Tag: Career Advice

Talent Tip #130: 7 Keys To Finding a Mentor

November 17, 2020

By Katy Gambella

How do I find a mentor? How do I ask that person to be my mentor? How do I get the most out of a mentoring relationship?

I hear these questions from young professionals all the time. And I can relate because I struggled with all of these things myself.

Striking up a relationship with a potential mentor might seem really awkward, but it doesn’t need to be!  Here are 7 keys to finding…

Talent Tip #121: Considering a Career in the Free-Market World? Here are Five Things To Consider.

January 21, 2020

Are you or someone you know leading the life of Peter Gibbons, toiling away in an unfulfilling job, longing for something better?

If so, don’t fill out another TPS report! Instead, start plotting your career change into the free-market movement immediately if not sooner.

But remember that making the transition (whether from the private sector, government, academia, politics, or the broader nonprofit space) won’t necessarily be easy. It may take some time and…

Interviewing Tips

January 1, 2020

Ten Interviewing Tips for Job Seekers

1. Be Yourself

Not only is this good dating advice, it’s also great interview advice. No matter how badly you think you want the job, remember to just be you. If you try to force it, you may end up with a job you aren’t a fit for, or worse, you may miss out on a great job for which you would have been perfect.

2. It’s Not All About You

Too many candidates…

Talent Tip #119: 7 Pitfalls to Avoid as You Launch Your Career

October 22, 2019

As I look back on my early career, I can’t believe I’m not stuck working at a place like Chotchkie’s. Why? Well, I made a lot of boneheaded decisions and missed out on some great opportunities. And mostly because I just didn’t know any better.

Such is the case for many recent graduates. After all, the transition from college to career is a bumpy one at best. It’s riddled with opportunities to make mistakes. The good…

Talent Tip # 99: Want to Be Fashionable? Stop Wearing Fanny Packs (And Stop Asking Candidates for Salary History)

January 23, 2018

If you follow fashion, you know that off-the-shoulder necklines, fanny packs, and male rompers are going out of style in 2018.

If you are like me (fashionably clueless), you are surprised to learn that fanny packs had even staged a comeback (once in style was too much, amirite?). And you are even more surprised to learn that male rompers are even a thing. (Apparently they are nicknamed “RompHims.” Get it? Instead of “Romp-Hers.” I wish you could see the look…

Talent Tip #98: What NOT to Wear To an Interview

December 26, 2017

As you may recall, last month’s Talent Tip was about topics to avoid during your interviews with candidates. One astute reader suggested that it would be useful to flip the script and address about what candidates shouldn’t wear to interviews. Thanks for the idea, Meg!

Let’s face it: interviewing is tough.

You don’t know what challenging questions will be thrown at you. You aren’t sure how you’ll stack up against the competition. You’re worried about having sweaty palms. And you…

Talent Tip #97: For the Love of Lawsuits: What NOT to Ask Candidates During Interviews

November 14, 2017

As you know, I love to compare interviewing to dating. The similarities are plentiful. It’s all about getting to know someone well enough to determine whether you want to spend the foreseeable future with him.

When I was single, my father offered this sage dating advice:

“On your first date, make sure to ask if the guy is on any drugs — prescribed or illicit. The answer will provide insight about his health and his nefarious activities! Also,…

Talent Tip #96: How to Get Your Groove Back – Part Deux

October 17, 2017

Last month we talked about why employees lose their hustle. Specifically, we covered three of the six most common reasons people tell me they have fallen out of their groove – lack of challenge, not feeling financially rewarded, and geographic mobility. This month we are covering the other three reasons (which will make last month’s reasons seem like child’s play!) and the big-picture take-aways about how to regain your hustle.

1. Organization dysfunction
Every once in…

Talent Tip #95: How to Get Your Groove Back – Part One

October 2, 2017

At the State Policy Network Annual Meeting earlier this month, I had the privilege of being on a panel that discussed why we lose our hustle, including lessons on resilience, strength, and creating a career that lasts.  In case you missed it (which was a big mistake because we served Prosecco….and the panel started at 3!), I thought I would share some of the key take-aways with you here.

You start a new job bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, excited to wake…

Talent Tip #94: Burning Bridges and Lessons from Peter Gibbons 

August 22, 2017

Have you ever wanted to tell your boss to take a long walk off a short cliff or post something incendiary on social media about your former employer? Have you daydreamed of walking out of the office for a lunch break never to return? Did the movie Office Space strike a chord with you?

We’ve all been there. You’re so frustrated that you’re tempted to burn a bridge.

I’ve witnessed the destruction of many-a-bridge in my career, and they all…