5 common career mistakes to avoid at all costs

5 common career mistakes to avoid at all costs5 common career mistakes to avoid at all costsAs a headhunter helping countless professionals, from CEO to analyst levels, make and negotiate their next position, here are the most common career mistakes Ive binnenseen candidates fall victim to1. Aiming too lowWhether its salary, title, or font of company, people are too intimidated by interviewers, scared of asking for what they want at every stage of the interview process, and suffer fromimposter syndrome.This is a direct result of decades of indoctrination by authoritative educational, parental, and societal institutions that tend to demolish your self-confidence in an effort to control you. This persistent lack of confidence is the 1 issue candidates suffer from when it comes to selling yourself effectively.2. Saying no to yourselfBecause you feel that you lack the qualifications the job description asks for, you end up bedrngnis going for the opportunity. This continued lack of self- confidence through self-discrimination, combined with the obsession of fulfilling requirements down to the last drop, handicaps good professionals from achieving career greatness.Althoughjob descriptions dont matter, many candidates totenstill try to play by the rules. They dont understand that job search is like war. The victor obtains the spoils. Its every man and woman for themselves.There are no rules in thejob search This is why often psychopaths and liars sometimes get the best jobs and offers. They understand manipulation.Too often, the most accomplished candidates lose because they dont know the song and dance that is job search.3. Not understanding the modern job-search ecosystem and processThere are four major hiring entities that you need to know how to manipulate, maneuver around, and negotiate with. The HR partie, hiring manager, headhunter, and internal recruiter. Each person has a slightly different incentive, process, and interaction protocol. You should behave accor dingly.In addition, the process of the job search is no longer look on the web for listings, apply to jobs that you like, wait for feedback, go interview. The new process is create your marketing documents (including yourresume), master LinkedIn networking, leverage the four hiring entities mentioned above, utilize thevolume of interviews to your advantage, and negotiate throughout.4. Becoming a jack of all tradesThe most dangerous problem candidates run into that seriously limits their market value and range of future career options is becoming a generalist. Corporations no longer value soldiers, willing to do any deed for pay. They want professionals, experts, and true masters of the industry and job vertical. They need these experts to remain viable and stay ahead of their competition.No longer is being eager and willing to work for a firm for the next 25 years a valuable candidate trait. Firms want true market leaders. That means, specialization and experience within a niche ski ll are bedrngnis only good to have, but must-haves to remain a relevant and desirable professional.5. Having no financial plan or powerMost professionals forget that they work largely to make a living. Since most people accumulate worse spending habits every year, people rely on their jobs more and more to fuel their lifestyle. This dependent relationship on a job quickly spirals out of control once their house of cards experiences even the smallest tremor.Because of your deep reliance on your paycheck, your emotions run amuck when experiencing any type of career turbulence.Since your financial woes are so heavy and over-leveraged, you cant see straight, let alone find a career you enjoyIn most of these cases, professionals tend to work simply to chase the dollar, losing all meaning and passion for what theyre working towards outside of living the high life they buy with their post-tax dollars. They become money-mongers. Greed takes precedence. Career meaning, purpose, and ethical b ehavior quickly fall by the wayside when confronted by financial greed.This is the 1 cause of corporate fraud, corruption, pollution, and general nastiness (think Wolf of Wall Street, Enron, and Bernie Madoff). Individual greed driven by a need to keep up with the Joneses pollutes corporate cultures by attracting people who are in it just for the money.In conclusionCareer problems arent simply an amalgamation of your jobs stressors. Your personal, financial, and professional problems, weaknesses, and vices will all meld together to gang up on youif you let your guard down or stray off the righteous path of moral behavior.Stay ahead of the game by learning, networking, and speaking with career experts, colleagues, mentors, and influencers that have the right advice to guide you.Extra tipParents, while well-intentioned, are from a previous generation with very different market dynamics and understanding of what it takes to succeed in the next 30 years. Their strategies, while useful t o them in their heyday, may not work for you.Take what people from an older generation say with amassivegrain of salt. If I listened to my old-school Chinese immigrant parents on what to do in my career, I would nothave retired from corporate life at age 28, thats for sureThis article originally appeared on Quora.5 common career mistakes to avoid at all costsAs a headhunter helping countless professionals, from CEO to analyst levels, make and negotiate their next position, here are the most common career mistakes Ive seen candidates fall victim to1. Aiming too lowWhether its salary, title, or type of company, people are too intimidated by interviewers, scared of asking for what they want at every stage of the interview process, and suffer fromimposter syndrome.This is a direct result of decades of indoctrination by authoritative educational, parental, and societal institutions that tend to demolish your self-confidence in an effort to control you. This persistent lack of confidence is the 1 issue candidates suffer from when it comes to selling yourself effectively.2. Saying no to yourselfBecause you feel that you lack the qualifications the job description asks for, you end up not going for the opportunity. This continued lack of self-confidence through self-discrimination, combined with the obsession of fulfilling requirements down to the last drop, handicaps good professionals from achieving career greatness.