work life balance

5 Steps To Achieve Work-Life Balance

Do you feel as though you are constantly working and want to know how to achieve a work-life balance? Are you finding it hard to establish your own time and forget about your stresses of the day? Maybe you find yourself staying behind at work and feel like you do not get a break?

It’s very hard in this day and age to get away from your work. We can still keep in touch with our employers or clients via emails, phone calls or text messages etc. You need to be able to find a good balance so that you can reduce your stress levels and have some time for yourself. I am going to be talking about how you can achieve a work-life balance. Firstly, let’s take a look at the importance of a work-life balance.

Why Is It Important To Have A Work-Life Balance ?

There are various reasons as to why having a work-life balance is important. The most important reason why this can benefit you is that it can help with your stress levels.

It is common to feel like you should stay behind after work to get more done, or to impress your boss. However, if this is constantly done, you will start to become very stressed. Finding the right balance between your work time and your own time can really help to keep you calm and be less stressed.

Having a good work-life balance can also give you more time to take care of yourself. You can put time aside in your day to completely relax and forget about the stresses of work, which you cannot do if you are still there after your working hours are over. It should also help with your relationships, health and your overall happiness. This is because you will find more time to spend with your loved ones and should feel much more positive.

How To Achieve A Work-Life Balance: 5 Steps

1. Leave Work At Work

Leaving your work at work can be easier said than done, but you can do it. If there are some occasions where you have to stay behind for a little while, that’s ok, a lot of people do this.

However, when it starts to take over, that’s when it becomes a problem. This is exactly the same when you bring your work home with you.

The best thing to do is, before you finish work, complete a task before you leave, write down any reminders for the next day and then forget about it. As soon as you leave work, leave your reminders and work behind too. Once you are home, focus on doing something you enjoy, spending time with your loved ones and switch off from work.

2. Step Away From Your Email

With modern technology, it is much easier for us to constantly check up on our work. Bosses can now email you in the evenings, tasks can be completed on your laptop at home, or text messages can be sent from a work colleague to you. It can be very hard to switch off from this and try to ignore your emails and/or phone calls.

When you get home, it may be worth logging out of your work emails on your phone and on your computer so that you cannot be disturbed. This way, you won’t be able to see any messages from work. Therefore, you will not be stressing about the next day or seeing any messages that could worry you.

If you still think you may be tempted, I would suggest completely switching off your phone while you spend your time either relaxing and de-stressing or with your loved one, so that the temptation is not there.

3. Let Go Of Perfectionism

As we get older, we have more responsibilities and it is impossible for us to do everything that we want to do. This also leads to us punishing ourselves and feeling bad when we fail something or do not complete everything we want to complete in a certain amount of time.

At work, you most likely will not be able to get everything you need to do done in one day. You have to recognize that this is ok and that you cannot be perfect.

Once you have let go of this idea that you need to be perfect and get everything right, you can start to rationalize and prioritize your job list. You can then start to not worry about getting everything done at once and be ok with not being perfect.

4. Know That It Is Ok To Say No

You need to understand that you do not need to say yes to everything even though you may feel guilty at first. When you start to realize that people will not hold a grudge if you say no it will feel easier to do so.

You need your own time too and people should understand that. You don’t have to be rude about it, just respectfully decline and know that you are allowed to say no.

If you can say yes to something, that’s great. However, if you can’t, it is ok to say no and you should not feel bad about it. When you start saying no to certain things, you may start feeling less stressed as you have started to lift the weight off your shoulders.

5. Prioritize Some Me Time

Self-care is so important when it comes to finding a good work-life balance for yourself. You need to prioritize some of your time only dedicated to relaxing and doing things that you want to do. This can help you to feel much more positive and relaxed. Even if your calendar is looking very busy do not make that stop you from taking your own me time. You still need this time to yourself.

You can even put this time that you have put aside on your calendar so that you can keep track of your time. Even an hour a day can be good, this could be something simple like watching your favorite show, or something stress reducing such as meditating for 30 minutes etc.

If you are interested in choosing the right & futuristic Career Path for yourself… Wanting to align your career, attain your unique Career Niche Clarity & to achieve a work-life balance, try Job Readiness Blueprint programme today.

6 Rules to Follow While Making Career Choices

6 Rules to Follow While Making Career Choices

Nowadays this is the most difficult question to answer.

There comes a phase in every student’s life in which the need to focus on board examinations or the pressure to ace the entrance examinations comes all together.

And in the midst of all the uncertainty, you are sitting there wondering what exactly you want to do? And uncertain about your future!

Yes, It is indeed a big deal…

But that simply doesn’t mean that you make hurried decisions and land up in a course or a career path that doesn’t lift you up or helps you grow.

We all have been in the same situation and have been targeted by a lot of people who tell you what’s good for you.

Thus it is necessary for students to make career choices based on their interests and capabilities.

