Getting Over the Entry-Level Hump and Re-Discovering Your Career

You landed a job that gave you the first steps to following your career path. You’ve worked hard on every task assigned, learned as much as you could, and made sure you were on your way toward success. But after a few years at your first job, reality has set in. You realize there are no spring, summer, or winter breaks, there are real ramifications to calling in sick and going home early. And, staying late to finish projects may take its toll on work-life balance.

Maybe you haven’t earned that promotion as quickly as you’d hoped, your raise hasn’t matched the increase in workload, or the shiny newness of your first “real” job has faded. We all feel a little burnout at some point in our career, but before you do something drastic, take the time to follow these steps to rejuvenate your job satisfaction.

Mind Your Mentors

Mentors can bring a different perspective to the issues you’re facing. More often than not, they’ve experienced the same feelings and situations you have. They know what it’s like to hit their first rut on the job and can provide advice on how to rediscover your career passion and enthusiasm. You shouldn’t have to feel alone when your career path hits a wall. Mentors are there to help guide you around issues so you can be prepared to climb the next wall that tries to get in your way.

Validate Your Values

Just like anything in life, things happen. Whether it’s your education, relationships, or career, the journey is full of high and low points. There will be times in your career when you will be ecstatically proud of where you are and what you’ve done, but there may also be times when you are discouraged and want to quit. It’s through the ups and downs where you can clarify what you value.

What made you proud during the high point? Is there anything that fueled your passion during a low point? Once you determine these beliefs and values, you can decide whether you are fulfilling these values at work. Don’t just focus on your current situation, but also think about the future. Where do you see yourself in five years? Don’t worry about how you will get there, but imagine what you want to be doing in that time. Try using those images to fuel your passion.

Get Away for a While

This may not be the most viable option early in your career. It may be difficult to get a long period of time off, or it may be financially difficult to take time off. If you have a sizable savings or family to rely on, consider taking some time away from the office to collect your thoughts. Sometimes you just need to recharge your batteries. Having time away from the office can give you the time you need to re-evaluate your values and beliefs. Think of it as a sort of career-planning session. Where are you in your career? Why are you there? Where do you want to be? How do you plan to get there? Being away will give you a different perspective on your current situation and help you make a more balanced, thought out decision.

Questions and Reflections

If you have too many financial or professional obligations to take time off from work, try setting some free time for reflection. As long as you separate yourself from your work slump and reflect on what you’ve done and what you will do, you can make decisions with a clear head. Being in the middle of it while making decisions can be tiring and lead to big mistakes for your career. This doesn’t have to be in a vacation spot either. You can find an hour to reflect everyday while you exercise, commute, or cook.

Rediscovering your passion is just one step in many as you travel down your career path. It’s normal and nothing to fear. Whatever you learn now will help you be better prepared for when the next slump cycle hits. What are some of the things you’ve done to get over your career dry spell?

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Common Mistakes Young Professionals Make and How to Avoid Them

Barely a month ago, graduations took place across the country. Résumé and cover letters were sent out, jobs were landed, and now young professionals are entering the workplace for the first time. If you’re a new employee or know someone who is, it’s important to remember your first impression and work ethic can make or break your climb up the corporate ladder.

With the current economy, distinguishing yourself from the masses can be that added edge you need to find success. While it is important to standout, you don’t want it to be for the wrong reasons, like making some career rookie mistakes like these.

The Know It All
Yes. You may have spent the past four years in college preparing for your exact job. Maybe you’ve even had a few internships as well. That doesn’t necessarily mean you know everything there is to know about your field. Experience has to be earned, it’s not taught at school. So be open to learning through new projects and taking advice.

To avoid this hazard, you must know one thing – you don’t know it all. You may have some great ideas and out of the box thinking, so don’t be afraid to share them. But don’t approach every problem as if you have the only solution. Finding the appropriate approach is key.

The Rulebreaker
Young professionals have the unfortunate label of rule breakers. Whether or not the title is deserved, do not give credence to it. Follow the rules to a T and you can reinforce your credibility and show you have respect for the regulations. Do not waltz in 15 minutes late everyday, be punctual or better yet early instead. Stick to your company dress code and dress for the job you want. Bending small rules just isn’t worth it in the long run and there are better ways you can ensure your success.

The “InstaLeader”
While you now have the opportunity to contribute to your team, avoid trying to become head honcho on day one. When entering a new workplace, you want to come in and hit the ground running with your best effort. Don’t come in and try to take over. Instead, be supportive on team projects. Keep in mind that you are no longer striving for A’s on report cards, but actual professional success. Sometimes bringing your “A” game means earning respect, following instructions, deferring to others, and effectively work within a team.