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAlthoughjob descriptions dont matter, many candidates still try to play by the rules. They dont understand that job search is like war. The victor obtains the spoils. Its every man and woman for themselves.There are no rules in thejob search This is why often psychopaths and liars sometimes get the best jobs and offers. They understand manipulation.Too often, the most accomplished candidates lose because they dont kno w the song and dance that is job search.3. Not understanding the modern job-search ecosystem and processThere are four major hiring entities that you need to know how to manipulate, maneuver around, and negotiate with. The HR person, hiring manager, headhunter, and internal recruiter. Each person has a slightly different incentive, process, and interaction protocol. You should behave accordingly.In addition, the process of the job search is no longer look on the web for listings, apply to jobs that you like, wait for feedback, go interview. The new process is create your marketing documents (including yourresume), master LinkedIn networking, leverage the four hiring entities mentioned above, utilize thevolume of interviews to your advantage, and negotiate throughout.4. Becoming a jack of all tradesThe most dangerous problem candidates run into that seriously limits their market value and range of future career options is becoming a generalist. Corporations no longer value soldiers, willing to do any deed for pay. They want professionals, experts, and true masters of the industry and job vertical. They need these experts to remain viable and stay ahead of their competition.No longer is being eager and willing to work for a firm for the next 25 years a valuable candidate trait. Firms want true market leaders. That means, specialization and experience within a niche skill are not only good to have, but must-haves to remain a relevant and desirable professional.5. Having no financial plan or powerMost professionals forget that they work largely to make a living. Since most people accumulate worse spending habits every year, people rely on their jobs more and more to fuel their lifestyle. This dependent relationship on a job quickly spirals out of control once their house of cards experiences even the smallest tremor.Because of your deep reliance on your paycheck, your emotions run amuck when experiencing any type of career turbulence.Since your financial woes are so heavy and over-leveraged, you cant see straight, let alone find a career you enjoyIn most of these cases, professionals tend to work simply to chase the dollar, losing all meaning and passion for what theyre working towards outside of living the high life they buy with their post-tax dollars. They become money-mongers. Greed takes precedence. Career meaning, purpose, and ethical behavior quickly fall by the wayside when confronted by financial greed.This is the 1 cause of corporate fraud, corruption, pollution, and general nastiness (think Wolf of Wall Street, Enron, and Bernie Madoff). Individual greed driven by a need to keep up with the Joneses pollutes corporate cultures by attracting people who are in it just for the money.In conclusionCareer problems arent simply an amalgamation of your jobs stressors. Your personal, financial, and professional problems, weaknesses, and vices will all meld together to gang up on youif you let your guard down or stray off the righteous path of moral behavior.Stay ahead of the game by learning, networking, and speaking with career experts, colleagues, mentors, and influencers that have the right advice to guide you.Extra tipParents, while well-intentioned, are from a previous generation with very different market dynamics and understanding of what it takes to succeed in the next 30 years. Their strategies, while useful to them in their heyday, may not work for you.Take what people from an older generation say with amassivegrain of salt. If I listened to my old-school Chinese immigrant parents on what to do in my career, I would nothave retired from corporate life at age 28, thats for sureThis article originally appeared on Quora.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, accord ing to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Job Searching for Introverts

Job Searching for IntrovertsJob Searching for IntrovertsWe all have that one social butterfly of a friend for whom everything just seems to come easier. They have a knack to strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. When you are at a social gathering, they are the first one to make people laugh with their witty banter. Out on a date? They always seem to know just the right thing to say. Even your mom asks you to bring them around more often they are that, well, charming.These extroverts have an especially easy time, it would seem when it comes to career-building as well. From all-important networking events to the interview room, those with a gregarious and outgoing nature have an easy ability to interact with others. Once they are in the door, asking for a well-deserved raise or promotion is a piece of cake. For the rest of us mere mortals, however, taking those initial first steps can seem like a daunting task. If you dont quite fall into the category of the social butterfly, all hope is not lost. Job searching for introverts doesnt have to be a painful process.Preparation is KeyOne of the biggest hurdles introverts can face during the interview and job seeking process is the fear of failure. Just the idea of having to strike up a conversation with a total stranger can leave a person paralyzed with anxiety. The trick to overcoming these feelings and to avoid freezing up is a hearty blechbchse of preparation.First off, if you find it difficult to interact with others you should set yourself up for success by initiating contact via the internet before any face to face interaction. Be sure that your resume is up to speed and start getting it out there in front of decision makers. Websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and SimplyHired.com are great places to park your professional cv and let the recruiters and hiring managers come to you.The critical aspect here is to ensure your resume has the most relevant information including your job history, skills, and experience. The more your resume can help sell your candidacy the less personal interaction you will have to do at the outset to land an interview or job offer. Sure, you will