You may be thinking of making your next career move. If you want to make that move successfully, it's important to know which of your strengths to play to. So, how exactly do you find that out?
"You are a business-of-one. If you think of yourself as a business-of-one, any good business has a clear sense of what their strengths are and what they should be marketing about themselves. By knowing that, it makes it easier for them to dial in and target the market they want to go after."
In this episode, I talk about two simple (and free) tests you can take that will help you determine your next career move.
Are you terrified of screwing up a job interview? Does the thought of writing a cover letter horrify you? Are you scared to network with others? What do you even say, anyway? If you're struggling to overcome your job search fears, this live event is for you.
We get it. Looking for work can be scary, especially if you’ve been at it for a long time and haven’t gotten any results.
Understanding which fears are getting in the way and how to overcome them will make all the difference. Sometimes you might not be aware of which obstacle is getting in the way of your goals. If you want to overcome these fears once and for all, we invite you to join us!
In this training, you’ll learn how to:
Utilize strategies for coping with your job search fears
Be confident in your job search—from writing your resume to networking
Face your fears and move forward
Join our CEO, J.T. O'Donnell, and Director of Training Development & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this live event on Wednesday, October 5th at 12 pm ET.
CAN'T ATTEND LIVE? That's okay. You'll have access to the recording and the workbook after the session!
In today's competitive job market, it's so important that you keep learning and growing. But you know what? Time is scarce. It is hard enough to get the job done each day let alone plan for the next step in your career. But, if your career is a priority, it is critical to find ways to learn and grow so that you can continue to advance your career and develop your skills.
If you are looking for a promotion or raise, you're going to have to prove you can add more value. The best way to do this is to continually feed your career with skills and knowledge that show you are worth the raise and promotion.
Here are five ways to develop your skills at work and advance your career.
How Can You Develop Your Skills & Knowledge At Work?
If you want to develop your skills and knowledge at work, try getting (and being) a mentor, raise your hand for new challenges, read and look for problems to solve, make friends in other departments (networking is always important!), and find internal learning opportunities.
What Is The Best Way To Develop A Skill?
​The best way to develop a skill at work is to make it a goal and work toward that goal a little bit every day. Consistency is key. Incorporate learning into your daily life by doing the following:
1. Get A Mentor & Be A Mentor
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Having a mentor at work is crucial to attaining new skills and knowledge. A good mentor will help you solve some of the challenges and roadblocks you face. The best mentors will help you figure out the next steps that work for you and help guide you over hurdles that sit squarely in your blind spot.
Amazing mentors will be the people who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. They will give you the real feedback you need to fill in your blind spots that put you in a position to advance.
Mentors are important to advancing your career. They can expose you to new experiences and points of view.
When you become a mentor, you pay your learnings forward to others to help them advance as well. You learn a lot about motivating people and teaching them new skills when you can also act as a mentor at work.
2. Raise Your Hand For New Challenges
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When you see new opportunities to learn new skills, go for it. If there is something in the company you want to learn to do and you see an opportunity to learn those skills in a special project or a new assignment, make the grab.
Do a little extra when it's required to learn those new skills that you need to advance. Remember, it's not aggressive to reach for a new opportunity. It is helpful, useful, and valuable.
People who progress in their careers find ways to elegantly make grabs for new learning opportunities.
When a new project comes up and it aligns with the skills you're looking to obtain, raise that hand. Let your manager or HR team know that you want to learn some new skills or gain new, more advanced experience. Be clear on what you can offer to the project and get involved.
3. Read, Read, Read & Look For Problems To Solve
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Sometimes there are not a lot of grabs to make. We understand that. We recommend that you start reading everything you can about your industry and your field.
Study everything there is to know about your company and its competitors. Know the company goals and unique selling points of your company like the back of your hand. Become an expert in these things and be able to talk about them. Think about some solutions to the company's chief challenges.
Honestly, when someone on my team comes to me with a solution, they stand out.
When there are not many special projects to make a grab for, you can develop and pitch your own special project by knowing what challenges you can solve for the company. This way, you learn new skills and stand out because you've taken the time to solve a company problem.
4. Make Friends (Network) In Other Departments
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Many times, new skills are outside your department or area of influence and responsibility. To overcome this, think about networking internally.
Get to know people in other divisions, other offices, and on other teams. Be curious about their department. Learn everything you can about their job and their skills. Find out how they got those skills and see how you might be able to chip in over there in your spare time to develop those skills you want to use to grow your career.
5. Find The Learning Opportunities Internally
The last one is one I always forget about.
Many companies have some sort of internal learning system. Go talk to your benefits team. Find out about training opportunities available to you. Learn about any tuition reimbursement benefits you may have. Talk with your HR team about what you want to learn and how it can help the company.
Developing new skills doesn't have to mean going back to school in the evenings. Sometimes the skills you're looking for are right in front of you. It's a matter of knowing what you want to learn and finding ways to develop those skills while you are at work. After all, if you want to achieve career success, you have to work on your career just as much as you work in it!
If you're struggling to develop your skills and grow your career, we can help.
Is there one thing you can say in a cover letter that will guarantee it accomplishes its purpose? Absolutely!
A cover letter serves as an introduction to your resume and to yourself as a candidate for employment. It's the place to show your interest in the position, and make a personal connection between who you are and why you're a great fit for the opportunity.
Showing your interest and passion for the company is important in the cover letter. However, saying this ONE thing is almost an ultimate guarantee you'll get the interview.
Ask For It
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You know that old saying, "Ask and you shall receive"? It's true. It may sound like common sense and obvious advice, but how many times have you sent a cover letter with your resume and not asked for the interview? It's easy to do!
Should You Ask For An Interview In A Cover Letter?
You may be hesitant to ask for an interview in your cover letter (or might just forget to do so) but you absolutely should. It shows confidence and enthusiasm for the opportunity.
How Do You Ask For An Interview In A Cover Letter?
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In the closing paragraph of your cover letter, all you need to do is ask the employer for an interview. Statistics have indicated job seekers who ask for the interview in their cover letters are twice as likely to get the interview.
Below, we give you several examples that you can modify and use in your own cover letter.
Examples Of How To Ask For A Job Interview In Your Cover Letter
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Ending #1
I'm excited about the Director of Sales position with XYZ Widgets and would love the opportunity to meet in person to further discuss my experience and the value I can offer you as your next Director of Sales. Please call me at 555.555.5555 to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience.
Ending #2
I would love a personal interview at your earliest convenience to further discuss my credentials with you. I can be reached at 555.555.5555 and will follow up as well to make sure you've received my information.
Ending #3
Thank you for your time reviewing my resume. I welcome the opportunity to discuss in a personal interview my qualifications and fit for the position. Feel free to reach me at 555.555.5555 at your earliest convenience.
Ending #4
Thank you for your time and consideration. I'd love the opportunity to further discuss the position and my experience with you. Please reach out to me at 555.555.5555 to schedule an interview.
Remember: you can ask for the interview with any wording you're comfortable with, whether that's with more direct language or not. The key thing is to close your cover letter by asking for the interview.
A cover letter is your chance to connect with an employer and explain your passion for what they do and how you believe you can help them achieve their goals as a company. If you do all that and ask for the job interview at the end of your cover letter, you'll be much more likely to get a call from the hiring manager.
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