Thanks to the way universities now consider prospective students, high school students are figuring out some of the benefits of volunteering. College students sort of have a handle on it, but it’s the adults who honestly might consider how useful volunteering is.
Volunteering your time to a cause you care about is always a good idea. It lets you do something relaxing that makes you feel good. It’s a great opportunity to meet other like-minded people. It’s also a great way to learn and hone skills. Teenagers have even realized it’s a great way to try out a career path they think they might like to have as an adult, so it’s a great decision-making tool for them as well.
Right after I started college, I started volunteering with the planetarium on campus. I spent two days a week presenting shows, giving star talks, buidling new shows, and doing light office work. I loved it, and I think it was the start of my path toward Career #1. From there, I volunteered with different museums and planetariums, developing teaching and curriculum development skills. It opened my eyes to a new career. Prior to that, I didn’t realize that one could teach somewhere other than a classroom. My teacher prep professors were beside themselves when I told them I was going to become a museum educator. Most of them tried to talk me out of it, tried to talk me into the classroom.
They failed because I was so much happier at my volunteer job than I was in my field experience and my student teaching.
I’m no longer a museum educator, but I still look for opportunities to teach and to develop learning material. Without volunteering, I never would have known about this opportunity, and I wouldn’t have had as many opportunities to develop skills that I enjoy using.
Look for volunteering opprtunities. Encourage those around you to take time out for volunteering. It benefits the organization, and it benefits you in so many ways.
Posted by Rebecca as Skill building, Work skills at 7:38 AM EDT
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I read this great blog entry that suggests that entrepreneurs need to learn to ask for help in completing the tasks they aren’t strong in completing themselves, and somehow misplaced the link.
For some time now, I’ve been saying I need a business manager because I know there are certain things I’m not good at that someone else would be better off doing to make sure they’re done correctly. My friends just sit there and laugh. These would be the same friends who aren’t willing to offer much more than verbal support with no real support behind it.
I think part of what makes a successful businessperson is the ability to identify their own weaknesses and then find creative ways to resolve those weaknesses, even when it includes bringing on more personnel.
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 8:26 AM EDT
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This is probably the most concise, thorough interview preparation guide I’ve seen. It covers everything from preparing for the interview to formulating your answers.
The interview is often the best shot you have at getting a job, so you really want to do everything in your power to present yourself in the best light.
Of course, as the last couple of weeks at my work have proven, it helps if you make sure you can get selected for the interview, and that you can honestly assume the position if it is offered to you. We’ve had a few frustrated giggles as job seekers have sent cover letters with no resumes, cover letters with no resume or contact information, or accepted a position and then quit in less than twnety-four hours because other schedule elements in their life couldn’t be adjusted to allow them to work with us.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers, Skill building, Warnings at 8:20 AM EDT
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When you think about it, building a brand isn’t terribly different from building a reputation. Both require conscientious effort on your part. Both require careful consideration, knowing what you want to present to people.To a certain degree, I think both also require some form of consistency as well.
Perhaps the brand and the reputation are best built together, as I would think one would feed off the other, or perhaps they are the same? I’m not sure.
I’m thinking, though, that that they are probably somewhat different. For example, I’m working on creating a brand, but I have a reputation. My brand is still struglling to beome a masterpiece. My reputation is almost intimidating at times. I have a reputation for being able to juggle multiple tasks (that may or may not be related), knowing just about anything about any topic, and being willing to share whatever I know with people. (I also have a reputation for being a bit wacky, but I don’t know that it’s part of my reputation, or if it just makes me approachable.)
There is probably a lot more to it, but much of my reputation as a teacher, a writer, and a leader can be boiled down to the three bits above.
Like the brand, the reputation is one of the most important tools a freelancer or a consultant has at their disposal. Because we wrok in services, in intangibles, that reputation may be all we have to bring in clients, to keep work coming in. Keeping that reputation reputable should be uppermost in the mind of those who do work on a freelance basis.
Some interesting recent articles on the reputation
Posted by Rebecca as Skill building, Marketing, self-analysis at 7:56 AM EDT
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I’m still knee-deep in this personal branding project, but it amazes me how many people seem to be advocating self-exploration this summer. Most recently, I enjoyed this article on finding your strengths.
Sometimes, it’s hard to just sit and listen to our reactions to what we’re doing, but it can be the most helpful step in finding ourselves. For me, shaping part of my brand came from watching myself, both at work and in my personal life. When I started realizing what I enjoyed doing in the past and added it to the tasks I enjoy doing now, it painted a very strong picture of the person I want to be.
When I considered how often I’ve created a certain type of work for myself in every single position I’ve ever held, it helped me be able to refocus my explorations into my personal brand to consider those types of activities, rather than ones I’m good at, but don’t necesarily enjoy.