eventually need to have a real-world conversation or two, but a little bit of time and effort at the outset can help skip any unnecessary QA and get you straight to the substance.Network IntelligentlyFrom the time you first entered the workforce, youve probably heard about the importance of networking in order to help build a career. If you watch popular television shows or listen to the more gregarious among your friends, however, you probably think this always involves chatting up others in your field over drinks in a bar.If the idea of mingling with complete strangers in a social setting to land a job leaves you with a serious case of the chills, never fear. There are plenty of ways to network efficiently that dont involve small talk about the weather or delving into the latest celebrity gossip. The best a nd most effective networking events are those that pull double duty when it comes to information and connections. Instead of a social mixer, seek out opportunities to attend speaker series luncheons or conferences that provide continuing education. At these targeted events, youll have the opportunity to both learn and interact, providing a better reward for overcoming your social fears than a simple social mixer.Its important to note that you dont need to jump both feet into the networking game either. In order to work your way up towards larger events, consider asking a colleague to coffee or lunch. These personalized meetings can often accomplish more than larger get-togethers and can help introduce you to networking without being overwhelmed by the prospect of shaking hands with hundreds of strangers.Last but not least, networking in todays modern digital age doesnt have to be in person. Plenty of professional networking websites host forums and group conversations virtually. The ability to communicate via keyboard and mouse is often a great way to break the networking ice and can help an introvert overcome their fears by providing an initial introduction and communication of ideas.The bottom line is to keep your network growing, even if the pace seems slow. Start small with your efforts and build both your comfort level and contact list. Set goals for networking over a week or month and watch your ability to interact and individual connections grow.Put Your Interview Game Face OnPrior to scoring an interview, the introverted job seeker can get away with little to minimal social interaction. Once the big day arrives, however, its game on. Personality and the ability to fit in with company culture is often one of the biggest considerations for employers when meeting with a candidate in person. While the inclination may be to cover up your discomfort with meeting numerous strangers, this can often lead to overly gregarious gestures and an overall appearance o f nervousness.Instead of focusing on fixing your personality traits, introverted candidates should instead focus on the numerous positive skills and experience that they bring to the particular job opening. Your individual skills and experience are, after all, the reason you scored that call back in the first place. Focus on your knowledge and prepare for questions that are commonly asked for positions in your specific field. A trusted friend or family member will often be able to help you prepare for the interview in a trusted environment which can make all the difference when it comes to confidence on the big day.The Bottom LineIts important to note that savvy employers realize that it takes all types to build a successful employee workforce. While many interviewees will be social butterflies, its the individual candidate qualities that will lead to job offers and long term careers. Preparation is critical if you fall on the introverted side of the applicant scale.

How to Run an Effective Creative Team Meeting

How to Run an Effective Creative Team MeetingHow to Run an Effective Creative Team MeetingMany of todays creative professionals face an interesting dilemma. Theyd like to work from home more frequently but, at the same time, prefer to communicate with their kollektivmates during in-person meetings. Talk about trying to be in two places at once.More than two-thirds of industry professionals (69 percent) who responded to The Creative Groups Creative Workplace survey said theyd like to work from home or another non-company site more often than they currently do. And yet nearly half of respondents (49 percent) said the most effective method for communicating with their colleagues is in-person meetings.Of course, creative pros can do both embrace remote work and place a premium on in-person interaction with their teammates. Being in two places at once can be simulated if youre willing to substitute in-person for face-to-face interaction via video conferencing. To make the most of virtual meet-up time, creative professionals - and especially leaders - must master one crucial skill knowing how to zustrom a meeting effectively.Employees surveyed in our research said that 25 percent of the time spent in meetings is wasted time. Just think what you and your creative teammates could accomplish if you got back just some of that time each month? Or, at the very least, imagine the progress youd make if you turned pointless meetings into highly productive ones? You can put an end to this wasted time for good simply by learning how to run a meeting.Below are some tips for making that happen, including insights from two creative industry leaders Moira Cullen, vice president and global creative director at method products pbc., a pioneer of premium planet-friendly and design-driven home, fabric and personal care products, and Eddie Opara, partener at Pentagram, the worlds largest independent design consultancy. They both share their views on why its important to ensure that yo ur creative team communicates and collaborates effectively - whether you are meeting in person or virtually.How to run a meeting with a clear purposeBefore you even schedule a meeting, determine why you need to get together in the first place. For instance, should you convene to make a critical group decision? Do you feel its necessary to have a team brainstorm? Do you want to present and discuss a new geschftliches miteinander strategy or direction? Or are you just holding the meeting because its what you do every Wednesday at 10 a.m.?Learning how to run a meeting effectively starts with identifying if theres an actual need for the meeting. More