6 Rules to Follow While Making Career Choices

As a matter of fact, do you really think anybody else can decide what’s really good for you? I am not saying you stop listening to what people say, but at least be sane enough to implement what would work for you and what wouldn’t. So let’s try and talk about the things that no one ever tells us while making career choices:

Rule-1: Don’t get persuaded

While juggling between what you should do and what shouldn’t, you’ll see a lot of people around you advising you and telling you all the better options for your career. And the more you listen to people, the far you go away from your own opinion. One day you might find job X interesting and the other day you’ll find job Y more financially appealing. And that’s when it is necessary to set your own priorities right, deciding what according to you is important and thus making the right career choices. Listen to whatever people say, but try to “do” what you think is right. Follow these 6 rules to make the right career choices:

Rule-2: Don’t get easily influenced

The thing that nobody tells us is to follow our own hearts. If you think you are good at something, for example, painting, then you should not need to worry about why people are going for an MBA or CA. If you are sure something would make you happy by pursuing it, you’d automatically want to do well in it and other’s decisions and opinions wouldn’t affect your progress. Therefore choosing a career should be solely based on your interest. People’s opinions must be listened to, but the decision-taking part must be the basis of your own interest

Rule-3: Don’t fall for “Do what you are good at” 

Making career choices on the basis of what you are good at may look like an easy option but it is very temporary. You’d have to find where your interests lie and where you want to be. All you need to figure out is where your interest lies.

Let’s take for an example of a boy who scores extremely well in accountancy and ends up taking CA as his career path without looking at the job profile and working style. The boy soon realized that he is neither doing well in his preparation for the entrance exams nor is able to focus on other options. Just because you are good at something shouldn’t be the basis for your career.

Rule-4: A year drop – Not a big deal

Year drop is the toughest decision for everyone, and especially for parents. Who wants their child to sit at home and do nothing? Well, that is all true but if dropping a year means you need time to introspect and look for options and perform well in the exams, then a year drop isn’t that bad an option. The mentality that a drop means the child is not focused or is wasting time should change because to a great extent it is not true.

There are times we need to take a break and figure out things, and if a year’s break helps in making career decisions more favorable than when looked from a bigger perspective, this could save anyone from taking wrong career decisions. Therefore, before deciding to take a year off, make sure you have evaluated your options carefully and that whatever you decide, it helps you grow which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise

Rule-5: Change of plans is alright

Gone are the days when everyone was supposed to stick to one particular field and follow it for the rest of life. With so many options available everywhere, if you think you no longer like to continue what you were passionate about earlier, you should not be afraid of exploring for more options. Explore options and then make the right career choices.

Although it is generally thought that after investing a lot of time and money there seems no logic in not pursuing it any longer. But as a matter of fact, if you really think that you cannot continue, just take a break and introspect. Talk to people and share your fears and if it’s justified you can always change your career path.

Rule-6: Take risks

We are always told to focus on one thing and not take risks. But if there are so many opportunities available in the market to test your skills and interest, one must always strive hard, one must always say yes to opportunities to keep exploring options and never settle for just one thing. There are so many options available that may guide you towards even better and fulfilling career pathways. Factually, a very large part of your career helps you in defining your attitude and personality.

Conclusion

Always remember that your career plays a huge role in defining your life, so in case you feel you are in need of some guidance, you can always take help from your seniors and make decisions. If you still feel you need more clarity, you can always take help from career counselling experts at Job Readiness Hub.

“There are No Limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking”

Career Alignment Guide

Importance of Career Alignment

Choosing the right career or industry for yourself can have a significant impact on your life-long levels of happiness, health, and fulfillment. 

Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, it’s critical to understand who you are in the world, what you’d like to accomplish, and how you can add value to your chosen industry.

Where you choose to spend your 90,000 hours should be a place to thrive and grow, not solely a place to collect a paycheck. 

Here are Top 5 Essential things you should know that can help match your personality with the right field.

1. Personality Tests

When you’re starting out in the real world, it’s critical to question the validity of all personality tests. Personality inquiries can help guide you toward different industries—especially when you’re in learning and discovery mode. 

While these tests can be entirely accurate, they still can’t replace real-world experience. The Meyers-Briggs personality test can provide you with precise information regarding your personality type and best industry fit. However, the information you learn about yourself can’t provide you with the day-to-day life experience as if you were already working in the field.

Regardless, personality tests are important, and should be an important part of your vocational toolbox.

2. Volunteer And Internships

If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to discovering your career path, you can consider volunteering or interning. This way, you can experience different roles in an everyday setting with no holds barred.

Also, since volunteering is not something you are required to do, it can help you gain real-world experience in various industries without the pressure to produce. Also, you won’t have to make a serious commitment, and you can always change where and how you volunteer. When you share your time freely, you can gain valuable knowledge and experience—as well as discover ongoing networking opportunities. 

Finally, as technology has changed our world, the transition into adulthood today can be a bit more challenging. Volunteering is one of the most significant ways to keep depression and anxiety at bay. When you help those who are less fortunate than you, you’ll most likely find great joy in helping and learning from others. Also, you have the chance to play a significant contributing role in society.

