Executive Spotlight: The Smartest Thing These Leaders Have Done To Advance Their Career
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Moving up in your career takes skill and determination. It also requires you to work on your career, not just in it. When we think about people who have mastered the art of career advancement, executives and other business leaders come to mind—those at the top who know their stuff and are very influential within their organization and line of work.
To inspire you to reach new heights in your career, we recently asked our leading executives, "What is the smartest thing you have done to advance your career?"
Here are their responses...
Lisa Perry, Global Marketing Executive 
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The single smartest thing I’ve done to advance my career was to get an MBA. At the time, I was a marketing manager working for a company called Schwan’s (markets frozen food products in grocery stores). I had three objectives in going back to school to get my MBA: work within the CPG (consumer packaged goods) industry, advance my career, and increase my salary. It took me three years to get my MBA, going at night after working all day. Once I graduated, I was able to secure a job with ConAgra Brands, a Fortune 500 CPG company, as a brand manager. My salary increased by over 55% with ConAgra Brands. During my four years with the company, I had the opportunity to work for some of the most established brands within their portfolio like Orville Redenbacher and Chef Boyardee. And my salary grew by over 48% during my tenure with the company.
From ConAgra Brands, I’ve gone on to work for companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Activision to mid-size companies, and emerging growth start-ups. My MBA has paid off tenfold for me and opened up huge opportunities throughout my career.
Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.
Jim Black, Engineering & Technical Executive
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As I sit and think about this subject, I am flooded with many things. Defining the "smartest" is proving to be challenging. As I continue to contemplate the idea, one thing remains constant... never giving up on learning.
When I am feeling stagnant in my career, I realize I am not learning something. When I am frustrated by a task, I learn from others how to accomplish that objective. When I am confused or stumped by a problem, I seek others in the world who have struggled for answers. The common theme... I am learning.
The Buddhists have a saying in Ch'an (Chinese version of Zen) to "Always have a beginner's mind." This saying has served me well because I approach a situation as an opportunity to learn. Place judgment aside, remove my preconceived notions, and enter the situation with curiosity. By opening my eyes to the learning experience, I can grow and become better than I was yesterday. Keeping this optimism is often difficult in the modern workplace; however, in the times I take a setback, I find my greatest opportunity to grow. Growth leads to opportunity. Opportunity has been how I advance my career.
Jim Black is an engineering professional focused on the development of technical professionals. He is also a professional bass player.
Liam Anderson, Contact Center Technology Consultant
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My career is more like a bowl of spaghetti than a linear progression. My smartest moves came from recognizing two kinds of opportunities:
1. Doing something no one else wants to do. In my case, this included traveling to train clients in “undesirable” places, (that’s how I ended up in Siberia!), writing documentation (too “boring” for the techies), and creating a 5-level language course for the Bulgarian Army, in my spare time, in a week (task considered "insane").
2. Sorting out disasters. This included building a client’s compliance process from scratch when we had a violation and retraining a customer free of charge because they had not been trained when given the product. No one gets the Medal of Honor in ideal conditions!
If you can be the person who gets the “crap” jobs done, or who fixes things when they go sideways, then you’ll get the right reputation.
Liam Anderson has spent the last 15 years in the contact center industry technology space. He helps customers use this technology to achieve and sustain business success.
Dr. Hannah Hartwell, Learning & Development Executive
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Professional networking for sure! Networking in the sense of creating mutually beneficial relationships rather than short-term interactions. There are countless ways to do this, especially by joining professional associations and taking on leadership roles. If there isn’t an association that captures your interest, then maybe start a new one yourself.
Networking has given me a broader perspective and opened career opportunities that I didn’t even know existed. The luxury of a well-maintained professional network adds more value both as an individual contributor and as a leader. Most importantly, networking is about helping the other person. One of my favorite questions to ask is, “How can I help you?”
Dr. Hannah Hartwell is a learning and development executive and change management practitioner with 15+ years of business transformation experience in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, higher education, and professional services industries.
