Three Things to Consider when Planning a Career Change
Over the past few years I’ve had conversations with friends and colleagues about changing careers. Frequently, it’s with journalists seeking to take a leap into public relations and communications. Other times, its more junior team members who are evaluating career…
Five Career Building Lessons from the Social Committee
Social committees organize holiday gatherings and team building activities in workplaces around the world. One of the ways that I developed awesome human skills early in my career was by joining the social committee in pretty much every organization where…
10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Conferences
On Saturday I’m flying to Ottawa for Cannexus15 – I’ll be presenting about Vancity’s Orientation Immersion program, connecting with folks from the Canadian Education and Researching Institute for Counselling (CERIC), and learning a lot about how career development is central…
Three Tips for Surviving Slow Summer Work Days
Summer is a popular time to go on vacation (though it isn’t always the best time to disappear). For those of us stuck in the office, it can seem like you’re working in a ghost town, particularly when you’re trying…
How to Build a Professional Network with Entry Level Connections
We’ve all seen it. In a crowded event jammed with people a group of junior professionals – or MBA students who have splurged for a ticket – glom onto a senior practitioner, manager or executive. Like moths to the light,…
Six Tips for Thriving at Networking Events
Ever found yourself wandering about aimlessly at a networking event? Everyone but you seems to have paired off and you’re on your own like a wallflower, wine glass in hand and concerned look on your face. We’ve all been there…
How to Make Awesome Introductions
Being introduced to people is one of the best ways to become part of a community. As a career practitioner, I’m in the business of making hundreds of human connections every year and this article will explore how to make…
Leaving a Job & Building Connections – Part 2
Maintaining focus during the wrap-up period is one of the most difficult, and most important, parts of successfully leaving a job.
As much as it’s tempting to start taking it easy and wind down to the last day, actually cranking it up is by far the better option.
Build Relationships, Build Community – Adding Value
So far in this series we have outlined the profound benefits of relationship-building as well as specifically outlined how it can be done by making a great first impression as well as by doing exceptional research about a contact, associate,…
Build Relationships, Build Community – Research
Homework and research are always important. And never moreso than when you’re trying to build an important relationship – community-based or otherwise. Because no great thing in history was ever done by just one person. It takes a community of friends, family, colleagues, contacts, mentors, and clients to make real change happen.