3. Keep An Open Mind

It is critical to obtain various opinions and learn as much as possible when you’re pursuing your profession. In addition to personality exams and volunteering, speaking to a career counselor can be of invaluable assistance. Many universities and career coaches can offer guidance to assist you with the right vocational choice.

You can also go on LinkedIn and find a mentor.

Pay attention to the predicted job market, and try to make decisions using both your head as well as your heart. For example, if you enjoy art and computers, think about a career in graphic design or web development.

4. Self-Reflection

One of the smartest ways to find the right career path is to make sure you take the time to get to know yourself well. Figure out how you stand out from the crowd. What makes you different? What different offerings do you bring to the table when you compare yourself to other candidates? How can you make yourself stand out? All of us have different and unique talents. Don’t be afraid to bring those unique traits with you.

Try new experiences, spend time shadowing many industries, and work with a mentor who can assist you in defining your brand.

When you take time for self-reflection, you’ll have a much better idea of the kind of work culture that best fits your personality.

5. Hobbies And Networking

Also, try and arrange time to work on hobbies you enjoy, take classes, and attend networking events. When you have a hobby, you’re more likely to meet people in the same field as well, which can lead to many opportunities. Also, if you decide to take ongoing classes, you’ll find that life-long learning not only provides you with new skills—but can also bring the right people into your life when you least expect it. 

Remember—90,000 Hours

While personality tests can be highly useful, remember that it is critical to figure out which career suits your personality best.

90,000 hours of your life is a long time, and you want to work where you can add the most value, and where you will thrive as a human being contributing to society. 

When you can understand your personal needs along with your personality, odds are you will end up on the right career path. 

Job-Readiness-Blueprint-7

The Role of a Readiness Program

In the 21st century, a career depicts the ultimate success of an individual. Due to increasing competition and lack of employment availability, students are not able to land in a proper job.

Concentrating on academic performance throughout student life, they lack an appropriate skill set right before the beginning of their careers. Acquiring these skill sets and proficiency will not only make them industry ready but also prove to be beneficial in the long run.

Career (Job) readiness programs help students to obtain necessary skills that will help them to grow, land in a job and sustain in the Future of Work.

This is very much important to assist the student in conquering the real-world challenges, these programs incorporate the required skills regardless of education and experience. Enriching the students with creativity, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, cultural competency, etiquette, and professionalism – the career (Job) readiness programs integrate employability skills among the students providing them with a competitive edge during interviews, internships, and jobs.

To understand the significance of career readiness programs and their impact on a student, the below-mentioned topics may prove to be useful:

1. Identifies the Caliber:

Students at a young age are often not aware of their true potential. Career (Job) readiness programs create opportunities that help them to analyze the current scenario of the job market. Gradually they recognize the industry which suits them and they identify the skills required to ace in that industry. Comparing the caliber they require vs. the caliber they posses students can prepare themselves to face the real world.

2. Builds Capacity:

Emerged in a theoretic world of bookish knowledge, students never get a glimpse of the real world waiting outside for them. With thorough practice and determination, the students can polish their skills and advance towards the future with more confidence.

3. An Investment for Future:

Career / Job readiness programs were quite unheard of until recent days. Critically analyzing the current market scope and skills possessed by the young graduates, these programs are now given the utmost priorities in every education sector. A vision of future, career (Job) readiness programs makes students industry ready even before the completion of their graduation.

4. Critical Thinking Capacity:

Analyzing and interpreting the complexity of a situation to bring out the best is not something that can be easily learned acquired. An important aspect of life in every situation, this trait shapes and molds a student into a professional by enhancing their thinking and problem-solving capacity. Career (Job)  readiness programs develop logical reasoning skills to synthesize existing connections among various factors to solve problems.

5. Enhance Communication:

We are all aware of the fact that with just above-average communication skills we cannot succeed in the interviews. During interviews and sustaining in the job, communication skills are far more than just a medium of transmission of thoughts and expressions. Coming from different regional backgrounds, students often lack proper communication skills which deprive them of their dream job even after the plethora of skills possess by them. Career (Job) readiness programs enhance the verbal ability of the students which also boosts their confidence and performance.

Regardless of the profession or industry a student enters, Colleges and Universities should take the pre-requisite steps to make students industry worthy. The ‘one-size-fits-all’ education system has its flaws and gaps which need to be mended by these career readiness programs. By organizing these programs, the students will get opportunities to hone their technical skills and personality to succeed in the future

Conclusion

Academic skills such as reading, writing, basic math and communication skills are essential & our education system covers it all… Beyond this, students lack industry exposure, insights to the future of work, evolving skills and trends, etc.

Job-readiness training programs, also known as workplace-readiness and career-readiness programs, prepare participants to get, keep and excel at a new job, as explained by the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center.

Job Readiness skills are important because they ensure workers have the basic academic, critical thinking and personal skills necessary to maintain employment.