Andrea Markowski, Marketing Executive
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If you believe in yourself, you should bet on yourself.
Are you the type of person who’s never happy with the status quo and who always seeks out challenges?
Whenever I find myself starting to veer into zombie mode (doing the same thing repeatedly with no additional sense of joy, wonder, or accomplishment), I know it’s time to learn a new skill.
Over the years, this has meant taking evening college courses, earning additional certifications, and mastering new technology. This is precisely how I gained a key promotion at a former company, during the midst of a large layoff, no less.
My biggest pivot was going back to school full-time to earn my MBA. It was the right decision for me, and my career has advanced even more because of it.
Again: If you believe in yourself, you should bet on yourself!
Andrea Markowski is a marketing director with specializations in strategy development, digital tactics, design thinking, and creative direction. She has superpowers in presentations and public speaking.
What's the smartest thing you've done to advance your career? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily's Executive Program.
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8 Ways You're Being SHUT OUT Of The Hiring Process1-hour workshop to help job seekers figure out what's getting them tossed from the hiring processCover Letter 3 Tips For Overcoming Your Biggest Job Search FEARS Jenna ArcandSeptember 28, 2022
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Are you terrified of screwing up a job interview? Does the thought of writing a cover letter horrify you? Are you scared to network with others? What do you even say, anyway? If you're struggling to overcome your job search fears, this live event is for you.We get it. Looking for work can be scary, especially if you’ve been at it for a long time and haven’t gotten any results.
Understanding which fears are getting in the way and how to overcome them will make all the difference. Sometimes you might not be aware of which obstacle is getting in the way of your goals. If you want to overcome these fears once and for all, we invite you to join us!
In this training, you’ll learn how to:
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Join our CEO, J.T. O'Donnell, and Director of Training Development & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this live event on Wednesday, October 5th at 12 pm ET.
CAN'T ATTEND LIVE? That's okay. You'll have access to the recording and the workbook after the session!
Read moreShow lessjob search fears
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Popular 3 Ways To Build Confidence For A Job Interview Jessica Holbrook HernandezAaron SanbornJenna ArcandSeptember 30, 2022
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The interview is one component of the job search process that most people love to hate. While it serves as a sign from the employer that you are being strongly considered for a position, it also can be a source of angst for candidates who fear they'll make mistakes that will cut them out of the running.
A great way to overcome the anxiety interviews produce is to begin feeling good about the process. Need help getting there? Here are five ways to build confidence for a job interview.
Conduct Research
BigstockOne great way to build your confidence going into the interview is by conducting plenty of research on the company and the position that you're going after. A common question interviewers ask is, "Do you know anything about our company?" Most times, candidates give vague answers, or—in a worst-case scenario—answer, "No."
If you're able to share the company's background information and showcase knowledge of its future goals for the position in question, you'll have an opportunity to impress the interviewer.
Review Common Interview Questions And Practice Them
BigstockBy understanding how to answer common interview questions, particularly behavioral interview questions, you'll build a lot of confidence going into the job interview.
Another great way to build confidence for a job interview is to practice before the big day. You can do this by answering questions in front of a mirror to read your own facial expressions and body language, or you could have a friend help you with a mock interview.
It's also great to find a professional outfit you feel comfortable wearing. Feeling good in your clothes and knowing you've fully prepared can work wonders for boosting your confidence before a job interview.
Make Sure You Have No Skeletons
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An important step in preparing for your interview is being able to recall your own career history and discuss prospective goals with the company and in your professional life as a whole. But, as you look back over your career, be sure to research yourself online to ensure there are no skeletons on the internet that could be brought up in your interview.
Remember, companies conduct background checks often via search engines, so it's up to you to ensure your social media profiles are professional and/or private.
It's normal to feel some anxiety before a job interview, but you can take steps to minimize those nerves. We hope these tips help you build confidence for your next job interview and shine in the hiring process!
Need more help building confidence for a job interview?
We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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3 Ways To Build Confidence For A Job Interview
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Originally posted on: https://www.workitdaily.com/how-to-advance-your-career