How To Create A Great Personal Brand

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Edna Crane

Personal branding is one of the most important things that you can focus on as a professional. It’s not so different to having a business brand. What it essentially means is that you have a good reputation. It means people know you for being associated with something positive within business (or whatever it is that you do). A personal brand also extends into your online presence. It’s about how you present yourself across the various platforms on the web. There are some things to keep in mind if you want to have a strong, impressive personal brand, and we’ve noted them down here for those looking to secure one!

Be Honest

Whilst it’s important to make sure that you’re selling yourself well, there is nothing more vital to your personal branding than being honest. In fact, being false and not delivering what you’ve promised could lead to the complete ruination of your personal brand. Think about the traits that you pride yourself on, and how you want people to see you as a professional in light of this. The worst thing that you can do is adjusting your personal brand depending on who you’re talking to. Make sure that you’re consistent and honest in everything that you do. This will make or break your reputation!

Do It Now

You may look at the personal brands of your peers, and those higher up than you, and think, ‘how am I ever going to be able to create something like that?’ However, when it comes to forming your image online, it’s never too late to start putting the work in to make it happen. Buy a domain name and everything necessary for a personal website, and get to work on it. If you’re using a platform like WordPress, it’s not hard to do these things yourself (as they offer themes that are easy to use), and giving your LinkedIn profile a bit of TLC is also a good idea. Ultimately, the sooner you start on your personal brand, the better.

Be a Team Player

The biggest thing that will help you to build your personal brand is your ability to be a team player, and to help other people to build up their reputations, too. Perhaps you’ve worked with somebody who did a great job for you, and you could help them to grow their personal brand by giving them an endorsement through LinkedIn, or a reference for them, so that their potential clients consider their services. Although you shouldn’t solely do it for this reason, it also means that they will give you the same support in return, and you’ll be able to build up your personal brand with the help of others.

Be Careful What You Post Online

OK, so this is probably the most important thing to note about a personal brand. Building one up over time is relatively easy, but ripping one down extremely quickly can happen within a flash. One inappropriate photo, or an article that’s pretty damning, can ruin your personal brand in a matter of hours. You need to be extremely careful about what you’re posting on the web, so that you don’t live to regret it in the future. A politically-charged tweet may not seem like the worst thing in the world at the time, but it can ruin your reputation. Old, drunken photos should also be kept out of the public eye.

Get Negative Content Taken Down

If there is content out there that isn’t exactly desirable or useful for your personal brand, then do your best to get it taken down. If it’s on Google, you can either ask Google to remove it (which is the harder way to go about this) or you can ask the site that posted it to take it down, which is the best way to get rid of it quickly. Assuming your friend has posted the picture or comment somewhere, then get in touch with them and ask them to delete it. You’ll find that most people (and sites) will remove the image if you request this. Some may be more difficult to reason with, and you may need to use legal action.

Don’t Focus On Too Much

Creating a personal brand is all about what your main marketing point is, rather than putting a wide range of skills out there to entice an employer. It’s a lot better if you just focus on a few things, rather than trying to make yourself an all-rounder. Let’s be honest, most people know a wide range of skills to a basic level. However, there are a few select skills that they can really use to make a big difference to a business. Think about what your top skills are, and what you can do to really showcase them throughout your personal brand. Don’t try to spin too many plates here, or you could live to regret it.

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Show That You’re Consistent

Something else that employers look for is consistency, and this is an integral part of your personal brand. If you have the commitment to show that you’ve tirelessly worked on building up your brand for the last few years, then it means that you’re going to show a similar commitment to the next stage of your career. Perhaps you’ve posted regular and professional updates across the various platforms? Or you’ve made sure that you’re always posting a well-informed commentary when something big happens in your field? Whatever it is, be consistent and show your commitment.

So, if you want to create a good personal brand, both online and in person, make sure that you keep these things in mind. Building up a reputation, and a profile of yourself online, can be a difficult task. It takes time, but it is certainly rewarding in the end. When your potential employer looks you up, they should see a professionally branded individual. If you follow these tips, then this could be you! Good luck!

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3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Looking for Your Dream Job

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Edna Crane

A lot of people, when they think of their dream jobs, imagine some half-thought-out fantasies that involve them lounging around on a beach drinking Pina coladas for most of the day, and then spending a bit of time teaching a surfing class, or checking in with their remote business empire via their laptops, before getting back to the party again.

