Tag: networking
Want a New Job Next Year? Ask Yourself These Three Important Questions First
As we navigate through our careers, it is important to consistently reflect and ask ourselves questions that can guide our trajectory and ensure that we’re on a path aligning with our objectives, values, and passions. If you’re considering seeking a new job in the upcoming year, it’s essential to make sure you’re making this decision for the right reasons.
Changing jobs can be a significant step, and it can bring a host of new opportunities, but it can also come with its share of challenges. To ensure you’re prepared for this transition, here are three important questions you should ask yourself before setting out on the job hunt.
Why do I want to leave my current job?
The first question you need to ask yourself is why you want to change jobs. Are you bored with your current role or seeking more responsibility? Are you unhappy with your salary or the company culture? Or are you simply seeking a new challenge? Understanding your motives can help you identify what you’re looking for in your next job and avoid jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
What are my career goals?
Knowing where you want to go in your career is critical when considering a job change. Having a clear vision of your future helps you set career goals and provides a roadmap to achieve them. It allows you to align your current actions with your long-term objectives. This question helps you think about the steps you need to take today to reach your desired position in the future. It’s not just about the job title or the company you want to work for, but also the skills you want to acquire, the impact you want to make, and how you want to grow personally and professionally.
What are my core values and how do they align with my career?
Your core values are the principles that guide your decisions and actions. They reflect who you are as a person and what is important to you. When your career aligns with your values, you are more likely to feel fulfilled and satisfied with your work. Whether it’s integrity, creativity, ambition, or compassion, it’s essential to identify your values and consider how they mesh with your career choices.
The answers to these questions matter because they help form the foundation of a satisfying and fulfilling career. They guide your decisions, help you navigate career transitions, and shape your professional identity. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, but understanding your passions, ambitions, and values can lead you down a career path that brings both success and satisfaction.
Changing jobs is a big decision and not one to be taken lightly. By asking yourself these three important questions, you can ensure that you’re making a decision that will lead you toward achieving your career goals.
For help finding your new job in the new year, turn to Beacon Staffing!
3 Secrets to Improving Your Career “Luck”
When it comes to career success, it does seem like some people have all the career “luck.” Everything seems to go their way, from professional wins to significant career advancement.
Envying these people and their career luck may be tempting, but the truth is that their success is not the result of chance. Every successful professional will tell you that their professional “luck” was achieved through hard work and conscious choices.
Want to learn the secrets to improving your own career “luck?” In this blog, we’ll discuss three secrets to put you solidly on the path to career success that will have you joining the ranks of the “lucky” in no time.
1. Surround yourself with high performers/ good influences
What do all the most successful professionals have in common? They surround themselves with people who encourage, uplift, and support them. If you want to improve your career luck and achieve your goals, level up your inner circle. Build connections with people who support your career goals and constantly challenge you to aim higher and be better.
2. Communicate your goals to others/your boss
You know your ambitions and dreams better than anyone. Talk to your inner circle about your career goals and intentions. Your network of coworkers may be valuable sources of advice or the key to an introduction or referral. Even your boss can be a valuable supporter and network connection. The more those around you know about your goals, the better your chances are of getting them.
3. Embrace hard & consistent work
Professional success doesn’t happen overnight, no matter what the media would have you believe. If you want to reach your career goals, you must put in the time and effort to pursue what you want. The true secret to making your own luck is hard work. Staying focused, day after day, while you put in the work and utilize your connections will ultimately lead you to your desired career success.
Luck doesn’t just happen; you make it happen. To achieve your professional goals and enjoy the career success you dream of, you must create it with the right behaviors and choices. With solid goals, a strong inner circle, and a consistent work ethic, your career “luck” is coming.
Remember, you have the most control over your own luck! For help finding your next job opportunity, turn to Beacon Staffing!
Improve your Own Job Security in Uncertain Times
In today’s uncertain economic times, job security is undoubtedly on your mind. The good news is that improving your job security and thriving during these tough times is possible. The key is to build your own value as a worker while demonstrating your unique skills and value to management.
You can improve your job security in many ways during tough economic times, but the following represent some of the best ways to start. These tips will improve your job security and make you more appealing as a job candidate if and when you need to find a new position.
Build a Strong RAFT
There are four skills that companies consistently value above all others:
- Resilience: the ability to bounce back from difficult times.
- Adaptability: the ability to adjust to new environments and situations quickly and effectively.
- Flexibility: the ability and willingness to wear different hats.
- Thoughtfulness: the ability to be respectful, intentional and to communicate with colleagues.
These four soft skills, also known as RAFT, form a strong foundation for you as a worker to endure and thrive through even the most uncertain times. They also make you a valuable asset to your current and future employers. Resilience is considered the most critical of all of these skills.