than likely, youll find that some of the tasks you want to accomplish can be handled via email or a chat tool.That said, sometimes there is simply no substitute for in-person communication and collaboration among creative team members. And if you rely on tech too often to conduct your creative meetings, you risk numbing or dialing down hum an interaction, which is essential to the creative process, explains Cullen.Cullen says that preserving the human connection, to the extent possible, in everything creative teams do - including meetings - can have a positive impact on design. The soft power of influence, for example, is a really powerful way to move people in design. You can pull people into the experience, she says. Designers are at risk of losing touch with those human factors if they reduce their own person-to-person interaction in the workplace, she adds.Hiring? We can help.START HIRING NOWSort the logisticsOnce you decide a meeting is in order, the next step is to think about the amount of time you need and the right people to invite. Each participant should either have valuable input to offer or a stake in the outcome of the discussion. And after you decide all that, you need to pick the format.The meeting format will depend on the topic to be discussed, the number of participants, the location of those part icipants and any timing sensitivities. If you want your telecommuters or remote freelancers to be physically present, be sure to give them ample notice. And if its too difficult for far-flung team members to make it to your meeting, make sure their virtual participation is as seamless as possible. (See the next step)Check your tech and secure your spaceIf youre hosting a meeting via video or conference call, make sure you know how to use all the tools. If you have any doubt about the technical requirements, ask for help in advance. Theres nothing worse than a meeting that goes awry due to a technical hiccup.And dont forget to provide participants dial-in or connection information in advance of the meeting. Also, remind remote attendees to test their own video and audio connections prior to the call.Another tip If youre getting together with your team in person, be sure to reserve a meeting space thats suitable for the number of attendees (and comfortable enough for the duration of t he gathering).Create and circulate a meeting agendaPart of knowing how to run a meeting is recognizing the importance of the meeting agenda. You need to convey the purpose and format of the get-together in the invitation to your team.Sending out a brief but clear agenda and any supporting materials in advance is a win-win. Youre setting expectations, while also giving people adequate time to prepare. That will make for a more focused and efficient gathering.Read about the seven elements of a highly creative work environment.Mind the clockAnother step in the process of learning how to run a meeting effectively is to improve your time management skills. Starting and ending your creative team meetings on schedule demonstrates respect for attendees valuable time and makes for a more productive gathering. While a little side chatter is normal, dont be afraid to tactfully rein in tangential conversations if theyre eating up valuable minutes.Help ensure that meetings start on time by sendi ng a reminder the day prior to your meeting, or set your calendar invite to automatically remind those who will be attending. That will give everyone the chance to reconfirm that theyll be attending as well - or let you know if they might arrive a little late.Its also crucial for creative leaders to set a good example for meeting etiquette. For instance, putting your phone, or anything else that could distract you, away speaks volumes to the participants. It will also encourage them to do the same, so everyone is fully focused on the meeting.Encourage participation - from everyoneBe as inclusive as possible during your meeting. Its important to get the views and thoughts of many participants - not just your most opinionated creatives.Also, provide opportunities for less-outspoken team members to contribute to the conversation. They often have innovative ideas but might not be inclined to jump into discussions without prompting. And be prepared to ask individual participants direc tly for their input.Opara says creative leaders should be willing to be inspired by great ideas coming from any team member because it can inform their own work - and help them maintain a fresh outlook on projects. I am always learning from my team, including while I am teaching them, he says. I think its important for creative leaders, no matter how experienced they are, to constantly remind themselves to keep learning. Why? Because thats what helps them stay relevant.He adds that encouraging team members to speak up and share their ideas can also help them to refine their soft skills, which are important for long-term career success.The term soft skills makes it sound as if those skills arent valuable, says Cullen. But they have incredible value. Effective collaboration and communication are so important for moving people around an idea or a certain initiative or strategy. Also, the courage and strength to speak up and share ideas, and really explore those ideas, are important to the actual day-to-day part of making things - more so than any technology you might use in the process. A creative team needs strong communicators, influencers and discerners to move an idea or project forward.Dont fail to follow upSharing a recap of the creative team meeting and action items, even if its just a quick email with bullet points, is incredibly valuable. A thorough, well-organized recap is an effective way of reinforcing the outcome of the meeting and whats needed to move that outcome forward.Capturing ideas and to-do lists helps prevent misunderstandings and holds people accountable for their action items. Your busy colleagues will appreciate this extra effort more than you know.Knowing how to run a meeting helps to ensure team productivity. So many creative professionals today want to work remotely. And creative organizations increasingly find they must tap talent from far and wide for their projects. Both trends make getting together for meetings more complicated. So, it only makes good business sense to never waste a moment of meeting time with your teammates, whether youre sitting at the same table, or communicating through video. Tags