a way to leave an impression with a new personal or professional acquaintance.

If you work for an established organization chances are you utilize the business card as a networking tool with regularity. I highly recommend that those looking for employment should create personal business cards, also known as networking cards to ramp up the effectiveness of the professional relationship building process. This leave-behind tool can be what helps someone remember you and it provides your contact information which is critical in the follow-up process.

Job seekers should create a simple card with full name, cell phone, and email. If you have a niche market career path (lawyer, chef, accountant, etc.) then you can also include a title. Advanced degrees should be included if applicable to the career field you are pursuing. You should carry your cards everywhere you go and be ready to share them generously with new contacts.

There is no need to spend a lot on business cards. Vista Print has some very reasonable cards in a variety of styles or you can design your own using a Microsoft Word template. Have your template copied or printed onto cardstock and laser cut at your local copy store and you’ll be good to go. This way you can print small quantities at a time.

After I meet someone new, I write notes on the back of their business card to help me remember our interaction. Even in the technology driven world of social media, the business card is an effective tool that will never be obsolete. Exchanging cards in person leads to conversation and gives you an opportunity to showcase your personal brand and value-add. Business cards are the currency used in building new relationships – make sure you are packing this all important tool.

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Networking Bootcamp for Job Seekers Part I

March 21, 2010 By 1 Comment

Networking is a word that often strikes fear in many job seekers. You might feel especially nervous if you are one of those people that claim you don’t know anyone. The point of networking is to develop your community and gather information. It’s about being genuine, authentic, and building trust and relationships with the idea that some day you will be able to pay-it-forward and help others. It’s not about asking for a job.

Here are some strategies for getting started:

  1. Ask yourself what your goals are in developing networking relationships so that you can seek out individuals that will help you gather relevant information.
  2. Have a plan. Be well organized as you develop your network. Track the people you meet with on a spreadsheet or calendar and plan for timely follow-ups.
  3. Know your personal brand. Have a clear understanding of what you do well and what makes you special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must be able to articulate what your special sauce is to others.
  4. Know what you want. Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you.
  5. Look to your existing contacts first. The best place to start is not with cold calling or a blind email campaign. Reach out to the people you already know! These people form the base of your networking foundation and will lead you to referrals.
  6. Tap into your online networks. Let your contacts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn know that you’re job-hunting and update your online profiles regularly.
  7. As you gain momentum, move from the people you know in-person and online to people you haven’t met before. Reach out to referrals you collect from your existing contacts. Ask for an informational interview or job shadow opportunity and be sure to thank the new contact as well as the person who referred you.
  8. Make a phone call whenever possible. Distinguish yourself by connecting in a more personal way than with an introductory email. Be prepared to leave an articulate message that includes your contact information. The objective is to eventually meet in-person.

The most important piece of advice is to get out there and start meeting people. You will gain confidence as you continue to sharpen this skill but there is no time like the present to get started. May the networking force be with you!

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