Everyone should take steps to work towards their dream job. And for that matter, to discover what their dream job might be via an ongoing process of trial and error. But that doesn’t mean that you should be naïve about things.

When you’re looking for your dream job, it’s important to ask yourself certain relevant questions. If you were a registered nurse, for example, and were planning your future. Would you be happy staying in your current role, or would you prefer to become a family nurse practitioner?

Here are a few of the sorts of questions you should ask yourself, on your quest to find your dream job.

Could you fall in love with the work itself, and not just the results?

A dangerous mistake to make when thinking of your “dream job” is to visualize the results and benefits of the work, and fall in love with those, without taking into consideration the nature of the work itself.

When all is said and done, however, money is unlikely to bring you happiness or satisfaction if it comes at the cost of you spending the majority of your waking hours doing something that you more or less hate.

The first question to ask yourself when wondering whether a certain career path could lead you to your dream job is, “could I fall in love with the work itself, or might I just interested in the results?”

Does the job “scale” well?

It’s one thing to think that a job seems meaningful, interesting, and potentially fulfilling in the here and now. But if you’re considering what your “dream job” would be, you also need to consider how your job develops your skills across time.

When assessing a particular career path, ask yourself whether there’s enough of a ladder to climb there for you to keep increasing your level of responsibility, and your pay grade, over the years—or not.

If your would-be career of choice caps out at a pay level that you couldn’t ever be content with, that’s not a great sign.

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Does the job expand your options in different areas?

Here’s a useful thing to realize about “dream jobs”; you’re very unlikely to enter a particular job role in your youth, find that it’s the perfect fit for you, and stick with it for your entire life.

What actually happens, if you’re motivated, is that you keep amassing skills, exploring new and parallel job roles until you find one that is a good fit for you.

An ideal “dream job” should therefore be one which expands your skill set and maximizes your options in different areas, so that you can always expand laterally in your professional development, down the line.

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Is It Possible To Survive In A Low-Paying Job?

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Edna Crane

We all go to work every day so we can earn a salary or wage. This is the money that we need to live off and support our family with. As you no doubt already know, there are many well-paid jobs out there, such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants. However, there are also many jobs and careers that don’t pay quite as well as what we think they should. In fact, some are so low-paying that their employees can end up struggling to get by.

Thankfully, most of us will be able to move up to a higher position by getting a promotion and working our way up through a career. It’s usually possible to move beyond low-paying entry-level jobs in this way. But what if you seem to be stuck in a job that doesn’t pay enough with no way out? It may be getting you down, but you can hold onto the hope that it is usually possible to make your working situation better for yourself. Here are some ways you can survive your low-paying job.

Keep on Job Hunting

First of all, it’s important to note that you should always be job hunting. Even if you aren’t actively applying for the positions you find, you will find it very useful to keep a constant eye on your local job market. You’ll then be able to jump on any opportunity that is an improvement on your current situation. You never know when you will find a completely new role in a different career that shouldn’t be too difficult for you to transfer your skills and experience over to.

Switch to a Company that Pays Better

Of course, it could also be worth looking for a similar job to the one you currently do but at a company that will pay you a higher wage. Not all companies pay the same. It’s always worth having an ear to the ground to see if you can find a position for which you would earn a larger salary package. When you do look for open positions with other companies, it’s worth comparing the other financial benefits that you would gain, such as paid days off for vacations and illness as well as pension payments and annual bonuses. Even though a different company might be able to pay you slightly more, they may offer benefits that aren’t quite as good as the ones you currently get. So, you’ll have to weigh up whether it really is worth going for the higher salary.

Improve Your Transferable Skills

It’s always important to continue working on your transferable skills. It’s even necessary for those who are in solid jobs to keep on honing these crucial skills. These are key skills like good communication, analytical skills, and excellent customer service. They are known as transferable because you’ll be able to transfer them to various different areas of your life. As well as using them in your private life, you’ll also be able to use them in the majority of jobs as well. So, they should help you find a completely new job, even if it means moving into a completely different career. As long as these transferable skills are strong, they should help you bag a better job even if you don’t have any direct experience of working in the industry or sector.

