Search Results for: Career success

The demand for technical skills is growing all the time. As critical as soft skills are, technical skills are in high demand by employers; and companies looking to use technology’s power and benefits to drive innovation and business success.

Because of the rapid transformation of the workplace, businesses and organizations are always on the lookout for people who can make a significant contribution to their development. The need for tech-savvy employees who can capitalize on the rapid advancement in technology to help the company succeed.

This demonstrates the importance of being tech savvy in today’s technological world. Knowing how to use technology effectively is important for professional success and advancement. Being a tech savvy person can provide you with several advantages. It is important to be able to use the technologies available in today’s workplace.

Being tech savvy will help you advance in your career.

The use of technology in the workplace has a number of benefits; some of which can help you advance your career within your business. The advancement of one’s career can also lead to new opportunities.

Being tech savvy has the following advantages: 

Efficiency

You would be more productive and effective if you are tech savvy. Employees who are software savvy are more productive in general. The effect of technology on the workplace has increased the pace of output; and the speed at which workers complete their tasks.

Collaboration

Collaboration is supported by being tech savvy. We can collaborate more closely thanks to technology. Collaboration is often easier to accomplish when employees are tech savvy. With cloud-based file-sharing software like Google Drive, teams can hold meetings remotely and work on the same shared documents at the same time.

Being Innovative

Being tech savvy boosts your creativity; you’ll be able to come up with better ways to design products, interact with customers, promote your business, and create promotions if you’re tech savvy. When you think outside the box, you can come up with a solution to a problem that no one else has considered. And, since the inventions are unlike those of other companies, future customers and workers will hopefully recognize and prefer your company over another.

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Customers, competitors, capabilities, capital, channels, communication, and coordination are the dimensions that determine whether an investment or project makes sense, according to Dye (2009). These dimensions can impact your ability to structure, launch, and execute projects successfully. As a result, navigating these seven dimensions will give you and your company an edge in ensuring project success.

Customers

Do you want to reach out to an existing customer base, an existing customer in a new area, or a new set of customers with this opportunity?

Seth Godin (2003, p. 41) highlighted the importance of understanding your customer, stressing that no two customers are alike. As a result, you must separate your customers and determine which group is the most profitable.

Also, you must determine who in the market is likely or willing to move beyond a current product or service. To succeed, you must figure out how to meet the needs of both groups.

Another thing to consider is what matters most to your customer. Do you truly understand what the customer wants, and can you communicate the benefit that the customer will receive?

What are the overt benefits? Doug Hall (2001) asked throughout his book ‘Jump Start Your Business Brain’. Are the advantages clear, specific, and obvious?

Competitors

Businesses move into new areas for a variety of reasons, one of which is competition. It is crucial to identify existing and potential competitors before venturing into new business areas. If you’re trying to get away from the competition, you should be aware that the further you get away from your original idea or project, the more competitors you’ll encounter; this is because the further you get away from your original idea or project, the closer you get to a potential army of competitors.

If, on the other hand, there are few competitors, you must fully comprehend why. Is it simply because your move is revolutionary and you are the first to take it or are there no customers because it is too expensive or has too little profit potential?

You must also consider the actual product in addition to the competition. Will the project result in a “me-too” product or will it give you a “leap-frog” advantage over your competitors by being something new and innovative?

When comparing yourself to your competitors, it’s critical to figure out what makes your product or service stand out from the competition. Customers use this distinction to decide whether to work with you or a competitor based on value or price.

Capabilities

Credibility is established through capabilities and knowledge, and confidence is established through credibility. Customers, both internal and external, often hold off on making a final commitment until they are confident that you will deliver on your promises.

The following factors may influence your ability to keep your word and establish credibility:

• Personal experience: This is where prototyping comes in to help build and improve the customer experience. It is critical for projects to allow customers to experience, see, and feel what they will receive.
• Guarantees: What guarantee is your project going to give your customer? Are you willing to put your reputation on the line and stand behind your stated benefits?
• Testimonials: It is critical to note this. The opinions of others on your project are extremely important to its success. There’s an adage that if someone likes something, they’ll tell three people about it; if not, they’ll tell fifteen.

Capital

Most businesses want to expand but lack the resources to do so. However, it’s better if you can rely solely on available resources. In the absence of available resources, you must answer this vital project expansion question; what is the magnitude and timing of investment versus expected revenues if external funding and resources are required? The answer to this question will give you an insight into the next course of action.

Channels

It’s sometimes more difficult to get the project results to the customer than it is to develop the product in the first place. There are significant differences in the methods used to bring a product to market. If you’re trying to move to an Internet or Web-based approach, it can be even more difficult. Hence, the different channels have their peculiar challenges. Identifying these challenges will help you map out a working strategy.

