Starting a new job can be both exciting and terrifying. You’ve convinced your manager that you’re the right person for the job via the interview, but now it’s time to show and prove. So, how exactly do you go about doing that?

While I’m all for speaking dreams into existence, I like to do so with a side of tangibility. After all, creating goals and accomplishing goals are two different things. We all know what happened to those New Year’s resolutions, right? Yeah, gone till December.

If you’re a full-time employee, you’ve likely been given a certain amount of paid time off as a part of your benefits package. Unfortunately, many professionals struggle to enjoy this benefit because they never disconnect from work truly. Instead, they spend their paid time off checking emails, responding to instant messages, and actively working on upcoming presentations. It’s no wonder so many professionals identify as being affected by burnout.

Despite that “easy apply” button on some hiring sites (sorry, LinkedIn) think twice before blindly sending off your resume. Why? Tailoring your resume allows the employer to see your potential for the specific role they’re posting. To stand out, you need to avoid generalizing your skills. So, where does a cover letter come in? A cover letter, in addition to your resume, communicates how your unique combination of skills and experience makes you the best candidate.

If you’re feeling stagnant in your current role and have been unsuccessful in your attempts to land a promotion or find a new job, you may also feel stuck. You’re probably wondering, “how do I prove I’m qualified to do the job?” Maybe you’re even considering getting another degree. However, as we all know, getting a degree is a major investment - of both your time and your finances. So what can you do when you’re short on both?

I’m sure you’ve heard the quote, “Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will.” But have you ever thought about how it specifically applies to you? I know many of us like to put on a mask to pretend we’re fearless, but at one point or another, fear has likely altered our course of action. And it’s only when you identify and accept your fears can you start to overcome them. So, let’s look at what four different types of fears look like when it comes to your career.

As a busy professional, it’s essential to master time management if you want to be successful. While there may be many things vying for your attention throughout the workday, the bulk of your time should be spent on the tasks and activities most conducive to your success. Like how a budget tells your money where to go, effective time management is you “telling your time where to go” instead of just haphazardly addressing any and everything that comes your way with no order or intention.

“I just love the interviewing process!” said no one ever 😅

Let’s face it. You find interviews uncomfortable because you’ve never been trained to prepare for an interview properly. While you may be able to fake your way through the standard questions like “Tell me about yourself.” and “What is your greatest strength?” There’s no faking your way through behavioral questions, and a lack of proper framing will have the interviewer tuning out 5 seconds into your response.

Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we? Making a career change can be terrifying because it involves risks. And the risk is not something we like to associate with our careers. After all, there are bills that need to be paid. Plus, women are often told as young girls to limit risk-taking, to be safe, and not get messy.

Here’s the thing - without risk, there is no growth. Without risk, there is no change. Without risk, there is no chance of achieving something greater.

Do you feel like you’re currently being held hostage in that career you despise? The truth is, if you want to start making moves in your career, you have to stop making excuses. And before you say, “I’m not making excuses,” let’s be clear on how these excuses might sound. Here are the seven most common excuses I hear as a career coach.

Searching for a new job can be extremely overwhelming, especially when you aren’t properly organized. Some job seekers report spending as much as 40 hours a week dedicated to their job search alone. With millions of jobs opening each month, it’s important to approach the search with clarity and strategy.

We all want to know the secrets to being successful, right? If you consult Google, you'll probably find 3,752 suggestions on habits that foster success. In the event you don't have time to filter through all of those, I've put together this short list to help you get some easy checks in the wins column.

By now, you’ve probably heard that utilizing your network is vital in making a career move. But maybe you’re unsure of how to use your network. You may feel uneasy approaching the topic of seeking help or guidance in your career because it feels like a big ask. Plus, you’re too busy. And you just know they’re too busy. You’re not an extrovert, so you’ll never make the right connection.

Listen, this era is being called the Great Resignation for a reason. For those of you who didn’t make the move to a new career, you’re likely considering it. And not just because you want more money, benefits, or less burnout. It’s because your current work hasn’t provided that fulfillment that you crave.

Whenever I speak with professionals who feel unfilled in their career, it’s because they’ve spent all their time focusing on one or two of the four pillars necessary for fulfillment. Unfortunately, this isn’t an either or type of situation, you need to consider all four pillars with each career move. Let’s dive into each!

People often ask me, “What does it take to advance my career?” Contrary to popular belief, it takes more than simply being “good at what you do.” Career advancement requires a structured strategy. While the exact recipe for career advancement depends on your unique scenario, I've found that the following four assets are fundamental to your success.

Whether you are new or established with a company, we all know what not to do. There are glaringly obvious mistakes that create a negative effect on your career like missing deadlines, excessive lateness/absences, and overall poor performance to name a few. You know committing these actions will stall your career. But did you know there are other, less obvious, mistakes that could be interfering with your career advancement? Let’s talk about 4 hidden mistakes stopping your career advancement and what you can do to correct them. 

Look, we’ve all been there. You sit down to work on your job search, update your cover letter, and tailor your resume to the job posting. But before you get started you check your e-mail one last time. Or you read through just a few posts on LinkedIn. Or you just keep finding one more thing to do first. Before you know it, the time you’ve blocked out for yourself is gone. So now what?

Is a lack of clarity costing you precious time and cash? Here’s the thing - clarity helps you gain a deeper understanding of who you are and what you desire. And when you have clarity in your career, you operate from a place of authority as oppose to complacency.

Before you ask, no, this isn’t another quirky personality quiz that you pull from the pages of Cosmopolitan and do during your lunch break. While those are fun, those types of “personality assessments” are usually only good for a few laughs with your girlfriends and a couple of minutes second-guessing the accuracy of your horoscope.

Whether it’s transitioning from your part-time job as a teen or switching companies to get that double-digit salary increase with more authority, making a career change is something you’ll likely experience at some point in your life.