Law of Attrction

How to Manifest a Job Offer using the Law Of Attraction?

This is one of the most important Secrets for any individual – Can be applied to many areas of your life including Career / Job Search as well.

When you really understand how to work with the Law of Attraction, job success is entirely possible. This guide will explain how to manifest a job, working through the key steps to job attraction and helping you figure out your true passions. This blog also includes sample affirmations that you can adapt and use in your manifestation practice, ensuring you start every day in the right way.

Step 1: Show Gratitude

No matter what you’re trying to manifest, you need to align yourself with a vibration of abundance rather than one of lack. This means that you need to refocus your attention on what you have, rather than resenting what you don’t have.

In the case of manifesting a job, this means learning to love the role you currently occupy. Find the things to appreciate, the things that help you grow, and nurture the gratitude that this reflection induces. For example, you might note down two things that inspire gratitude at work each day.

Meanwhile, if you’re currently unemployed, tune into the good things about having some downtime. Trust that you need this period in order to achieve an ultimately satisfying career, and consider how you can make the best of the way your life is right now. Are there skills you can learn, ways you can nurture your body or relationships you need to give some time to?

Step 2: Discover What Job You Really Want

To manifest a job, you have to have a solid sense of what kind of career you really want. Even if you think you have a clear idea of your dream job, it’s well worth taking the time to reflect on whether you’re right about this. Often, we think we want things because we’ve internalized ideas about what success means, or about what kind of person someone else wants us to be.

In addition, try making a list of specific things you want from a job. If it’s easier, start with what you know you don’t want (e.g. “I don’t want to work 70-80 hours a week”) and flip those negatives into positives (e.g. “I want to work approximately 40 hours a week”). Think about all aspects of a potential job, from colleagues to your environment, and whether your working time is flexible. This list will serve you well, regardless of the type of job you want.

What Is Your Dream Job? Prompts

If you struggle to say what your dream job might be, don’t worry. As noted above, there are lots of things that can block your intuitions about your life’s purpose. Working through these four prompts will help you develop a clearer image of what you want to manifest.

  1. Ask yourself why you care about having a job that revolves around your passion. Make sure it isn’t simply because your peers are doing it or your family expects it. If you ultimately realize you can be happy pursuing your passion outside of work, it may be worth concentrating your manifestation potential elsewhere.
  2. Ask yourself what role work plays in your dream life. What does the right work-life balance look like for you? Do you want a job that takes up most of your time, or do you want work to leave you with plenty of energy for other things?
  3. Ask yourself what you’d like to be particularly good at doing. Success and skill mastery are intimately connected, so what would you like to excel at (and how can you integrate this into a career)?
  4. Ask yourself what sacrifices you’re willing to make. Things to consider include where you’re willing to live, time sacrifices, pay and commute options.

Step 3: Remove Limiting Beliefs

If you’re struggling to manifest a job you enjoy, it’s highly likely that you’re holding onto limiting beliefs. These are underlying assumptions (often held at the subconscious level) that prevent you from vibrating on the frequency of the thing you want to attract.

In the case of jobs, these beliefs may be about what you’re capable of doing, what you deserve, or the limitations of “people like you.” These limiting beliefs need to be replaced if you’re to make the most of the Law of Attraction.

Firstly, you need to articulate such beliefs. Try writing them down, and figuring out where they come from. For example, you might realize that you think you’re “not good with people”, and that this harks back to when you were bullied at school (rather than reflecting the experiences you’ve had with adults). For each belief, write down a replacement (e.g. “I can work with the right people”).

Step 4: Look For Signs

It’s vital to be openminded about indications you may have found the right job. Sometimes, even if a job opportunity isn’t perfect for you, it will be the one that provides a stepping stone to the perfect career.

When you’re working with the Law of Attraction, signs from the universe can come in many different forms. Take particular note of surprising invitations that you receive, and unusual chances to attend networking events. In addition, you may keep seeing posters or adverts for a particular place or thing – if you do, take note. This may be a clue to how you can find your dream job.

However, it’s also worth noting that signs can be more abstract. Look out for repeating symbols, numbers or any kind of patterns. Even if you can’t derive meaning from them at the time, note them down and come back to them later to see if you can make any connections.

Step 5: Make A Plan

Of course, attracting a job also requires concrete practical steps. One of the most empowering things you can do is to make a clear, linear list of what you need in order to get from here to your dream career. You might start by sketching out the biggest steps, and then break those down into smaller, more achievable sub-goals. For example, step one could be “enhance my CV”, but the sub-goals could include applying for some volunteer work, writing a guest contribution for a blog post in your area of expertise, and going to a relevant conference.

Don’t forget that you don’t have to plan on your own. Feel free to solicit the help of helpful, optimistic friends who want you to succeed, or to reach out to people with whom you’ve had some kind of mentorship relationship. Planning can feel daunting, and it’s much easier if you have supporters in your corner.