Communication

Businesses operate on information and the quality of the information matters. The importance of both internal and external communication is making a strategic shift cannot be overemphasized.

Coordination

You’ll need a clear understanding of the big picture to integrate all of the other C’s. The extent to which other parties are involved versus working alone, and how much risk and uncertainty are associated with each move are all factors to consider when it comes to coordination and maintaining synergy.

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Adapted from: Dye, L. D. (2009). Navigating the seven C’s to project success. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2009—North America, Orlando, FL. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

According to Trilling, the Co-author of “21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times.” The framework for 21st Century Learning Skills focuses on the “Seven C’s.” These include;

1. Critical thinking
2. Creativity and innovation
3. Collaboration
4. Cross-cultural understanding
5. Communication
6. Computing technology
7. Career learning.

These are far apart from the three R’s; reading, Writing and arithmetic, that has been the core traditional way of learning.

Trilling suggestion was that the three R’s be replaced with the 7 C’s to enhance lifelong learning. Noting that Lifelong learning is the key to success in the 21st century.

Bernie Trilling in no way advocated that core curriculum be thrown out; but advocated for restructuring of the educational system to focus on career and skills-based learning.

With this in mind; it is evident that there exists a major disconnect between the educational system and the labour market; thus, yielding graduates with skills that do not match industry requirements. Hence, the need to facilitate a learning principle that ensures graduate are equipped with life and employability skills necessary for adapting to life in ‘Our Times’

The 7C’s for 21^st Century learning covers skills that are in high demand in any workplace in every part of the world. The continuous evolution of the workplace demands that only those exposed to these core competencies will succeed. This is why there exists such a dichotomy between employers and applicants in the Nigerian Labour Market today.

How this 7 C’s Apply to personal and career development;

1. Critical thinking

The ability to think clearly and rationally is crucial to the success of life and the career of your choice. Critical thinking, however, is not limited to those in the fields of education, research and finance or the legal profession; it is, therefore, an adaptive necessity in the new knowledge economy.

The new economy is increasingly demanding flexible intellectual skills; and the ability to analyze information and integrate diverse sources of knowledge into problem-solving. Therefore, Being able to think well and solve problems systematically is an asset to any career.

2. Creativity and innovation

Creativity and innovation have been highlighted as essential skills for the 21st century, especially if we consider that both skills can promote human potential by generating positive aspects of the individual. It is a multidimensional construct involving cognitive variables, personality characteristics, family, educational and social and cultural aspects.

One of the characteristics of the creative process that makes it particularly powerful is that it requires not only knowledge and understanding, but also a willingness to question and not be constrained by existing knowledge.

3. Collaboration

Collaborative skills enable you to work successfully towards a common goal with others. Hence, collaborating effectively ensure you communicate clearly, actively listen to others, take responsibility for mistakes and respect the diversity of your colleagues.

Collaboration can foster creativity, innovation and cross-skilling. Since collaboration involves working with individuals with different talents, skills and knowledge, it allows you to benefit from the skills and perspectives of the members of the team.

4. Cross-cultural understanding

Cross cultural understanding is highly crucial for career and personal development. When you are trained to understand cross cultural differences, you develop awareness. Cross cultural training promotes self-confidence in individuals and teams through empowering them with a sense of control over previously difficult challenges.  When barriers such as preconceptions, prejudices and stereotypes that obstruct our understanding of other people, are lowered, mutual understanding is heightened; thus, leading to improved learning.

5. Communication

The importance of communication skills in today’s fast paced world cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, being able to communicate effectively is one of life’s most vital skills. Your ability to communicate accurately, clearly and as intended is a vital skill in life and something that should not be overlooked. Therefore, actively improving your communication skills plays an important role in the process of personal development and career advancement. Being knowledgeable is not enough, you need to know how to communicate knowledge clearly in order to drive the progress you want.

6. Computing technology

In today’s fast paced world, being tech savvy is a factor that determines how successful you can become personally and career wise. Modern businesses and organizations rely heavily on technology to carry out their work functions. Therefore, having a decent knowledge in ICT can significantly change your life and career path for the better.

7. Career learning

Lifelong learning is a form of self-initiated education that focuses on personal development. While there is no standardized definition of lifelong learning, it has generally been used to refer to learning that takes place outside of a formal educational institution or a corporate training institution.

Opening up to lifelong learning ensures that you remain relevant to your chosen career and that the benefits are enormous.

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Pride is one of the seven deadly sins for a reason. It closes our minds to learning, makes us selfish, and jeopardizes our roles as leaders and successful business owners. It’s a feeling that you are more important than others. But putting pride aside can help us in our endeavors to be better and more successful. The bible says: 

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

Whether hearing something new from a child, there are lessons to be learned every day from people, and you do never expect. As Vernon Howard said, “Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.”