See if there are any Funding Options for Your Career Path

It’s worth researching any potential funding opportunities that there might be for your specific career. There are sometimes charitable funds set up for employees in careers that are known to be quite poorly paid. For instance, teachers can sometimes struggle to get by on their low salaries and long hours. Thankfully, there are now a few programs in place to help a teacher who is really struggling. These kinds of programs are also used to financially reward teachers who have done particularly well in their job. There are quite a few traditional careers, such as teaching, that have these charitable pots and funds available for workers in need.

Start Networking More

Start trying to network more so you can meet as many people as possible. You never know who you might meet when you are at a local business networking event. There are always a lot of different entrepreneurs and business owners at them. You could get chatting to someone who is looking to hire someone with your exact set of skills and knowledge. Even if you don’t find someone who is hiring, you might start talking to someone who knows of an open position that might be a good match for you.

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Consider Changing Your Position in the Company

You might be able to increase your pay packet if you simply move into a different position in your current company. For instance, if you are able to work your way up to a leadership position then you would be in line for a nice pay rise. It could also be worth trying to position yourself as a mentor within the company. Lots of companies are now realizing how beneficial it is to have a mentor in the company who their workforce can reach out to for help and advice whenever they need it. You’d probably be able to continue your current position while doing a few extra mentoring sessions a week. As you’d be taking on extra responsibility, you will likely be able to request some extra pay.

Join a Union

It might be worth joining a union. These are groups and organizations that are created with the main aim to protect workers’ rights. If you believe that you are being paid a lot less than what you think you should be, it could be worth approaching your union about it. They will approach your company and attempt to negotiate a pay rise. If they are unable to do so, and you are paying significantly less than what other companies pay employees in similar roles, the union could help you take the issue to an employment tribunal.

Hopefully, these tips help you survive!

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3 Things that new Construction Businesses get Wrong

Posted on March 26, 2019March 26, 2019 by Edna Crane

People often say that the construction industry is one of the safest options for people that want to start a business of their own. It’s true that there is always going to be demand for construction companies. You can make good money once you’ve got a base group of loyal customers, but a lot of people underestimate just how hard it is. Starting a construction industry can be a great idea but only if you get it right.

It costs a lot of money to get started in construction. You have to invest so much before you can even start taking on jobs and seeing any kind of a return on that investment. A lot of construction companies fail before they even get to that point because they get some fundamental things completely wrong. If you’re thinking about starting your own construction company, make sure that you avoid these common mistakes.

Not Getting Insurance

The startup costs are so high for construction companies. You need to find a way to manage that properly if you’re going to survive long enough to start making a profit. But there are some things that you can’t cut corners with, especially your insurance. It’s important that you have liability insurance to cover you if anything goes wrong. Liability insurance will pay out if you make a mistake and accidentally damage a customers property. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to cover the cost of that damage yourself and that will probably sink the business entirely.

Liability insurance is also important if somebody is injured during the job. There is a high chance that somebody will try to make a compensation claim against you and the payouts for those cases can be incredibly high. If you’ve got liability insurance, that will cover the settlement. If you don’t have insurance though, you’re going to have to pay for it yourself and, chances are, you won’t have that money. Insurance is an extra cost but it’s a necessary one so don’t try to cut corners.

Spending Too Much On Equipment

It’s important that you do good quality work because word of mouth is a powerful thing. That means you need to invest money in good quality tools and machinery. However, if you go overboard, your costs will spiral out of control. If you need to buy any heavy machinery, you should always look for plant machinery finance options rather than paying for it all upfront. That way, you can spread the cost out and start paying it back once you’re bringing more money in.

A lot of companies struggle because they try to buy all of their tools at the beginning. There are a lot of basic tools that you’ll need for most jobs. The more specific tools that you only use for certain jobs should be bought on a use by use basis. If you take on a job that requires specific tools, you can fund them with the deposit that you get from the customer. By doing it that way, you can build up your equipment over time when you can afford it, rather than spending all of your money right at the beginning.

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Expanding Too Quickly

Most construction companies will start out with fairly small scale residential work and then eventually graduate on to larger projects. That business growth is important if you’re going to succeed in the long term, but you’ve got to make sure that you do it at the right time. One of the biggest mistakes that construction companies make is trying to expand too quickly. They finish a few jobs and start making a bit of money. They decide that they’re going to expand their operation and start taking on much bigger projects. The overheads for those projects are so much larger. They end up putting all of their money into new equipment and material costs. In some cases, it might work out if you get enough jobs to sustain those increased overheads. But more often than not, it doesn’t happen that way and they can’t earn back the money that they’ve spent.