If you’re having trouble seeing the “high peaks”, as it were, in your career, you might consider whether or not your job is satisfying. Again, this kind of self-analysis is challenging, but so rewarding when you take your results seriously and apply them to your life. They can lead you to a more fulfilling career, one that gets you energized and excited.
Posted by Rebecca as self-analysis at 8:07 AM EDT
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I’m still sifting through this branding project, but it’s already had one positive result. I discovered that I actually have several years’ experience in technical writing. All those years developing curriculum, teaching guides, and resource guides was good for something after all. That’s always been the part of my skills that I’ve never really known how to classify, but it’s a favorite part.
As a result, I have now completely rebuilt my resume to reflect my combination of teaching and writing skills to make myself more marketable to the types of jobs I would enjoy. It’s quite exciting!
Now if I could just develop a coherent cover letter for this freelance writing job I really want to apply for…
Posted by Rebecca as Marketing at 7:31 AM EDT
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Any entrepreneur or freelancer needs to be able to deliver their elevator pitch on the spot. I’ve been working on mine off and on for months now. One of the benefits of working on this thirty-second speech is that it really makes you take a close look at what your business does, really define the niche your company fills.
Recently, I’ve come across two great formulas for developing your pitch. Both discuss getting right to your point, the actual point of an elevator speech, and presenting your company in a problem-solution format. I really like the second because it’s a fill-in-the-blanks template that lets you get started quickly, and then you can edit and tweak as necessary.
For example, if I were to attempt one for my jewelry business, it might look something like: I’m the jewelry designer that (okay, I have no hook). I specialize in simple, elegant designs created from silver wire for those looking to own nice jewelry without spending a fortune on it.
It occurs to me that I’ve also painted myself into a corner and can’t add in a third sentence that isn’t redundant. I think I’m going to have to work on this elevator pitch idea.
Posted by Rebecca as Freelancing, Entrepreneurship, Marketing at 8:13 AM EDT
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Something I’ve always been taleneted at (and perhaps why I have often found myself coaching individuals through career changes) is recognizing what someone else is good at, and then pushing them in the direction they want to go. Often, I’ve helped someone see a talent they had that they never realized was there.
I use this talent to my advantage as a teacher, a manager, and a volunteer coordinator.
Skip Angel recently shared a lovely piece on how it really is the duty of any manager to recognize the talents of those around them and then grow those talents to help the person reach their potential, and that’s so true. Managing isn’t about just getting the work done. It’s about cultivating the people who do the work to improve both them and the quality of work produced.
When someone has been encouraged to develop their strengths, they often respond by continuously seeking to do their best, create their best work, try their hardest, and work to consistently contribute to the environment. It’s true with employees. It’s true with volunteers. It’s true with students. Point out the strengths. Encourage growth. Help those around you become the people they were meant to be.
Posted by Rebecca as Creativity, inspiration, and motivation, Leadership and management at 8:21 AM EDT
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I was updating my ZoomInfo information the other day and decided to surf around the site since it’s been a while since I’ve done that.
I came across their careers page, and thought that perhaps my illness was playing tricks on me. I had to look at it a few times to be sure I was reading it correctly.
In the sidebar, they have a brief note on their ideal candidate, and it occurred to me that many companies would probably prefer candidates like the one in this list:
The Ideal Candidate
We’re looking for candidates with the following qualities:
* A Zen-like calm
* The ability to drive performance
* Leadership that is energizing and promotes collaboration
* Planning, process and analytical skills
* The desire to be a star performer
* Listening skills
* Team-oriented outlook
* Negotiating skills
* The answers
* Multitasking skills
* The ability to prioritize for self and others
* An understanding of a high-tech market
* A competitive and entrepreneurial spirit
* A sense of humor and perspective
I read over that and realized I fit that description. So would a number of people. I particularly enjoyed reading how the ideal candidate would have a zen-like calm. I wonder if ZoomInfo would be willing to give this perfect candidate time during the day to meditate and strengthen this sense of calm.
I also wonder about the real-world implications of this ideal person having “the answers”. I’m generally considered a go-to person on a wide range of topics because I know random things and can answer nearly every question that comes my way. Does this mean I have the answers? No, not really. There will always be things I don’t know, and that’s when I say, “I don’t know. Let me look into that and get back to you.” What happens at ZoomInfo when this ideal candidate says that. Are they no longer perfect? Or perhaps this ability to admit what they don’t know and willingness to find out and report back falls inside the realm of having the answers? It’s just too unclear.
It was a highly amusing read, at any rate.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers at 8:11 AM EDT
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