Career Retrogression

Career retrogression is a reversal in development; it is a return to a former and less multifaceted level of development or organization. Career retrogression means moving to an earlier and less efficient stage of development. Pride is a common reason for career retrogression because it makes one self-conscious. Many people lack the risk tolerance to start a business. Even if everything is in place for them (skill, desire, funding, idea, business plan), they can’t bring themselves to risk the time, money, reputation, or effort in something that could fail. Their low-risk tolerance rules out a countless number of opportunities. 

Here are tips that can help you put your pride aside so you can succeed professionally:

1. Be Aware

The first step to checking your pride is recognizing when you are too prideful. Be introspective but not too hard on yourself. While pride shows you sufficiently value yourself and your accomplishments and it helps you work toward what you deserve, it’s dangerous in large quantities. Once you start listening to your thoughts and thinking about others, you will exercise better control over pride.

2. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously.

Pride comes from fear of embarrassment or shame. If you are willing to laugh at yourself, admit that you don’t know everything, and ignore prideful thoughts when they enter your brain, you can avoid creating a mental and personality block that will hinder your growth. While confidence, determination, and respect are crucial leadership qualities, you won’t earn them if you have too much pride.

3. Ask the Right Questions

An insightful book called Change Your Questions, Change Your Life teaches how asking learning questions versus judging questions can help you and those around you succeed. But what’s the difference between these questions? How do you know if you are even asking the right ones? The book highlights learning and judgment charts, with the former leading to a positive outcome and the latter to “the judger pit.”

To open the door to resolution and growth, ask “What happened?” or “What do I want?” instead of “why am I such a failure?” or “why are they so stupid?”

4. Be Open-Minded

Being open-minded will allow you to serve yourself and your team members better. If you feel yourself shutting someone down before the person even finishes a sentence, take a breath and make yourself focus on their opinion. If you don’t agree or understand, ask a clarifying question. Being open-minded will boost team morale, and you will also wind up with better ideas and results.

5. Listen, do not Talk

Being a know-it-all has never had a good connotation. It is impossible to know everything and people who pretend to usually resented for acting that way.

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is listening to what another has to say.”

Brant H. McGill

Listening is the antithesis to pride because when you are allowing someone else to express themselves or their ideas, you are putting your egotism aside. Focus more on listening instead of talking and see how many new things you learn in the process.

6. Put Your Business First

 If you are struggling with pride, ego, and other unpopular human traits, put your business goals on a pedestal. Pride can be bad for business. 

Whenever you feel yourself becoming stubborn, argumentative, or defensive (symptoms of pride), ask yourself this one question: “Will this help me become better at my job, move up in the company, or improve the business’s bottom line?” if it’s a NO, then you know you have the pride to contend.

As you work to become less prideful and a better leader, employee, and business owner, cut yourself some slack. It is never easy to change for the better, but when you put in the work to check your pride at the door, you will be amazed at the doors it opens and who is waiting to teach you something new.

“But he giveth more. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”.

James 4:6

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An internship is an excellent opportunity to try out a career field, build skills, and potentially become employed at a company full-time after graduation. Internship curbs the effect of unemployment ravaging the country. Many are gainfully engaged today not because of the lectures learn but from skills acquired during the internship. While some will be very lucky to get a good supervisor that will be willing to teach them, some might be unlucky but, here are tips to make the most out of your internship:

Set clear goals

In any job, it’s essential to know what is expected of you, and internship won’t be any different. It is always a good idea to meet with your supervisor at the beginning of the internship to find out what their expectations are for you. By setting specific goals with your employer, you will gain structure and meaning for your internship while also avoiding unnecessary conflict. Also keep in mind what your own goals are for your internship and what you will like to learn. Discuss your interests with your supervisor and ask if there are opportunities to get involved in those areas.

Stay organized

Take notes during all meetings and keep to-do lists of tasks and deadlines. Keep your workspace neat, organize your work out of the way when you are not around. Take care to observe data storage processes; if your organization keeps files in central locations, take note and maintain records under the policy.

Always follow-through

Whenever given a task, always follow through. If you feel you can’t deliver on time, communicate back to your supervisor. Explain why and what your next steps will be. Learning how to prioritize and delegate shared responsibilities can help avoid situations where you may underdeliver. Over time, by completing your assigned and accepted tasks, you will steadily gain a reputation for being dependable.

Own mistakes and fix them

During the internship, you may make mistakes, and that is ok. Making mistakes is part of the learning curve. The key is to accept responsibility when things do not go as planned. Taking ownership and articulating possible solutions will result in faster resolution and enable others to see you as a leader.