Step 6: Move Forward

When you reach the stage of moving forward, it’s time to actively start applying for jobs, even if you’re not entirely sure they’re right for you. View every application process and job interview as a chance to hone your skills, getting you into the right frame of mind for the perfect opportunity.

To perform well in interviews, make sure you do the following:

  • Practice (preferably with a friend), guessing at some likely questions and formulating some appropriate answers. Think about phrasing, attitude and what you want to convey about your suitability.
  • Make some kind of connection with your interviewer, whether it’s simply remembering their name or pointing out a past connection (e.g. going to the same college).
  • Research where you’d be working ahead of time, so you demonstrate a clear, sophisticated understanding of the company’s aims.
  • Choose your look days before, and have it all ready the night before so that there’s no rushing and no indecision.

Step 7: Take Responsibility

When looking at how to manifest a job offer, it’s crucial to take full responsibility for yourself and for your life. In fact, this is advice that applies to all manifestation work.

Instead of viewing yourself as a victim of circumstance, view yourself as an active, empowered agent who can facilitate change at all levels. If you don’t know yourself, act decisively and take care of your needs, you’re highly unlikely to attract a job that revolves around doing what you love.

Taking responsibility for yourself doesn’t just mean working to improve, either. It’s just as important to know how and when to relax, to notice the signs of potential burnout, and to disconnect from negative influences.

While it’s great to truly focus on your goals, you also need to set aside time to just live in the moment. This raises your vibration, aligning you with the positive, fulfilling things you want to attain.

Step 8: Stay Positive

The final step is to try and stay positive throughout the entire process of manifesting a job. This doesn’t mean that you are forbidden from feeling and acknowledging negative emotions. However, you should aim to address them as they come up (instead of repressing them), and take steps to move on to a better place. Whether this requires doing something light to cheer you up, spending time with a friend or going to therapy, figure out what induces a more positive mindset and know when you need to do it.

It’s tough to stay positive if you’ve struggled to attract something you deeply want. However, remember that all of your difficulties are opportunities to learn the lessons you need to get to the stage of living in alignment with your true purpose. If you wait long enough, you’ll find that the things you resent right now may later become things you’re grateful to have experienced.

Law of Attraction Job Affirmations

Using affirmations is one of the most basic and effective Law of Attraction techniques, so it’s well worth designing some of your own in order to support your quest for a job. Affirmations are simple phrases that capture your positive intentions and keep you focused on the belief that you can attract what you want. You can recite these phrases first thing in the morning, have them appear as reminders on your phone, or write them on signs and display them in places that will motivate you. There’s no limit to how you can use affirmations to support your manifestation goals. Therefore, be as creative as you like!

Regardless of how you use them, here are some examples that you can adapt and reuse for your own purposes:

  • “I am manifesting my ideal job.”
  • “Success is a part of me, allowing me to thrive in my dream job.”
  • “I will feel confident, powerful and good when I interview for my dream job.”
  • “I’ll work happily and productively with everyone I encounter.”
  • “I am open, excited and grateful for the opportunities life provides.”
  • “The Universe is leading me towards the job I have always wanted.”
  • “I am magnetic, attracting success and prosperity.”
  • “I’ll find the job that is right for my talents and passions.”
  • “I deserve a job that will make me feel happy and fulfilled.”
  • “I’m ready to attract the job I deserve.”
  • “I am attracting my dream job right now.”
  • “The Universe is preparing me for my dream job.”
  • “I easily network with others, attracting them with my positive vibration.”
  • “All of my career experiences are preparing me for my dream job.”
  • “My dream job brings fulfillment, passion, and abundance.”
  • “I live my life in gratitude for the dream job I am attracting.”
  • “I am well-paid, respected and successful.”
Job Offer

4 simple steps to turn your Interviews to Job offers

I interview tons of people and there are 4 little things that I’ve noticed that works EVERYTIME. These are so simple, but very few do them, and pretty much no one does ALL of them.

Do this and you will make a killer impression in your next job interview.

1. Thank You Email

Sending a follow up email after having an interview is a simple yet potent thing that shows interest. I have heard that offer decisions have been made based on Thank You notes, and it’s because companies want individuals who are excited about the opportunity. And there’s an emotional aspect–getting a nice email further solidifies your bond with the team.

2. Frequent follow ups

In a similar vein to the thank you message, following up frequently also shows interest, and shows you take initiative, which is very attractive to employers. Companies aren’t as interested in candidates who wait around and are passive. If the company has not gotten back to you after an interview, Follow up every 3 to 5 business days, or the specific timeframe they give you, to ask about next steps. I recommend following up 3 times before giving up.

I have heard several stories of candidates who did not give up and after 2 emails of no reply, their third email is the one that got the response and got them ultimately to the offer, persistence gets jobs!

3. Do Research on the Interviewers

Research on the company is for sure good, but when you look into the PEOPLE on the interview loop you start to build deeper connections.

