My Top Five Tips for Career Changers

Are you looking to change your career or advance within your current role? I'd like to offer my advice on how to prepare for your big leap!

1. Know what you want. Do your research and find out everything you need to know about the career you are interested in. Your research can include an internet search, visiting your local library, and informational interviews with professionals in the role you seek.

2. Keep your resume updated. You know that small project you just got handed at work? Make sure you are updating your resume with new skills you are gaining. This is great practice for any role you are in so that it is less challenging to remember all that you do each year. Update as you go.

3. Keep networking. Make sure you are updating your network and references on your career goals. Rather than share the negative aspects of your job, try highlighting the positive. Attend events offered by professional organizations. Think of the skills you are gaining and share via Linked-In and other platforms you have to market yourself.

4. Put in the work. A career change is not always going to happen over night. It is a great idea to be steady with your efforts. If you are serious about moving into a new position, you must act as if you already have what you want. Take time everyday to meditate on it, send out your resume, take time on your cover letter, make the phone call, volunteer and/or take the class that will enhance your skills.

5. Be realistic. Change is hard. Even changing to your dream job can be difficult. Don't expect this change to come easy. Welcome the challenges and stay the course. If it is truly what you should be doing next in your life, you will feel a deep satisfaction in your tenacity.

When Your Ideas Are Turned Down

It can be discouraging when your ideas are turned down at work. That does not mean that your ideas are not great. There are a variety of factors that can determine whether or not you will get a yes. Here are a few tips to help you stay strong.

1. Keep coming up with ideas. Don't stop dreaming just because you are told no. You must not let a no make you stop. The key is to be wise about who you share your ideas with and why.

2. Learn. This is a teachable moment. You get to learn about how companies operate. You get to learn about their agenda, and how they make decisions. This knowledge will be useful in learning how to successfully present ideas and when presenting an idea is actually worth your time.

3. A new door can open. You may feel that this is the only place you want to be but life changes and so does opportunity. Keep a record of your ideas. Even if you do not use them now, you may be able to use them for a different role. Keep expanding upon your thoughts.

4. Go around them. If someone does not value your ideas, just know that you should. Your value does not decrease due to someone else's inability to see your worth. Use your ideas to create your own business, non-profit, or program.

5. Build your portfolio: Use your ideas to build your own portfolio. Ensure that while you are helping a company thrive, you are also helping yourself. You are a brand, know how to market yourself accordingly.

What to Do When There is No Onboarding

So you have started a new job and you are so excited about it, but once you get in you realize that you have no on-boarding. This can be scary for early career professionals who may need more guidance on the job. Don't panic. Here are a few tips to help you along the way.

1. Ask: Formulate your questions, write them down and ensure that your needs are communicated. Be specific about what you need. While it is tempting to voice frustrations, you will find that getting to the point will be the best option. Clear, concise and organized. E.g. I would like to have a meeting to address my training needs, what dates and times do you have available?

2. Identify the key players in the office who are responsible for training. Some companies have an actual training and development team, some utilize an HR specialist and others leave the responsibility to the manager or another team member.

3. Invest in your own professional development: As much as we want to rely on our team, sometimes people are just too consumed with their own responsibilities to focus on you. You should always invest in your own interests. Join a professional organization, talk to peers who have been in your shoes, attend networking events, find free training's online via webinars or in person to attend.

4. Don't take it personally: Often times we take it personally when we go to a job and its not what we expected. Just know that this experience is giving you the skills you need to be a go getter, self starter, determined individual.

5. Be patient: When you are new, you want to be good at your job, you want to make a good impression. You will not know everything or be expected to know everything when you are new. It is okay to be patient with yourself and others. Remember that you are not the only person adjusting. Teams also have to adjust to you. So hang in there.

How to Be More Assertive

Being assertive is a key skill in ensuring that you are respected, well informed and successful in any workplace. Here are a few tips for how to practice assertiveness at work.

1. Recognize when its needed: If something happens that you are not comfortable with or doesn't feel right to you, that is enough for you to ask questions and speak up. Don't be afraid of using your voice.

2. Start small: Assertiveness does not have to look like the voice of someone else. It is your own voice. If you are naturally reserved, speak that way, but by all means ensure that you are speaking. This could be as simple as asking a question during a team meeting.

3. Initiate compromise: When working with a team or different personalities, it is only natural that some individuals will take control. Remember that you are still a team member and all team members matter. If you have an idea on how to make things fair for all involved, share it, talk about it, email it.

4. Keep a positive perspective: Some people take on the perspective that speaking up is not a good thing. I encourage you to remember that you can be respectful in your tone, and considerate with your words while being assertive. When you use your voice, you are able to better help others professionally.

5. Remember that the ability to be assertive is a reflection of your self esteem. You should always ensure that you are leading with confidence and not with fear in any situation you are in.

Dealing with Racism At Work

Dealing with microaggressions is a challenging issue. People of color experience the stress of workplace cultures that don't always acknowledge how we feel, our experiences or our needs. This can come in the form of being discriminated against due to hairstyle, insensitive comments regarding perceptions about your race, unequal expectations, unequal pay, and a host of other experiences and questioning. Here are a few tips on how to cope.

1. Stay connected to your support system. So often we are dismissed when we bring up our concerns. We are treated as if we are being too sensitive. It is very important to be connected with professionals who understand you and validate your experiences. You are not alone.

2. Document what you are experiencing and address it according to the policies in place. Ensure that you keep an accurate record of what is going on so that you can clearly state the issues to the appropriate person in HR.

3. Stay calm: The last thing you want to do is allow another person to control how you feel. You can choose if you want to respond or not, how you respond and to whom you respond to.

4. Learn who your allies are. Be sure to find allies within the workplace who are responsible for maintaining a healthy workplace environment. Ensure that you know how to reach that person when needed.

5. Practice self care. While we have the burden of influencing change, let us not be consumed with it. Try to have boundaries. Make time to do fun activities by yourself and with the people you love. You deserve happiness and peace.

6. Always know your options. Do your best to work through issues that arise at the workplace. If it is too toxic, and you have exhausted solutions, continue looking for a better opportunity with a healthy work environment while you are there.

The Importance of Gaining a Mentor

Everyone needs a mentor to help them grow professionally. Gaining a mentor is not always easy, but it is very much needed to grow in your career. To have a true mentor, you need to have a true connection with a person who has your best interest at heart. Here are a few tips to finding a good match.

1. Be yourself: An important thing to remember when looking for a mentor is that you want to connect with people who appreciate you for who you are. You have your own vision and goals. There is so much that you want to see happen for yourself. Try to seek out someone who is naturally excited about that and will challenge you but doesn't try to change you.

2. Let it flow naturally: You will find that within the workplace you will connect with people naturally. You don't have to force anything, and it doesn't have to be a formal ask. Just ensure that you pay attention to your environment and those with a natural inclination to help other's succeed.

3. Speak up: Though it can be hard to talk about yourself, try to take advantage of moments you have to share what it is you need support with. Don't let the fear of getting the cold shoulder get to you. Remember if it is a true mentor, he or she will not cast you aside. Trust your instincts.

4. Show appreciation: Remember to thank those around you who are helpful. Also, be helpful. Exhibit the characteristics you would like to see in a mentor even as a mentee.

5. Be open to advice: No one knows everything. The key to learning is accepting guidance. Take it all in and be a doer so that in the end you will produce results and be able to pay it forward.