Be professional

Be mindful of how you present yourself to your co-workers and supervisor. Know the appropriate attire for your workplace; the email etiquette for the person you are addressing. Having a concern or an issue and not confidence how to handle it, who is the most appropriate person to talk to. Do not forget the basics of common courtesy – be punctual, be discipline, say thank you, follow up and follow through.

Identify a mentor

A mentor is someone who can guide you through your internship and be a bridge to professional networks and learning opportunities. They may not give you a complete roadmap to success, can serve as a trusted source of feedback and information. In some internship settings, you will be assigned a mentor. In others, you may have to identify one for yourself. Select someone whom you admire and have the skills and traits you want to develop.

Pursue growth opportunities

The first few days and weeks of your internship may include onboarding sessions and training. Take advantage of any training time offered to ask questions and learn new skills. If there is no formal training, find new sources of information on your own. An opportunity to understand how an organization works inside and out.

Keep track of your projects.

Keep a list of all the projects so that you can discuss your progress with your supervisor. It will also help you remember everything you have worked on to update your resume, add to a portfolio, or talk about it in a future interview. Ask if you can keep samples of projects you have worked on as a portfolio. Remember that some of this information will be confidential, so always get approval before taking any copy of the work with you.

Stay in touch

Introduce yourself to everyone in your department. If the company and work you have done are of interest to you, try to establish contact with each person and get a sense of what they do. You never know when someone else in the company is doing something that might interest you. You may not want to work for the company for the long term, but you will possibly want to get a recommendation from them. The better job you do and the more familiar your supervisor and other employees are with your personality and work, the better commendation you get.

As your internship ends, send personalized thank you notes or emails to the people you have worked with.  

“Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy”

Jacques Maritan.

Mention projects you worked on together, express your gratitude for any guidance they provided, and give them your personal contact information.

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A career is a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling. It is a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional, or business life.

COVID-19 has changed career uncertainty in a working landscape dominated by turbulence and change, and it is directly impacting how people are entering or reentering the workplace. People have sought to change careers for a different reason:

• Your career goals or values may have changed
• You may have discovered new interests that you would like to incorporate into your job;
• And may wish to make more money or have more flexible hours. 
• You need a new challenge. 
• You may have discovered new passions and skills. 

While the reason will be different for every person, there is one thing that stays the same: the need to evolve and you need to prepare for the new career. You are not merely transferring to a better employment situation, but pushing yourself forward in a professional path that requires you to up-level from where you are to where you want to be in the future. Whatever your reasons, there are three essential things you need to consider before switching.

Analyze Your Current Situation

If you have decided you want a career change, first is to assess where you are and where you want to be. Don’t jump to a new company only to find yourself in the same situation every year. Determine why exactly you want to change careers, then each time you find a job opportunity, ask yourself if this job will provide the change you need. 

Pay Attention to Changing Trends

Once you analyze where you are and what you want from your career change, it is time to go about finding it. If you are moving to a completely different field, you will have to familiarize yourself with the career path options. Make sure that your idea of a specific field or career lines up with reality. With all the advancements in technology and changes in the economy in the past few years, you will make sure your dream job exists and will continue to do so in the long term. Even better, look at what new opportunities exist due to changing trends. 

Utilize Your Resources

When facing a career change, it is easy to feel like you are starting from scratch but it is not. Your life and career experiences make up a unique skill for potential employers. It is crucial to utilize your resources and acquire some useful career change skills.

While considering these essential things, here are tips to evolve during a career change

Make an Actionable Plan 

Before you dive into a new career, take time to make an actionable plan. While this is important, right now, you want to be thinking more immediately. Consider where you are and where you want to be the next year, and what small, yet actionable steps you can take to achieve that objective. For example, if you want to move from scientist to an administrator, there are a few actions you might take, including good communication skills, etc. 

Continue Learning and Training  

Once you know what you want to do, find out which credentials are either necessary or beneficial for your career evolution. While some positions might require credentials, others may consider certain certificates which means you will have an added advantage when acquired. 

Explore Freelance Projects 

There is a reason freelancing is increasingly popular in the current workforce: it allows for flexible learning and makes it easier to advance in a career. Freelance allows you to gain valuable experience that will boost your career change. 

Network and Build Relationships

Networking within your desired field will give you valuable insights during your career change. When you meet people within your desired field, you can learn about what you need to do to be successful and what you need to avoid.

Develop Your Personal Brand Online 

Your brand is your outward appearance in the professional world. We live in a digital world, so your brand extends far past physical appearance. As you consider building your brand online, remember to update your profiles on your social media platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter, etc. 

Continue Evolving During Your Career Change 

A career change can be challenging, but it is not impossible. 

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible”.

Audrey Hepburn.

If you focus on these ways to evolve and grow during the career change. Make time to learn, get clear on what action steps you need to take, make time for networking, and don’t forget that your brand extends to the online world too.  

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