LIFE WORKING® BLOG
Unlock the secrets of successful salary negotiation with our comprehensive guide. From confident preparation to strategic research, learn to advocate for your true worth and achieve professional success. Partner with the Life Working® Career Coaching Team for expert support.
Are you ready to conquer the ever-changing job market in 2024? Let’s dive into what you need to know to understand emerging trends and land your dream job in this competitive market.
In our recent discussions with Life Working® clients, a powerful theme has emerged that speaks volumes about the evolving landscape of today's workplaces. It's the expectation for companies to prioritize and support personal and professional growth. This connection between organizational backing and individual development is a game-changer, significantly impacting an employee's overall success and satisfaction.
In the increasingly competitive business landscape, the value of investing in professional development cannot be emphasized enough. As we enter 2024, the need to continuously enhance your skills, adapt to new changes, and foster personal and career growth has become more crucial than ever. Embracing a culture of lifelong learning is no longer a choice but a strategic necessity for your journey toward career success.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, the desire for a fulfilling career has never been more pressing. Over the past few years, the job market has seen unprecedented shifts, prompting a surge in interest in career coaching.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to focus on your professional goals. Whether you're a recent college graduate or a seasoned corporate executive, making strategic career moves can bring more happiness to your work life. Here are practical steps to guide your journey…
Your journey to a dream job often begins with a well-crafted resume, your passport to new opportunities. Yet, we all stumble at times, and in this blog, we'll explore some of the most frequent resume mistakes and how to avoid them, ensuring your resume stands out for all the right reasons.
Do you feel stuck in a boring, depressing job that no longer excites you? Don't worry. If you're yearning for a brighter, more fulfilling career path, we're here to guide you toward a successful transition. With the support of our Life Working® experts, you'll embark on an empowering journey to rediscover professional fulfillment. Your happiness and a promising new career adventure await!
Dreaming about your next career move can be exciting and energizing, and having a career coach by your side can make it even more rewarding. Think of it as having your own personal career team in your pocket, helping you strategize wisely each step of the way.
Here are some fantastic ways we can guide you on your path.
Changing or transforming your career can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor. Whether you're looking to make a transition due to personal growth, shifting industries, or simply exploring new opportunities, here's a 10-step plan to help you successfully embark on your career reinvention journey.
In general, job offer negotiations are rarely easy but can be critical in advancing your career and ensuring you're paid fairly for your skills and experience. How you handle yourself will depend on where you are in your career and what aspects of the role are most important to you.
Why both? The resume and career portfolio have different purposes and unique benefits.
A traditional resume highlighting your awesomeness is mandatory when looking for a job or changing careers. But depending on your situation, developing a career portfolio in addition to providing your resume might tip the scales in your favor.
Why both? The resume and career portfolio have different purposes and unique benefits.
You’ve been looking for work. You get through the interview process and land your dream job. Or so you thought. Two months into the job, you’re miserable and wondering how your take on the culture was wrong. The workplace is toxic, and you want out… What now?
If you have signed an at-will agreement, have an employment contract, or are a union member, do your research to find out how to turn in your resignation. Do you need to provide two weeks’ notice? Does notice need to be provided in writing? Make sure you are following the process outlined in the written materials.
Have you ever taken a job that was different than you expected? Were you devastated because either your job duties changed, or you ended up working with a different manager whose style did not fit yours?
As a job seeker, do you find it challenging to toot your own horn? Many clients tell us that they can do it for their companies, but when it comes to talking about themselves, that’s a different story. Describing and quantifying your accomplishments is integral to every successful job search.
With the average job-seeker experiencing multiple career changes in their lifetime, having a clear understanding of the skills and qualifications needed for a specific role is crucial. This post highlights the importance of professional help in achieving career clarity, including career exploration coaching and career assessments. By gaining a better understanding of one's values, interests, and skills, individuals can better articulate their unique values and stand out in a competitive job market.
You just left the interview and feel eager, excited, and nervous. You think it went great. Now what?
Now is not the time to let up. Everything you’ve done up to this point is moving you forward in your job search. Keep the momentum going.
Imagine you changed jobs, and you’re just not a fit. You’re miserable and plan to say adios as soon as possible. Is excluding that role from your resume okay, or is that dishonest?
Some industries require a different approach than the general elevator pitch. For example, if you’re in a service industry — therapist, coach, consultant, etc. — one of the easiest ways to answer the question “What do you do?” is to take the spotlight off you and put it onto your clients. This focuses the conversation on what you do for your clients and what they get from working with you.
Whether you’re interviewing or networking, someone inevitably says, “Tell me about yourself.” “So, what do you do?” asks the person you met at a networking get-together. In another likely scenario, you find yourself in an elevator with someone you’ve wanted to meet. What do you say?
Understanding the application tracking system (ATS) world can raise more questions than answers. Here are the questions Life Working® Resume experts hear most often.
When is the best time to schedule your interview? The easy answer is whenever it works for the interviewer! After all, that’s the goal — to get the interview and the job offer.
But what if you are offered a choice of dates and times for the interview? Is it better to be the first person interviewed? Or to be one of the final candidates considered? Should you schedule your interview for the morning? Or the afternoon? And, if you’re offered the option of a virtual interview or meeting in person, which should you choose?
Here are the pros and cons of being towards the front of the pack, one of the last, or somewhere in the middle.
If you have a resume, at some point, you’re faced with a dilemma: Should I update my existing resume, or is it time to start over?
When you have a great resume — especially one created by a professional resume writer — it can be difficult to imagine starting over again. But even the best formats become outdated as technology changes. And if you are dreaming about making a career pivot, what worked in one profession may not be appropriate in another. But how do you know when you should refresh — or start fresh?
Hiring new employees is expensive. There’s the time and effort in attracting candidates, screening them, and conducting interviews. It takes time to set the person up in the human resources and benefits system, and it costs money to onboard and train the new hire. These expenses can add up to hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars. As a result, hiring managers want to ensure that the candidate will be a good fit. Questions asked during the interview will help determine if a prospective employee is a good match for the company and role.
One question you’re likely to be asked in an interview is why you left your last job (or why you want to leave your current position).
The basic question remains—do you want to change the company you work for or change your career path entirely? Ask yourself if changing to a new company would fix the issue or issues you identified. Or are they issues embedded within the industry itself and would only be fixed if you changed industries entirely?
Also, think about how you feel about the actual work you’re doing. Do you still have a passion for your work, but maybe not in this work environment? If that’s the case, changing jobs could improve your situation. You might not need to change careers.
There’s a saying in the career industry that you’ll know it’s time to make a job or career change when you ask yourself if it’s time to make a change.
While there is truth to that, there’s more to making your decision. This guide will help you identify why you may want to make a job or career change and give you practical strategies and tips to help you with your decision.
Are you unknowingly making some of these mistakes in your job search? Chances are, you’re making several — if not more! Go through this checklist, mark which mistakes you’re making — and then learn how to get back on track.
Great news! Someone has agreed to be a reference for you! Now, what’s the next step?
Life Working® career coaches suggest preparing a reference page that you can give to a prospective employer. It should match your resume's format, font style, and font size with the same contact information.
Use this format for each reference:
In today's dynamic job market, showcasing the skills employers truly value is fundamental for continuing career success. As Life Working® Career Coaches and Resume Experts navigate through 2024, we’re seeing a growing demand for a diverse range of competencies from job seekers.
Let's explore the top ten skills employers are looking for this year across various industries and sectors.