The Twitter Screw-up
The popularity of social networking is skyrocketing. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ offer plenty of options to stay connected. While it can be a fun and easy way to stay connected, it’s hard to know exactly who is reading. To limit access to your profiles, you may consider not befriending or connecting with certain people on some sites, and select strict privacy setting to maintain control of your online reputation. You may want to err on the side of caution with your personal online content to prevent it from creating a negative impact on your professional life.

For social sites designed for professional networking, such as LinkedIn, always check for typos as you would with your résumé and make sure your content is an honest and accurate representation of your work history. Glaring mistakes or inconsistencies can hurt your credibility.

The New Guy
Mistakes are bound to happen as you enter your career and can even be part of a good learning process at times. The good news is that very few of them are career-enders. Your professional development depends on how you learn from them and move past them. Just remember to maintain a positive outlook when these bumps come along. And accept responsibility for your mistakes, admitting you are new and still learning.

It may seem like there is a lot to keep in mind when planning a successful career, but to avoid burning bridges and ensure a successful future, it is work well worth it.

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Tips for Life after Graduation and Landing a Job

While graduating from college or high school can be an intimidating time, there’s hope for recent graduates in the job search. According to a survey by Michigan State University, 97% of employers plan to hire at least one new college graduate this year. While the odds are in your favor, you have to put in the effort to land the job of your dreams. To help you join the workforce, check out these five tips for making your move after graduation.

Know what employers are looking for.A recent Movin’ On Up article compiled survey results from a variety of institutions who conducted research on the 2015 job outlook for recent college graduates. These results included a look at the job forecast, which revealed that employers plan to hire 9.6% more graduates in the United States than they did in 2014, and lists of the most in-demand college degrees and skills for new hires.

Use the power of social media.Whether you’re graduating from high school or college, it’s never too early to create a LinkedIn profile. Even if you don’t have much to add to your profile yet, go ahead and get started on your account so you can use it to network with potential employers and get noticed. Forbes states that only one-third of college students have a LinkedIn profile, so creating one of your own is a quick and easy way to stand out from the competition.

Include any jobs you’ve had, from babysitting to retail, and list the skills you gained from those jobs. Make sure you also list your educational achievements, including any degrees, diplomas, and extra-curricular activities like newspaper or debate club. If you received any awards in school or your community, like volunteer or academic honors, list those too.

It’s important to remember that while employers are primarily searching LinkedIn for potential candidates, they can also find your other social media accounts too. So, keep your Facebook, Twitter, and other public profiles clean and professional at all times.

Get an internship, or volunteer in your community.According to a study by Millennial Branding, a research firm, 85% of college students believe having an internship is either important or very important for their career. Furthermore, 52% said they hope to have had three or more internships before graduating, and 40% have already completed one internship. Since so many college graduates are looking to internships to gain experience, skills, and networking opportunities, you want to make sure you’re one of them. Try to find companies that are easily recognizable, either in the community or nationally, to help your resume stand out.

In addition to internships, you can also get ahead of the competition by actively volunteering in your community. There are numerous volunteer opportunities to consider, from working at a food pantry to helping build houses for the needy. By volunteering, you not only add valuable skills to your resume, but you also have the opportunity to network with others and do something charitable in the process.

Find a mentor.We’ve talked about the importance of having a mentor, and the results of Millennial Branding’s survey support our stance. In fact, the survey revealed that 70% of college students have at least one mentor. Among the mentors listed were parents, professors, family, friends, and employers. Having a mentor can help you grow both professionally and personally, and can even help you on your job search. But, finding the right mentor is important to making sure you’re learning all you can.

Call on your school for help.If you’re a college student, your school’s career services office can help you with the next step in your job search. Career offices can assist with resumes, cover letters, job interviewers, and more, but Millennial Branding reveals that only 29% of students use these offices. Be part of that group by visiting your school’s office and asking about what resources they can offer. In addition to workforce preparation, many offices also have an alumni database, which can help put you in contact with recent graduates in your field of study. Those graduates have already been in the workforce for a few years and may have tips of the trade you could learn, so take advantage of those resources.

Congratulations to the class of 2015, and good luck with your job search! Remember, even if you’re not a recent graduate, these tips can help you with your job search goals. It’s never too early to get started!

How do you plan to make your move after graduation? Let us know in the comments section below!  If you are looking for a job, please check out our current openings athttp://www.expresspros.com/nnashvilletn