If you want to expand, you should start putting money aside from every job. Wait until you can comfortably afford to take on those large projects without putting yourself in financial difficulty. You should also look for investment to help you cover some of those increased overheads.

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How to Show Your Boss Your Potential

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Edna Crane

Whether you are just starting out in a new position, or you have been in your role for a while and are beginning to feel that it’s time you receive a promotion, you are going to want to take active steps to ensure that your employer sees your potential. This tends to be easier said than done, especially if you are working within a particularly large organization. Chances are that your employer has a whole host of tasks to focus on and you’re going to have to do a lot to stand out from the crowd. But it is possible and you could greatly benefit from recognition and acknowledgment of your achievements. Here are a few steps that you can do to help your employer to see your potential!

Request Progress Meetings

Most companies will offer progression meetings through your probation period. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that you are settling into your role properly, that you correctly understand what is expected of you, and that you are keeping up with your workload. If you haven’t received these, now is a better time than ever to request them. They help you to keep a track of how things are going and ensure that you and your employer are on the same page. If you have finished your probation period, you may want to continue these meetings on a more informal basis. Put in a request with your employer—they may be able to accommodate this.

Understand OKRs

OKR stands for “objectives and key results.” When you begin any project, your employer should set out OKRs. These will help you to understand what you should be aiming to do within your position and with your work, as well as what results are expected to exemplify that you have reached the objectives that have been set out. When you are provided with OKR objectives and key results, you should do your utmost to meet them. Most companies will have specialist software that allows you, your manager, and your employer to track your progress. This ensures that your hard work will be acknowledged and recognized, as it will be laid out for everyone to see.

Undertake Extra Training

Training in areas pertaining to your role shows dedication and commitment to your position. Short courses, or even extensive courses, can also provide you with knowledge, skills, and an in-depth understanding of your field that can greatly benefit the business that you’re working for. A qualification on your resume can also officially qualify you for positions higher up in the chain of the corporation you may be working for. So, why not engage in a little education or pursue higher education associated with your role? Sure, this will be intense. Especially if you are currently working full time. But it’s a pretty effective means of climbing the career ladder.

Dedicate Yourself to Presentations

If you have to give a presentation, don’t engage with it in a half-hearted manner. Very few of us actively enjoy giving presentations. But it’s a great opportunity to showcase your talent, project yourself as a confident and competent individual, and carve a space for yourself in your employer’s memory. So, go all out and really make an effort. This is a great opportunity!

Steer Clear of Office Politics and Gossip

Office culture generates tensions, friction, rivalries, and gossip. But avoid this at all costs. While you may spend a lot of time with the people you work with, you should remain professional at all times. Getting involved in arguments, pettiness, or becoming problematic in the workplace can lower your employers’ opinion of you. Just remember that serious problems do not fall within this category – if you have experienced harm at another’s hands or if you feel that someone is treating you in an inappropriate manner, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact HR.

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Request a Promotion

As the old saying goes, if you don’t ask, you don’t get! So, if you feel that you are capable of taking on a promotion and that you deserve a promotion, you can simply ask for one. There is, of course, etiquette surrounding this type of interaction. You can find out more about this here!
It can be extremely frustrating to work hard and feel that your potential is going unrecognized. But you do have to play an active role in making yourself noticeable to your employer. Hopefully, the above advice and information will help you to stand out to your employer!

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Could You Work in a Customer Facing Role?

Posted on March 13, 2019March 14, 2019 by Edna Crane

Are you fresh out of college? Or have you been working in your current career for more than a decade? It’s never the wrong time to reconsider your work life options. You might feel stuck in a rut, your job might not be satisfying you, or you might not know where to go to apply for your first entry-level position. Many roles nowadays have an element of customer service. This can range from the telephone receptionist in a law firm to a social media manager who is conversing with clients over online platforms for eight hours a day. Customer facing doesn’t necessarily mean seeing another human physically. It could simply mean having contact with people through a variety of means. Being a customer facing does require specific attributes. Have you got what it takes?

