In 1997, business guru Tom Peters wrote an article for Fast Company, “The Brand Called You.” The timing for this revolutionary concept was especially powerful for me, as a recent college graduate just beginning my career.Now, I know the phrase “personal brand” can turn some people off (much like the word “networking.”) If it sounds too salesy or buzzwordy to you, I totally understand; all we’re talking about it is the conc...
For a long time, the conversation about attracting and retaining millennial employees focused on perks. Over the past few years, companies have realized that creating a millennial-friendly environment doesn’t just mean video games and free granola bars. Employers are making significant strides in offering benefits that are important to millennials, from open offices to flexible work schedules to time off for volunteering.In...
The definition of “career” is in major transition. Forget staying with a company until your golden anniversary; many millennials don’t stay with a company long enough to celebrate even one anniversary.Over the past few months, I’ve been talking to millennials and leaders at companies and universities about the new path to career success for young professionals. I’ve identified two intriguing trends for 2016.WE’RE ALL WORKIN...
As you set your New Year’s resolutions (mine include eating less sugar and reading more fiction — book recommendations welcome!), don’t forget to set some professional goals. To get you started, I rounded up career advice that will help young professionals catapult to the next level. And, here’s a secret: If you’re a more seasoned professional, these tips will work for you, too. It’s always smart to go back to the basics fo...
Dread year-end performance reviews? You’re in good company. It turns out, they’re not particularly effective anyway, especially according to millennials. A study from human resources provider TriNet found the traditional performance-review process can negatively impact many millennials’ attitudes about their jobs and employers. In fact, nearly 30 percent of the workers surveyed have looked for a new job after a performance...
We talk a lot about how managers can work with millennials — but what about when a millennial is your boss? It’s a situation that will become increasingly prevalent, since millennials are now the largest demographic in today’s workplace. In my book, Becoming the Boss, I help millennials with their managerial skills, but if you’re a Baby Boomer or a Gen Xer on the other side of the desk, you might need some advice, too. Keep...
The word “networking” sometimes gets a bad rap – all those connotations of speed dating-style awkwardness, business card collecting and name tags at stuffy functions.Instead, let’s call networking what it should be: relationship building. And nothing – nothing! – in your career will be more important than this.Years ago, relationship management revolved around the Rolodex, a revered device that represented the cornerstone...
They’re here! The millennials, that is. If you don’t have one working for you now, you probably will soon. That’s because millennials, also known as Generation Y, now comprise the largest share of the American workforce, according to the Pew Research Center, and by 2025, a full 75 percent of the U.S. workforce will be millennials.These numbers present a huge opportunity for small business owners. Millennial employees as a g...
People often ask me if thank-you notes are still important. My answer is an unequivocal, absolute, unqualified, deeply passionate YES.I’m astonished at how many people fail to send a thank-you note after a formal job interview, which has been the rule forever. And I bet I’m not alone when I say that nothing impresses me more than a quick, authentic thank-you note after any situation where a person has been helped in any way...
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.Most of us have heard this career advice, but it is true that who you know can help propel your career. Whether it’s someone you meet at an industry event, an informational interview or a new friend at the juice bar, being a savvy networker can pay dividends for your career. Keep reading for great advice on networking for millennials – or professionals at any stage of their career.5...