Resolve to Land Your Dream Job in 2022

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Land your dream job|Resolve to Land Your Dream Job in 2022It is the resolution many workers make each new year: “This is the year I get my dream job.”

For those truly motivated to land a new role, ascend to the next level, boost their salary—or all three—conditions have rarely been better. Due to the Great Resignation, job listings are plentiful, wages are rising, and employers are upping the ante to lure workers. The huge competition for talent has given employees the upper hand.

While it might be tempting to jump at the next opportunity you see on LinkedIn or make a lateral move for a raise, the last thing you want to do is leave a tolerable position for one that becomes quickly intolerable. When you are in a job you love, it feels custom-made just for you. You feel your values reflected in the company’s mission. You feel rewarded just for working there—“Thank God it’s Monday,” you think each week. And the paycheck is nice, too.

I have been writing about the job market for several years, and frankly, conditions have never been better to land your dream job. I believe that following these ten steps can bring you closer to your dream job in the coming months:

1. Take time to plan and dream

The important first step is to carve out time to think through the position you’d like to achieve. The ideal career awaits you if you do your homework. Keep careful lists of the qualities and talents you possess and which types of businesses will reward them. Put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboards—and allow yourself to follow ideas where they lead. This a valuable first step for finding the career that is right for you. (Need some inspiration? Take a personality test, such as that offered by Meyers-Briggs. Or ask your friends where they see you working and investigate those jobs.)

2. Work backwards

One way of figuring out what your “dream job” is right now is to imagine yourself five years from now (in an even dreamier job). Then work backwards to figure out the stepping-stone jobs you need to take to eventually land there. Maybe you can’t run a publishing empire or be a social media influencer with 20,000,000 Instagram followers yet—but if you take smaller, intentional baby steps, you will have a better chance of eventually reaching your aspiration.

3. Learn how to toot your own horn

Regardless of whether you’re a boisterous extrovert or a restrained introvert, let those around you know your capabilities. The most important place to start is within your own company. When you win a piece of business or create an attractive website or advance a project in any way, get the word out. Don’t be shy. Also, don’t assume that you can just dash off an email that the higher-ups will necessarily read. You need to get comfortable with promoting your achievements. No one will do this for you. You are your own best advocate.

4. Engage in general networking

Is there a young professionals group associated with your industry, such as a local chapter of Meetup.com, that you should join? Does your company offer a mentor program that will pair you with a senior employee who might become your advocate? If not, you may want to look into finding a mentor outside your company. Do you need to expand your LinkedIn presence and begin commenting and posting your own industry observations? There’s never enough time to network, so somehow you need to make the time.

5. Set up 15-minute informational interviews

Ask around to see if there is anyone you know who would spare a few minutes to discuss her field with you. It could be a friend, or a friend of a friend, or even one of your parents’ friends. You may be surprised to find that people often want to offer advice on the steps to take to start out in their field. Prepare some questions in advance—for example: ask how the person ended up in her field, what best prepared her for her career, which aspects she most enjoys, and how the field is changing. Depending on how forthcoming the person is, you might also ask if she would mind if you sent a resume to keep on file in case of any future openings.

6. Read job postings

Do you feel goosebumps zip down your spine when you read about certain jobs? It could be an indication that this is the job of your dreams. Start reading job postings in the two or three fields that excite you. You can find postings on LinkedIn, Monsterjobs, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Simply Hired. Familiarize yourself with job descriptions to learn common industry terms, roles, salaries, and in-demand skills.

7. Customize your resume

Your resume should reflect the skills you possess and your specific accomplishments—but be sure to customize and change your resume appropriately for each position you pursue. Don’t be afraid to parrot some of the words on the list of requirements back to the company. Many times, companies will use the key words mentioned in the job posting when screening resumes. Try to work in examples that have relevance to the company’s customers or clients or to issues taking place industry-wide. Show how you can add value by quantifying results you’ve achieved. For example, “Coordinated silent auction for children’s advocacy organization that brought in $49,000” or “Streamlined outdated accounting system to save the company 50 hours—and $3,900—per week.”

8. Show personality in your cover letter

Write a cover letter that truly reflects your own personality. Remember that you need to stand out, not just blend in to the hundreds of “blah-blah-blah” letters. Hiring managers look for candidates with dynamism behind their desire to work for the company. Choose words that reveal that you are passionate, not passive: instead of “helpful,” your findings were “game-changing.” Instead of “useful,” your discoveries proved “transformational.”

