Starting out in your marketing career is much like entering a destination in Google maps: there’s more than one way to get there. It’s good to have a general sense of where you’re headed on your career path, especially if you have a dream role or industry in mind, but it’s a fine balancing act between expectations and reality. It may seem like many professionals fall into their marketing niche. How do you stumble upon that magic? Is there a way to jumpstart a key move in your career? We explore some methods to get to the bottom of this, so you feel less lost and more found.
When you think of work culture, you either fall into the glass half full or glass half-empty category. The glass half-full pictures perfect harmony between different values and personalities creating a job environment of growth and innovation. While the glass half-empty could be described as Meryl Streeps’ perfectly arched eyebrow from The Devil Wears Prada (terrifying, we know). But we’re here to remind you that work culture is always in flux because it requires work from all involved, and that means you too.
Want to be known as a superstar professional but don’t know where to start? Cassandra Morello, Senior Marketing & Program Specialist, has been where you’ve been and shares her soft skills focus areas that’ll get any young professional up to speed.
Sometimes a professional career move might be exactly that: a physical relocation from one end of the globe to the other. Despite the ongoing pandemic, immigration to Canada is slowly but surely increasing with many international professionals and international students ready for their new chapter in their professional journeys.
It’s not easy to admit that imposter syndrome hits us all from time to time. It’s that nagging sensation that shoots to the front of your thoughts as you go about your workday until it’s all you hear: that you are a fraud and don’t belong here. It’s a belief rooted in self-doubt and fear that somehow you, yes you, just lucked out, in getting where you are today.
Whether working from home or getting ready for distance learning (also known as remote learning), one thing is for sure: this fall, the pumpkin spice latte flavour isn’t enough to make everything seem normal. The disruption of the last six months has left many across the board still adjusting and finding their rhythm to move forward.
At some point in your career, the presentation skill you outlined on your resume is suddenly going to come into play. Are you prepared to present last season’s campaign results? Lead a team scrum session? Or are you introducing a client to the rest of the department? It’s a soft skill that demands time and a place sure, but that doesn’t mean it should be neglected. No matter your title, possessing strong presentation skills involves more than just droning on and on in a clear voice. Being a stronger presenter means building off those communication skills you already possess.
With today ‘s preventative realities settling in, the idea of networking in a socially distanced world feels like a math equation that just doesn’t add up. Suddenly that simple gesture of asking someone out for coffee is complicated, to say the least. Yet it doesn’t mean that networking is off the table. Staying connected is now more important than ever. That’s exactly why online networking is flourishing and thriving thanks to technology and a good internet connection.
Needless to say, one of the many results of working from home in the last few months has manifested itself in all things videos: video meetings, video backgrounds, you name it. If you have a webcam or a smartphone, suddenly video meetings are possible with zero excuses. All at once, everyone is scrambling to figure out the best practices for shooting at home - from video backgrounds to more technical inquiries (am I on mute?). What once used to be the last resort for videography and exclusive to YouTubers, video home production has skyrocketed to an essential skill any young professional should have in their wheelhouse
It seems like everyone and their mother is constantly asking you about what your next steps are in your career plan. You have some idea on what your career development plan looks like, but you don’t have all the answers. When you talk to your friends, classmates, or trusted colleagues, that layer of ambiguity seems normal.
What integral values have shaped Emily Baillie’s career path? She has a journey that weaves from senior-level positions to entrepreneurial and academic roles. We were curious to learn that she’s pinpointed her career growth down to these simple three values: that’s right, three.
Would it be a surprise to you to learn that most athletes have a key skill that has nothing to do with their ab muscles? It’s a skill that works well with receiving constructive feedback and comes down to listening. Not just any listening either; we’re talking about active listening. Those coaches on the sidelines need to deliver advice fast, and their players need to cut through the adrenaline, distraction, and noise to listen well and follow through on the field, or court (pick your sport).
The uncomfortable truth of constructive or critical feedback is that it’s meant to evoke change. Whether it’s positive or negative feedback, it certainly puts you on the spot and it can be a lot to process in the moment. It may make you feel out of control but just remember it’s a metamorphosis phase. There’s a change coming, and it’s going to be for the better.
Contrary to popular belief, career success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a progression with highs and lows and it starts with you. Your attitude. Your resilience. It’s not determined by how many hours you clock in, or the fancy blazers you buy, or how many LinkedIn connections you have. It’s about a strong work ethic and channeling that energy into action.
Instead of neglecting your LinkedIn profile, why not use it to its full power to professionally network? It’s more than just an online resume. A strong LinkedIn presence is like a blazing fire: it lets everyone know you’re out there and ready. LinkedIn has become the top professional social network and it’s brimming with countless resources and opportunities.
Let’s be clear: a video interview isn’t as scary as it seems. Just think of sweet Dorothy of Kansas who was petrified to speak to the great and terrible Oz. Thanks to Toto’s curtain pulling, it turns out that Oz wasn’t as terrifying as he first appeared. For years, video interviewing has been surrounded by speculation and weariness. That’s right, years. It’s been around for some time, and one thing is for certain:it’s here to stay in today’s new world.
Starting your professional development journey might feel like finding yourself up a creek with no paddle. You know you need to do something to move forward but you’re just not sure where to start. Especially now when it seems like every direction is frozen and blocked off to you. What if we told you that’s not true? That now is the right time to get moving, to thaw out that uncertainty so you can work on yourself.
To video resume or not, that is indeed the question during an already stressful job search. CMA NXT challenges its users to push their creative boundaries and try it out for themselves. For inspiration, look at Sheldon Rodrigues, VP Marketing & Strategic Initiatives, CMA, video resume, and how it landed him a job as a newcomer to Canada.
It’s time to try to bake some bread because why not, seems easy enough. So, you start by (hopefully) finding a recipe, gathering ingredients, and your key equipment. You dream of the light aired fluffiness perfection that’s worthy of an Instagram post.
When job searching, we tend to list the many challenges and fears we face, laying them brick by brick until it is a massive wall. How are you going to climb over it? What do you need to start? Yes, the job market is tumultuous and with today’s unprecedented circumstances, there is a fog of uncertainty. But there’s one undeniable and unwavering fact: your amazing potential.
Reacting with mindfulness in the workplace is the perfect defense against adversarial thoughts. But what is mindfulness? It is the ability to be present in the moment and take effective action. There’s nothing to lose by practicing mindfulness, but a lot to gain, like empowerment and better outcomes in difficult situations.