I work with someone who was hired at the company a while ago and to this day we still bring up how impressive it was that he had read about everyone in his interview loop and brought up specific blogs they had written or interests they have.

It wasn’t creepy, this is all publicly available information, but it made each interviewer feel acknowledged as someone worth knowing about, and showed great effort and interest on the candidate’s side. And I already spoiled the ending, but he got the job. 🙂

Make sure to get the names of your interviewers before coming in for the interview, this is a common request.

4. Ask questions in the Interview

In most interviews, there will be a point where the interviewer will ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” And you should always be asking questions during this time. You should be vetting the company just as they are vetting you. You come off as a low-quality candidate if you do not ask questions, because it seems like you just need a job instead of the right job.

Here are a few Questions that you might ask:

  1. What is the growth path for an individual in this role?
  2. Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?
  3. Why did you come to this company?
  4. What’s your favorite part about working here?
  5. Is this a new hire / replacement hire?
  6. How soon do you expect someone onboard?
  7. What / How does a typical day look like?
  8. What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?
  9. What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
  10. Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?
  11. Would I be able to represent the company at industry conferences?
  12. What are the most important things you’d like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job?
  13. I’ve read about the company’s founding, but can you tell me more about…?
  14. What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?
  15. What’s the company and team culture like?
Career Inspiration

How To Find a Career That Inspires You

It’s very important to choose a career that inspires you + doesn’t make you feel like working long. One simple reason for that is because, this is where you are going to spend majority of your time on daily basis.

Look at the what the leading research says:

Alright, NOW How to Find That Right Career?

1. Know Yourself Before You Know What To Do

You have to know what sparks that light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world.” — Oprah Winfrey

When I started looking for an option, I had a problem of plenty. I didn’t know which option to pursue.

Keeping the titles aside, I was not sure if I would like the actual work.

“The only way to be content with what you do… Is…. To do things that meet your core needs and aspirations”

The challenge is that many people don’t know their core needs and aspirations. They will just try to follow what is trending, what is paid well or what will be prestigious.

I looked for help to know myself better and came across multiple assessments / evaluation systems to explore myself..

I blocked a weekend to think deeply and answer questions about my life in the future

  1. What is my ideal family situation?
  2. What fitness do I have?
  3. What faith do I have?
  4. What friends do I have?
  5. What is my financial situation?
  6. What work am I doing?
  7. What am I doing for personal growth?

I then used 5 Why framework to ask myself

“Why it was important to me?”

After repeating it for 4–5 times for each question, I arrived at a pattern of core needs and created a purpose/mission statement.

I wanted to create an impact on the society in a scalable way through my work. While it was a broad definition, it became a starting point to find and select work opportunities. I also needed safety and security in all aspects of life with a definite path.

You have to know what you need deep down to find out what you want.

  • Find some alone time when you can think without interruption
  • Answer the questions above and follow the steps mentioned
  • Arrive at your core needs (2–3 max) and purpose (1–2 max)

This template can help you organize your thoughts in this process. You can also reach out to DoNew and work with their team to brainstorm about your goals and purpose.

You will be bombarded with external influences about “what you should do”. The only way to clear confusion and move ahead with supernatural force is to be guided by what sparks the light in you.

2. Know What Excites You

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.” — Simon Sinek

We all have the knowledge of things we love – only if we can uncover it.

One of the best ways to do it is to go back to your childhood.

What excited you?

What kept you busy for hours during the summer holidays?

Do you have memories of doing something that made your heart sing?

Another way of doing is to evaluate your professional experiences so far. Even if you are starting out in your career, you can look back at volunteering experiences. Uncover what excited you beyond any external reward.

Which ones did you enjoy the most?

Which project gave you the satisfaction that lasted for days?

What do you feel most proud of?

As a child, I loved being in the moment, sightseeing & travelling experiences.

In my professional life, I was most proud of the work where I created something — an impact-driven organization, a strategy to solve a problem.

Work that gave opportunities to be in the moment and create something meaningful stirred me.

Your purpose will help you choose a path amongst many alternative routes. Knowing what you love will tell you how to travel on that path.

Spend time to audit your life and find these insights.

You don’t need to have the perfect answer. Right now, you only need a starting point that reflects your current awareness level. Your surroundings will evolve. Your insights will evolve with it. I will share how to pivot with that knowledge in the latter part inside my Job Readiness Hub Community.

3. Know Your Strengths

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” — Albert Einstein

Once you become clear about your purpose and what excites you, the challenge will be to find opportunities that align with it.

The biggest roadblock in this process was not the availability of options. It was my belief that I don’t have relevant experience or I will have to start from scratch without the promise of success.

I needed an awareness of my strengths and the conviction that can be applied in different contexts. I followed this process

  • I identified times when I performed very well and made a note of my strengths
  • I reached out to my friends and colleagues to take feedback on their perception about my strengths.
  • I took an external assessment to confirm my self-understanding and discover strengths that I had overlooked

This knowledge helped me accept rejections and overcome moments of self-doubt. It helped me to not settle for what seemed workable but push for what aligned with my mission.