Patience

Often being in a customer facing role means being the first point of contact for those people who are eager to make a complaint. It could be as simple as not having had their item arrive on time or more serious issues of misconduct and negligence. You need to be able to maintain a calm facade no matter what thoughts are racing through your head. Try to empathize with the customer and put yourself in their shoes. Imagine ordering a present for a significant birthday with plenty of time to spare only for it not to turn up. Be patient and allow the customer to rant if they have to. When there is a gap, interject and sympathize. Make it clear that you will take their complaint seriously. Detail how you will escalate the complaint and make sure you keep them informed of any progress and developments.

Sales

Customer facing roles often mean being motivated by sales and money making initiatives. If someone telephones your company enquiring about an offer they have seen on a social media platform, it might be up to you to secure the sale. If you streamline your sales process and ensure that every member of the company follows the same approach, the brand can gain a reputation for exceptional customer care rather than pushy sales tactics. Cold calling is no longer thought of as a suitable approach to earning revenue. However enticing customers to be more active in the sales process to make the first move has proven profitable.

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Communication Skills

Sometimes you will be talking to people over the telephone, at other times you might be emailing to respond to an inquiry, and at other points, you might be responding to a Twitter post or Instagram comment. Adapting your tone and voice for each method of communicationand for each customer type is a skill. Get this right, and you could find yourself with an exceptional reputation for customer service, find yourself with positive reviews online and with more traffic to your company’s website to convert to sales.
Customer facing roles are no longer lesser qualified jobs. They encompass every tier of a firm and every sector of the industry. If you have what it takes, consider applying your skills to a customer facing role.

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Is an Online Business Management Degree Worth It?

Posted on March 8, 2019January 3, 2020 by Katie Evans

If you are looking for an online degree program, you will quickly learn that one of the most popular online degree majors is Business Management. While you have plenty of choices for your major, this one is sure to stand out to because it sounds versatile, like you could use it for pretty much anything. After all, everything is “business” in some way, right? And “management” shows leadership!

However, an online degree in business management is not for everyone. I graduated from a regionally accredited online degree program 15 years ago. Online education has changed drastically in that time. You have far more choices now than I did then. Before you decide to check for BA business management course programs, answer these questions:

What Will I Do Once I Have My Degree?

If you answered the question with, “I will apply for a promotion at my current job,” and a degree is a requirement for your promotion, go for the business management degree. It may be the quickest way to your promotion, and if you already have specific industry knowledge that you are using to build a career, the business management degree can support your career trajectory.

If you answered the question with something like, “I will start my own business,” or “I will invent something that will change the world, then go on Shark Tank and make a fortune,” then you might consider a degree that is less theoretical and more practical. Entrepreneurship is often a degree track in traditional business degrees, so look around for a degree that supports this passion.

The same is true of most career-specific goals; unless your goal is to be middle management or to enhance your prospects in an industry where you’re already an expert, a more specific degree may make more sense for you.

Have you thought about a career in management consulting? Check out this guide to becoming a management consultant.

Will a Business Management Degree Help me Start my Career?

Employers complain that business majors have theoretical knowledge, but not practical application that they can use immediately. The market is flooded with business majors–1 in 5 of all undergraduate degrees are awarded in business. To have the best chance of finding a job after college, you will need to stand out from the crowd.

You are better off selecting a major that is specific to something. If you like money, try majoring in accounting–even Kanye needs an accountant, and if you hate it, you can use your mad money skills to consult or move to a business-related industry.

If you love art, but your parents say you should “major in something practical,” look at graphic art, motion graphics, and other art degrees where the end goal is employment with a high-end corporation and not just to create art for art’s sake.

The point is, passion will get you further than a general degree. If you are passionate about a subject, you will find ways to make money with it.

What is Your Endgame?

If you look at this question and answer it with, “I don’t know, I just want a degree.” Then sure, go for the business management degree because it will fulfill this goal and give you a very general degree you can use as a stepping stone to a more specific graduate degree later, when you have more clarity about what you want to do in life.

But if you do choose that path, intern throughout your degree experience. Your degree alone will not get you a job–you need practical experience that you can bring to the table immediately. The vast majority of employers do not want to train you, so be smart and gain experience while you’re working on your degree.

What I did with My Business Management Degree

The day that my business management undergraduate degree conferred to my transcripts, I enrolled in a Master of Arts in English program. In the year it took me to finish out my major credits, I had figured out that I wanted to teach, so the natural next step was to find a subject-specific graduate degree.

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Was my BS in Business Management worth it? No, not really. I’ve since worked as a manager in a big corporation and started my own business–both places where you’d think a business management degree would be useful, but it isn’t. My practical business knowledge was gained from growing up with grandfather’s construction business.