9. Consider the gig economy

If you dream of being your own boss, why not look into gig work? With so many upsides—including picking and choosing your clients and projects, as well as your hours and fees—it’s no wonder 40 percent of the U.S. workforce is employed in gig work. Ask yourself if your talents lend themselves to gig work. Also, do you have the expertise with technology and the ability to manage finances to work independently? Gig work could be a stepping stone to a full-time position or an end in itself. The rewards of gig work can be worth the effort as long as you enter into it thoughtfully and with an appropriate amount of preparation.

10. Thank those who helped you

Even if you don’t secure a job the first time around, when you remember to thank the people who granted you an interview, those people will remember you and think of you for other opportunities. While it may seem traditional, a handwritten thank-you card still carries cachet. Or, if you send a note electronically, sincerely show gratitude and help the person remember you by bringing up something he said that you found helpful or insightful.

You may not land the first few positions that you go for, but with each attempt, you will get better at the application and interview process. Stay motivated by keeping the prospect of landing your dream job in your sights.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Vicky Oliver

Vicky Oliver is a leading career development expert and the multi-best-selling author of five books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (Sourcebooks 2005), named in the top 10 list of “Best Books for HR Interview Prep,” 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette Questions (Skyhorse, 2010), and Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots (Sourcebooks, 2008). She is a sought-after speaker and seminar presenter and a popular media source, having made over 901 appearances in broadcast, print and online outlets. For more information, visit vickyoliver.com.

What Are The Most Common Debt Solutions?

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Common Debt Solutions|What Are The Most Common Debt Solutions?Debt relief can alleviate the problems associated with an overwhelming credit card debt or personal loans. While it may not always be right for everyone, it sure can work for others. What are the most common debt solutions? This article discusses some of the ways to help you ease the burden of debt.

Should You Seek Debt Relief?

Have you been struggling with debt along with other financial obligations? If you think there’s no hope to repay your unsecured debt such as credit cards or personal loans albeit you’ve cut spending, then you might want to consider getting debt relief.

Common Debt Solutions to Consider

Should you decide to get debt relief to repay all of your credit card debt, please ensure that you know what you need to qualify, the tax implications and which creditors are being paid. Below are some of the options you might want to consider for debt relief:

Bankruptcy

Under the protection of a federal court, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can wipe out several forms of debt including credit card debt, personal loans and medical bills. However, you may have to give up some of your assets like a car or jewelry.

Filing for bankruptcy is one of the most common and also effective (if you qualify) in erasing overwhelming debt. But keep in mind that you’ll need to pass the means test and you haven’t filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the past eight years.

You may be able to complete the process in about six months or less. First, complete a pre-file bankruptcy counseling from a qualified professional within 180 days before application. Look for an attorney for assistance and file all the paperwork. A trustee will need to review all paperwork and confirm if you are eligible for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. You may have to sell your assets and the proceeds go to the creditor. Properties held as collateral may be returned to your creditors.

Debt Settlement

If you don’t qualify for bankruptcy, you may want to consider a debt settlement to settle unsecured credit card debt or personal loans. Debt settlement is an agreement between you and the lender for a one-time payment in full of a reduced amount to clear your existing debt balance.

This debt relief option can help you repay your debt faster. For some people, it can avoid filing for bankruptcy and surrendering your assets. While it’s not going to miraculously end your financial troubles, it’s a good option. You can learn more about this option from FreedomDebtRelief.com and similar companies.

Debt Management Plans

Having a debt management plan allows you to settle credit card debts in full but with reduced interest rates. You make payments to a financial or credit counseling agency and they can distribute these to the financial companies you owe money to.

With a debt management plan, your credit accounts are closed, which means you’ll have to live without a credit card until you fully pay or complete the plan.

If you’re serious about reducing or eliminating debt, then get in touch with one of our professionals for debt relief.

Are You Ready to Eliminate Credit Card Debt?

Freedom Debt Relief has the solution to your financial problems. We can help you reduce or completely eliminate your debt. However, we suggest that you commit to this option to ensure positive results. What are the most common debt solutions? Talk to us so we can help you make an informed decision on how to go about your overwhelming debt.

How Women Can Stand Out Professionally

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Professional Women|How Women Can Stand Out ProfessionallyTo stand out in the workplace, women must be proactive and differentiate themselves from their male counterparts. This can be done through networking, developing critical skills, and being mindful of personal branding. Additionally, it is vital to showcase your unique value proposition during job interviews and on the job.