4. Audit The Market

At this point, I knew my purpose and the kind of work I found exciting. I had a belief in my strengths. I was ready to seek opportunities.

  • I created a list of relevant roles to my knowledge. I asked friends and colleagues for ideas. I checked LinkedIn and other job postings. But For YOU, Now you have an amazing Readiness program “Job Readiness Hub”
  • Then I found people who work in those roles and understood what they did. When I didn’t know someone personally, I posted on social media. My learning is that if you message 20 people, at least one of them would be happy to talk to you. But now, You have an amazing community of people and leaders to help you via “Job Readiness Hub”

I also resisted the urge to fixate my mind on the “job title”. Instead, I asked myself:

What skills do I need to bring my purpose to life? What exposure am I seeking?

I broke down every option and evaluated it from this perspective.

In the best-case scenario, you find work that aligns 100% with your purpose. e.g. You may decide to launch your own startup or join where your friends are working or move into an adjacent role within your company (if you are already working.)

I had multiple options and wanted to understand my own compatibility towards them. I sought opportunities to do a small project with the team.

This helped me to remove bad alternatives and make a bigger commitment.

Don’t get disheartened if you can’t land into a role that you thought was perfect. You only need to find an opportunity that gives you relevant skills and experiences.

It would be your stepping stone. Maybe 50% of your time would be engaged in work that is aligned. That energy will motivate you. Things will flow and you will find options you never envisaged.

5. Keep Pivoting

“Always be a work in progress.” — Emily Lillian

Your needs may change with marriage, kids or any other pivotal moment.

You may realize something about yourself that you were not aware of before.

Your industry may change drastically with the adoption of new technologies.

I realized that finding your why and the work that aligns with it is a continuous process.

I recommend you to repeat the process every 2–3 years. If things are aligned, continue the momentum. Else, make another pivot towards your purpose.

Accept difficulties, but don’t accept unhappiness at work.

6. Focus on Values

Here’s the truth about meaningful work: It’s entirely subjective.

For the most part, fulfillment boils down to three things:

  1. feeling aligned with the company’s mission,
  2. enjoying your day-to-day work, and
  3. feeling like a valuable member of the team you’re working with.

It has less to do with what products the company sells, or the exact nature of its environmental footprint, or the robustness of its corporate responsibility programs. You will find talented, smart, caring people working at companies that run the entire spectrum of these things. It’s a matter of who fits where.

What’s consistent among people who feel inspired by their work is an alignment of values. “Values” is a vague term, but we view this as a feeling that what someone does is consistent with who he or she is.

If you’re trying to choose between two very different opportunities (for example, a well-respected job at a marketing agency vs. a role at an interesting but unknown social enterprise), try not to base the decision on salary or resume or the expectations of friends and family. Make the decision based on this question: Where can I most effectively live my values while learning the most?

Conclusion

Life is short. You will spend more than 50% of your time working.

Choose joy over misery in that time.

Think about your ideal future and find your purpose.

Look back at your past and know what gives you a kick.

When you have clarity, opportunities will manifest in your life.

You will experience the joy of being in sync with your purpose, every day.

May all the energy in the world help you!

I Am Special words on a sign held by a man in a crowd standing out as different, unique, exceptional, rare or uncommon as the best choice to hire for a job, choose for an assignment or pick for a task

Importance of Additional Specialization Courses for Students Employability

Today’s workforce requirements are dynamic and changing. On one side Talent Acquisition & Business leaders are hunting for rightly skilled resources. On the other side, semi-skilled resources are looking for opportunities.

This clearly states that there is a Talent Demand Vs Talent Supply gap.

This is because, most colleges / universities offer students the basic foundational courses & a graduate degree..

Hence, they are not meeting the employability needs of the corporates.

What is a Specialization Course?

A specialization course offers a series of related courses to better prepare students for their internships and future careers.

Not only that, but also offers a lot of fun and allows students to explore their career interests in greater depth.

Specialization courses help students to cover their skill gaps

Specialization Courses help students to become Job Ready for the Future of Work.

Specialization Courses help students to build their Talent influence in front of their targeted Hiring Managers & Recruiters.

Situation Today….

Your specialization is not just your special subject or skill.

For example, If you’re planning to study Engineering (or) Medical, eventually you will have to chose your area of specialization / Streams.

In reality, Not every student is going to work in the same field of their studies..

Being in the Corporate Talent Acquisition space and having hired from a lot of campuses, I have seen a lot of Mechanical Engineers and Automobile / Chemicals Engineer taking up IT / Programming / Software roles. They have also grown & made-up their careers as Program Manager / IT Architect, etc. There is nothing wrong in doing so.

The reason for this is that they have taken up jobs / roles and travelled along with the trend. Nothing wrong..

