Category Career Training

May 5 2018

Career Destroying Mistakes

Conducting an annual review of your career situation is vital for long-term success and satisfaction. To achieve career goals, avoid these mistakes:

  • Ignoring relationships within your organization. Connections with co-workers and managers is often reported as one of the most important factors for career advancement.
  • Not getting proper rest. Sacrificing sleep for achieving career goals can be very dangerous, such as creating stress in your relationships with co-workers and hindering job performance.
  • Becoming too diversified. Select an area of expertise to focus your efforts and energy.
  • Limiting your network activities. Expanding and connecting with contacts allows you to be aware of more opportunities while also developing awareness of industry trends.
  • Not being care in your social life. With social media, many aspects of your private life become public. Be cautious of what you post online.

For additional information on career mistakes, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk with friends about their experiences with these career mistakes.
  • Have students suggest actions for avoiding these career mistakes.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What situations have you heard of that resulted in limited career advancement?
  2. Describe other possible career mistakes that might be avoided.
Mar 24 2018

How to Profit from the Ultra-Tight Job Market Right Now

“The war for talent that obsesses tech companies is intensifying and is about to spread economywide.”

This Fortune article is a must read for job seekers in today’s world, Geoff Colvin explains that after nine years of sluggish economic growth, the economy has turned the corner and creating jobs at a record pace.  The hiring boom is not only creating opportunities for unemployed workers, but also currently-employed workers who want to get a better or higher-paying jobs.

In the current job market, employers are seeking talented employees that have a great future.  Traits that include creativity, the willingness to work hard, and love of learning often help employers evaluate potential.  Digital skills are very important, but not restricted to just tech companies.  For example, many retailers are hiring workers who can use digital skills to reach customers in new ways.

Human skills are also more important than in the past.  Companies want workers to feel they’re part of the organization and a valued asset.  These “same people” skills are very important for workers applying for management positions.

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the information in this blog post and the original article to

  • Reinforce that employers want workers who have the knowledge and skills that they need, but also are willing to work hard, become part of the organization, and keep learning once they get the job.

Discussion Questions

  1. How do you develop the traits and skills so that employers are willing to pay you a salary?
  2. If you were an employer, how would you choose between job applicants applying for a customer service position at American Airlines? What traits and skills are most important?
Aug 8 2015

Your Path To Success

What separates successful people from others?   While favorable timing, personal connections, wealth or other advantages can lead to success, a person must also possess various success-oriented attitudes, behaviors, and skills. Some of the actions that can lead to academic, career, and personal success include:

  • Display poise and confidence in your ability.
  • Assess existing skills and knowledge.
  • Set personal and career goals that align with your abilities.
  • Develop a habit on ongoing learning.
  • Take risks that allow you the opportunity to achieve at a higher level.
  • Persevere in your work efforts
  • Be prepared to face and go beyond obstacles.
  • Rejection and criticism can lead to future success.
  • Develop effective interpersonal skills. Your ability to interact, gain support of others, and develop trust is critical.

 For additional information about a success path, click here.

 

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students ask people to describe their definition of “success.”
  • Have students obtain suggested actions for personal and career success using online research.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What are common mistakes people make in their personal financial planning and career planning activities?
  2. What actions do you plan to take to improve your personal and career success?
Apr 11 2015

10 Life Hacks That Will Make You Richer

“Money interviewed dozens of experts in different fields to find out which skills, tricks, and workarounds are most financially worthwhile.”

In this article Daniel Bortz and Susie Poppick describe 10 different activities that can help anyone advance their career and increase their salary.    While the list below identifies different activities, more specific information about each activity is provided in the article.

  1. Master the meeting
  2. Lend a hand at work
  3. Learn a language
  4. Get techy
  5. Write better
  6. Learn social savvy
  7. Take back your workday
  8. Sell yourself
  9. Learn to DIY (Do It Yourself)
  10. Get Organized

For more information, click here. 

Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the information in this blog post and the original article to

  • Point out that the suggestions in this article can improve their productivity on the job and make them a more valuable employee.
  • Encourage students to read the article for specific information about each of the above activities.

Discussion Questions

  1. In today’s work environment, why is it important to “make yourself a more valuable employee?”
  2. Ask students to review the 10 different activities and pick the two they feel are the most important. How could those two activities make you a better employee?
May 17 2014

Developing Career Capital and Achieving Success

Most career planning experts believe that “career capital” is vital for success.  Career capital refers to differentiated skills that are both rare and valuable, and usually involve creativity, impact, control, or autonomy. A great job requires that you can offer something of value. Factors that contribute to building career capital include:

  •  an attitude of “what can I offer the world and my company?”
  • understanding what’s valuable in your career field by seeking varied expert opinions
  • continuing to expand your skill set
  • obtaining feedback to gain knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses
  • setting priorities on what will benefit your career
  • creating goals appropriate to your career stage

For additional information about developing career capital, go to

http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2013/05/22/7-steps-to-developing-career-capital-and-achieving-success/

Discussion Questions

  1. Why are some people more successful in their careers than others?
  2. What factors might be used to measure career success?
  3. How might a person better prepare for future career success?

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students create a list of attitudes, behaviors, and skills that they believe are important for career success.
  • Ask students to explain actions they are currently taking to enhance their future career success.