Steps Women Can Take to Stand Out Professionally

There are several things that women can do to stand out professionally, like Cynthia Telles. Below are five steps to get started:

Step One: Commit to Continuous Learning

To stay ahead of the curve, women need to commit themselves to continuous learning. This means taking advantage of every opportunity to learn new skills and grow their knowledge base. Whether it’s reading articles online, attending webinars or workshops, or listening to podcasts, there are many ways for women to keep learning.

Step Two: Build a Strong Network

A strong network is critical for any professional woman looking to impact. Women should aim to build relationships with people who can help them advance their careers. This may include colleagues, mentors, and even former bosses. The more people someone knows, the more opportunities they will have.


Step Three: Stand Out from the Crowd

Women need to be creative and think outside the box to stand out from the competition. One way to do this is by developing their unique brand. This could involve creating a personal website or blog, participating in social media, or dressing in a unique way that sets them apart from other professionals.

Step Four: Be Confident and Assertive

Women often struggle with confidence and assertiveness in the workplace. However, these are two essential qualities for any woman looking to succeed. Women should aim to project confidence through their body language and voice. They should also learn how to be assertive without being aggressive or rude.

In addition to these steps, consider participating in an assertiveness training course to develop and enhance your communication skills in the workplace. This will not only help you assert your opinions and ideas confidently but also help you navigate difficult conversations and situations with ease.

Step Five: Take on New Challenges and Roles

Many women are afraid to take risks, but they shouldn’t be! Taking on new challenges and roles is one of the best ways to stand out professionally. This could involve applying for a promotion, taking on more responsibility at work, or even starting their own business. Women don’t have anything to lose by trying something new – so go ahead and give it a shot!

Know Your Worth and Ask for What You Want

The first step to standing out professionally is knowing your value and asking for what you want. This is important because if you don’t know how much money or other benefits are worth, you could end up getting less than what’s fair. It’s also essential that women ask for promotions when they deserve them instead of waiting until their boss recognizes this themselves. Women need to speak up in meetings so people will notice their expertise – even if it means interrupting someone else who may already be talking about an issue at hand! By putting yourself forward more often, others will recognize the value of your contributions and give credit where due.

In conclusion, there are many things that women can do to stand out professionally. These include committing to continuous learning, building a solid network, standing out from the crowd, being confident and assertive, and taking on new challenges and roles. By following these tips, women can increase their career chances.

How To Make The Most Of Working From Home

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Working from home|How To Make The Most Of Working From HomeDuring the peak of the covid-19 pandemic, working from home began the normality as opposed to the exception. While this was not without its challenges, it also proved to be very beneficial in making workplaces more accessible and even impacted employee satisfaction and productivity. Positive feedback and results mean that many workplaces are set to continue to offer remote work – or hybrid working – into the future.

As a result, whether you are a company owner or an entry-level employee, it’s important that you can make the most out of working from home. This extends beyond productivity levels, as you should also ensure that you are taking proper care of your mental health and maintaining a good work/life balance.

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to make the most out of working from home.

  • Upgrade your home office. When working from was temporary, it was perfectly fine to set up your station on your dining room table or even within your living room. However, these places do not work in the long term due to the fact that your mind will view these spaces as social places, which can impact your productivity and impact your ability to successfully work from home. While you do not need a separate room, you do need to set up a workstation of some kind and use office design trends to your advantage.
  • Invest in the right tools. When upgrading your office, you should also be prepared to invest in some new furniture – or ask your employer to cover the costs of this equipment. For example, you could invest in a sit stand desk. Not only can this help you get your job done – but it’s also beneficial for your health due to the fact that it reduces the amount of time you spend sitting each day and can even burn calories.
  • Find ways to regain your focus. Over time, it becomes more and more tempting to give in to the many distractions within your home when you should be working. For example, you may try to carry out some chores in between work calls and meetings. Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can achieve this goal. For starters, you could invest in noise-cancelling headphones so that you are not distracted by what is going on around you.
  • Know when to clock out. Before the pandemic, one of the biggest concerns that employers voiced regarding remote working was the idea that employees would not work as hard from home. However, this is often not the case – with many reporting that they worked much longer hours as soon as they transitioned to working from home. This is due to the fact that they wanted to prove that they were productive to their employer. However, if you want to avoid burnout, it’s vital that you stick to your scheduled working hours. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you when your day is closer to being over, so you can finish up what you are doing and return to the task in the morning.

7 Ways To Consolidate Debt And Improve Credit Score

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Consolidate Debt|7 Ways To Consolidate Debt And Improve Credit ScorePaying off loans is a tedious process and can be challenging to keep track of. It can help to move all the payments you need to make to one convenient place. That is where debt consolidation comes in. It is about merging credit and loan balances into one large loan. Not only does it help you lower the interest you owe but helps you save money on making regular payments. Once you make enough payments on time, you can even improve your credit score.