But in the long run, a majority of them realized that:

1. They don’t enjoy doing this for their life-time.

2. They have to continuously learn and keep them updated to stay away from job redundancies.

3. They undergo learning programs / take-up specializations offered by their employer / workplace to stay competitive

4. They have to switch careers based on their interests after a long career span (Wasting so much of their lifetime in a wrong place / work)

So, if this is the case – why not choose your Specialization much earlier when you are graduating….

Hence – Your college course is just a degree….

Making you probably a graduate & Interview Ready – BUT NOT really Job Ready / Career Ready / Corporate Ready

How to Choose a Specialization Course?

There are a few factors to consider while choosing your area of specialization…

These factors include academic factors, social capital factors, future prospect factors, human capital factors, market demand factors and finally job prospect factors.

Everyone is unique and so is everyone’s specialization too…

So, while choosing a specialization for yourself, you need to first have your Unique Career Niche Clarity

Benefits of Specialization Courses

Some of the Top benefits of specialization courses in the modern-day workforce is that:

  1. It helps an individual to have an aligned career
  2. It helps to build your Talent Influence aligned with your chosen Career Niche.
  3. It helps to Future Proof your Career by staying competitive
  4. It helps to fulfill the Talent demand for skilled workers & many more…

Success Story – Role of Specialization Courses on Top of Basic Curriculums

As a first year in a Full-Time MBA program, I am amazed at the amount of knowledge and skills I have accumulated in such a short amount of time. While the MBA core classes have given me an extremely valuable foundation in general business, I believe that the specialization courses are what truly sets me apart from rest of the crowd.

Marketing Research, for example, was one of my favorite classes during my first year in the program. Taught during the fall semester, this class explained how to use a research-based approach to come up with valuable insights and solutions to business problems. This included learning a variety of both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, and we even got to design our own research project based on a local company of our choice.

But the specialization course – Marketing Analytics, taught me a variety of techniques for analyzing and modeling data. This included building marketing mix models and working with Nielsen data, skills that are highly applicable during brand management internships but are not often taught by schools.

Learning about real-life business problems and strategies from experts in the field has been an incredible experience via Specialization programs. I am so excited to put these learnings to use during my internship. Thanks to the specialization courses, I feel confident that I will attract a successful internship, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and build upon my skills as a future brand manager!

https://youtu.be/AKJmaxyOJQI

Conclusion:

Everybody is Specializing these days.. Are you??

If you have a menu card like options to choose from… rather than getting lost in the World of Tech

Actionable Assignments to attain Career Niche Clarity by understand your unique self interests.

Then it becomes easier for you to go after and choose a career for yourself rather than taking up something which comes your way and then later realizing that this job / role isn’t for you and you aren’t enjoying this.

Talent-supply-Gap1

Talent Supply Gap In The Future Of Work

On one side, fresh students & youth talents are looking out for opportunities…

On the other side, corporate leaders & Talent Acquisition professionals are hunting for talented individuals…

So, it is very evident that there exists a Gap in Talent Supply.

Why do Talent Supply Gaps occur? 

·       Digitization is reinventing businesses.

·       This often happens because technology advances so quickly that it becomes hard for employees to keep up.

·       Organizational planning is no longer an annual event – It is a constant readjustment to changing priorities.

·       Technology and strategies are changing work faster than the workforce can adapt.

Technology advancements, the rise of cloud, socio-economic and demographic changes are shifting expectations and placing new demands on society.

Skills like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, productivity and more are already in demand in organizations around the world, yet jobs remain unfilled, the talent gap persists and is set to widen. 

Who is considered as “Talent Supply”???

Its the Candidates (Job Seekers) / Fresh College Students / Youth Talents, who are considered as Talent Supply for the “Future of Work”

Now that YOU are aware of the existence of Talent Supply Gap and who are considered as Talent supplies..

Now, Who Is Responsible to bridge this Talent Supply Gap?

In order to grab the available opportunities at organizations, whose responsibility is this to bridge the gap?

Indeed, Its the responsibility of the fresh students / youth talents to:

prepare themselves for the Future of Work,

bridge the gap for their desired role (after attaining their unique Career Niche Clarity)

and position themselves as a Future Ready workforce…

To sum it up – It’s the responsibility of youth talents, fresh graduates, and job seekers – who need to be equipped and cross-trained to meet the ever-growing skill requirements of organizations.

How to bridge this Talent Supply Gap?

Students need a Readiness Program to:

1. Explore their self and understand themselves better.

2. Align themselves with the available options for The Future of Work

3. Take up Specialization courses on top of their basic curriculums

4. Build their Talent Influence

6 Simple Steps To Attain “Job Readiness”

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Organizations are looking at building a Future Ready Workforce – Are You READY?

In short:

  1. Fresh Graduates and Youth Talents like YOU need to be prepared with the trending skills to become a Future ready workforce / Tomorrow’s workforce.
  2. You need to pick-up some specializations on top of your basic curriculums which will help you thrive in the “Future of Work”
  3. You need a guided Readiness Programs to unlock Career pathways in fast growing fields.