Demonstrate Inventive and Creative Thinking
Employers are always looking for candidates who can solve their problems. Look for opportunities to demonstrate your intuition and imagination to management. Don’t be afraid to speak up and make suggestions during individual and group meetings. Even if your ideas don’t directly help, they make you a valuable asset the company will want to hold on to.
Building New Skills
Become a lifelong learner, sharpening your current skills and building new ones. Pay close attention to the growing fields and pursue knowledge and skills in those directions. Also, consider taking courses or workshops for complementary skills and soft skills that will add to your long-term value as a worker.
Keep Networking
Networking is a crucial skill to develop, especially during times of uncertainty. Connections can open doors, whether it’s a coffee date with a coworker or checking in with a former colleague. You may also find that you can offer support and help to others who have been affected by job loss and uncertainty.
We all desire stability and security in our lives. While there are no guarantees in this uncertain world, the steps above will help you strengthen your place within your current workplace and prepare you for future opportunities.
If you need help finding your next role, let the team at Beacon Staffing lend you a hand!
Can I Return to a Former Job?
You may consider returning to your old job if you recently left your job or have been away for months or years. Perhaps you’ve had second thoughts about the grass being greener in another position, or the reasons you had for leaving in the past have been resolved somehow, or maybe you miss your former co-workers. Whatever the reason, if you want to return to your former job, you need to plan carefully.
Research and Reflect
Before attempting to go back to your old job, you need to consider two things:
- Is it possible to go back?
- Why do I want to go back?
Returning to an old job should be relatively easy if you left your position on good terms, provided the position is available. Reach out to former colleagues you trust to see if it is a good time to return and get any information you can to prepare your approach.
Once you have the information you need, take some time to reflect on why you want to go back and whether you are willing and able to commit to the position long-term. Be honest with yourself and address the issues and motivations that caused you to leave in the first place. Were there problems at work? Was the pay too low? Are the benefits too limited? Weigh all the pros and cons before you decide to move forward.
The Approach
Do your homework, especially if you’ve been away a while. Is your ex-boss still there, or is there someone new? If your ex-boss is still there, you may start by emailing them and letting them know you made a mistake and would like to come back. Don’t call on the phone as this puts them on the spot; email offers them time to reflect on the possibility and discuss it with others as necessary before replying.
If it’s a new boss, consider getting a recommendation from a former colleague. The new boss will readily see that you have a history with the company, and the recommendation tells them you are still well-regarded by former co-workers.
Update Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Professional Media
Your old job already knows your skills and education, how well you performed, and why you left. They need to see what you’ve learned and achieved since you’ve been gone and how you are a better asset to them than when you left. Highlight your best achievements and newest skills in your resume.
In the cover letter, everything comes together. Be somewhat formal and focus on how you are a more significant asset now than before. Direct their attention to the fact that you worked there before, but don’t dwell on it. Instead, be clear about why you want to come back.
Ensure that your professional sites, such as LinkedIn or your website, are consistent with the information in your CV and cover letters.
If you can’t get your old job back, work with Beacon Staffing for a new job!
Transforming your Temporary Assignment into a Full-Time Offer
Temporary employment is often a stepping stone to full-time job opportunities. Many job seekers use a temp job as a way into their dream job. Temp, freelance, or contract work is considered one of the best ways to gain an advantage over external candidates when a permanent or full-time position is available.
If you’re interested in transforming your temp assignment into a full-time job, here are some tips to give you a leg up and in the door for your dream job.
1. Find out if permanent employment is possible.
Before you take a temp or contract position with the company, ask about their hiring policy and whether they take on temp employees for permanent roles.
2. Show enthusiasm and a good mindset.
Treat your temp position like a permanent one. Go the extra mile and show enthusiasm and commitment. Take a genuine interest in your job and be consistent with what you deliver every day.
3. Network.
Networking, when done right, is the best way to find a job. Keep in touch with your contacts and always look for new opportunities and connections. Build relationships with coworkers and leaders to reinforce your value and be visible. Make friends and show just how valuable an asset you would be as a permanent employee.
4. Get to Know the Company.
Research the company’s history, brand, culture, and goals. Understanding the organization will help you know where you potentially fit in the overall company and how your unique perspective and skills can benefit the whole and the area you specialize in.
5. Reinforce Your Soft Skills.
Though technical skills are always in demand, soft skills are more appreciated than ever. The ability to get along with others, work as a team player, and communicate well, combined with good technical skills, show your employer that you have what it takes to be an excellent permanent employee and leader.
6. Plant the Seeds Early.
If you’re interested in becoming a permanent employee, find out early on what it will take to get an offer. Showing interest early on increases the chances that you will be considered when permanent positions need filling.
Temporary work can transition into full-time employment and often does. If you want to turn your short-term role into a long-term job, be patient and confident, keep the above tips in mind and prepare to settle into your dream job.
If you’re struggling to find a full-time job that works for you, get in touch with our team today!