A credit score is an essential indicator that informs all loaning and crediting bodies how you handle money. A high credit score means you’re good at making repayments and don’t overspend. So, ensuring you keep a high credit score is pivotal.

Here are some ways you can consolidate debt, improve your credit score and supercharge your finances:

1. Get a Debt Consolidation Loan

A debt consolidation loan is a personal loan that you take to pay off your consolidating debt. You get these loans as secured or unsecured personal loans. While secure loans are easier to get, you often need to put in your car, savings, or even your house as collateral. This may not be a good idea if you’re already in financial straits.

On the other hand, unsecured loans rest on your credit score. While qualifying for one is more challenging, you save yourself from setting up collateral. Fortunately for you, there are services for securing the best unsecured debt consolidation loans online that allow you to choose your loan options flexibly. Once you create an account, you can pick the amount and payment option suitable for you and get funds right away. These services give you the margin to pay back with no early repayment penalties and options to pay according to your income bracket.

2. Use a Debt Management Program

Debt management programs help you create a monthly payment program that reduces interest rates on credit cards and allows you to pay off debt quickly. After analyzing your financial status, most credit counseling agencies can help you make a proper debt management plan.

Since interest plays a role in debt, one of the advantages of opting for a debt management program is a massive reduction in your interest rate, keeping it below 8%. Since these programs are not loans, you can withdraw from them at any time. You get counseling, educational resources, and a proper plan for a minimal fee. Once the payment rolls in, your credit score starts to improve.

3. Go For Credit Card Balance Transfers

If you have a good credit score but you’re struggling to pay the debt, you can use your score to your advantage. A form of consolidation is transferring multiple credit card balances to one card with no interest rate. Your credit card company will provide you with the option to transfer the balance with a payment period of no interest. You get substantial time to pay off the principal amount without worrying about accumulating more. The only catch is you need to make all the payments on time.

4. Consider Peer To Peer Loans

Peer-to-peer loans are personal loans that allow you to get loans with no middlemen such as banks involved. You directly get funds from the borrower, whom you can easily find online and send in an application. The borrower will assign a risk level to your application and allow investors to see your financial profile.

Generally, it’s easier to get investors when you have a medium to low-risk profile. Once the borrower arranges funds for you, they get sent your way online. The added competition between borrowers allows you to choose with whom you want to work at a lower interest rate.

5. Be Strategic About Paying Credit Card Bills

It’s a good idea to utilize your credit cards properly to improve your credit score. Credit cards come with a limit, and no matter how high you’ve set yours, use only 25% of it. Going even lower will only boost your credit score faster if you can go even lower.

When you use your card, you accumulate a small bill with minimal interest that you can pay off right away. This means that when credit bureaus evaluate your financial habits based on your credit balance, you get a high score. The goal is to always keep your balance low and reap the benefits of a high credit score.

5. Review All Credit Report Errors

Credit report errors can decrease your score, which is why you need to review the report once you get it. Most credit bureaus provide you with a free transcript that you can study, picking on where you are marked wrong. If you’ve made a payment on time but don’t see it reflected in your records, dispute the error.

Other errors include using outdated information on your history that is not usable or mixing someone’s credit activity with yours. Don’t let these errors slide since they can negatively impact your credit score. Instead, take the time to file a report and add it to your credit score. The earlier you file, the better your chances of getting reviewed and approved, leading to a fixed overall balance.

6. Look Into Authorized Usership

You have the option of becoming an authorized user for credit cards that your friends and family have. This can give you access to positive payment history and a high credit score. You don’t even have to use their card or their bank account number – you simply share their payment history.

If you’re looking for a way to fix your credit score and have a thin credit file that needs minimal fixing, you may have found your saving grace. But if you’re under staggering loans, you shouldn’t entertain this idea and seek more concrete solutions.

Final Thoughts

Paying back your loans can be a debilitating process. Debts can get messy with time. The high-interest rates and lack of time put you in a difficult position. Still, investigate consolidating debt and finding ways to improve your credit score to put yourself in the best possible situation.

Therefore, options like consolidation loans, management programs, balance transfer, and personal loans can help you bridge the gap between payments. Improving your credit score can get tricky, but all it takes is an effort on your part to keep a low balance and a consistent payment history. Make sure you take small but concrete steps towards financial freedom, and you’ll be there before you know it.