So, for me, a business management degree was a means to an end. I have three master’s degrees (English, Creative Writing, and Instructional Design), all of which serve me more. But, my story isn’t your story. Make the right choice for your goals!

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7 Things to Do to Move Ahead in Your Career

Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018 by Edna Crane

If you feel like you are stuck in your career and would like to boost your promotion prospects, it’s time to start creating a plan. You career is too important to leave it all up to chance.

There might be several reasons why you are unable to advance your career at the moment. You can be in a crowded job market and struggling to stand out from the crowd. There may be a shortage of simply higher-level jobs in your industry. Or, you may need to gain new skills and perspective to start positioning yourself for the next step in your career.

As you start drafting your plan to revive your career, think about these things you can do to move ahead in your career:

1. Gain More Work Experience

To enhance your job prospects, you need to show that you are an experienced and skilled professional. If you’re just out of college, you should list your internships on your resume as your work experience, and be very specific about the tasks and duties you performed as they relate to your career industry. If you’re further in your career, you may need to rework your resume with keywords from the job applications you’re answering.

If you have no work experience that relates to the jobs for which you are applying, you need to take action right now and find internships, externships, volunteer work, or entry-level jobs that will give you the experience you need to show employers you’re ready for the job you want. Yes, this might mean working for free or for a low salary for awhile, but it’s not forever. Even a three-month internship will help you get your foot in the door, and the networking you can do during an internship is invaluable.

2. Be Visible

Even if your work is the best in the business, if you’re hiding in a corner, no one is going to give you a promotion. You have to make yourself visible to your supervisors if you want to move up the corporate ladder.

Visibility in the workplace can mean that you volunteer for extra or challenging projects, offer to arrange a night out or charity event, or simply come up with ideas and approach the management with solutions that solve a problem. Always do more than the minimum asked of you, and show yourself as a creative-thinking problem solver.

3. Network

No matter where you are in your career journey, you must always be networking. You should be meeting new people in your industry and talking about important issues all the time. You can’t slack on your networking, not even if you have the perfect job right now. You never know when you’re going to need another job, and your network is, by far, the best way to find another job when you need one.

To network, you should attend conferences in your industry, join professional organizations, or at the very least, join online networking communities built around your industry. Don’t just join, though—actually talk to people. Ask questions about the kind of jobs you want, and what employers are wanting. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to recommend you for a job, just remember to return the favor later, when you’re in the position to help someone in your network.

4. Market and Brand Yourself

Crafting your personal brand means more than just having a LinkedIN account. You need to present your work at conferences, enhance your online presence with an online portfolio, published papers, or blog, and collaborate on projects with other people in your industry. You want to brand yourself as an expert in your field, so employers see you as someone they must hire.

Marketing yourself in your career is a lot like playing the dating game. You want to be attractive to potential employers, but human, too. Be proud of your accomplishments, and keep them visible for all to see.

5. Redo Your Resume

One thing that might be holding you back is your resume. If you’re still using a 90’s style, text-only, 2-page resume, no one is reading it. Instead, craft an attractive, one-page story that shows employers that you are the best candidate for the job.

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6. Update Your Skills

Take a long, hard look at your skill set. Is it outdated? Do other people coming into your industry have stronger skill sets? If so, you might want to check out the current courses offered at places like Adelphi University to find out whether it is possible to update your knowledge and get extra credits that your future employers will value.

You should be in a constant state of learning throughout your career. Never stop taking small courses, attending conferences, and studying literature about your career industry. Always be on top of the latest and greatest things happening in your field. If the thought of “studying” for your career feel like a drudgery, you don’t have a career, you have a job. You should feel passionate enough about your career to feel energized by learning new things. If you don’t, start looking for another career.

7. Enter Competitions and Win Awards

If you have been working in your field for a long time, and believe that you are worth much more than you are paid and what it says on your business card, it might be time to push yourself further. Entering competitions and award programs is a great way to show off your skills and make your employer realize your value. Search for opportunities to show off your talent in the charity or government sectors. Those who win awards are more likely to gain promotions.

If none of these actions seem like they will help you in your quest to revive your career, be sure to read our post on the 9 Reasons I’m not Hiring You, where Katie lists, in great detail, the reason hiring managers pass on potential employees.

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