Connecting Experts’ Post

Still herding those digital ducks, are we? In the last post, we talked about inventory! Today, let's pose some questions to get you thinking about PEOPLE! 1. Do you have a job description for each position in your organization? 2. Have you completed a skills assessment on your staff? Where is it located, and how often is it compared to your employees' current positions? 3. Do you have a succession plan for your folks? Does it include the hard and soft skills needed for employees to transition to the next step of their career path? 4. Do you have a mentor program? 5. How are you leveraging external staff (contractors, MSPs/MSSPs, internships)? 6. When you onboard a person to a new position, do you have a formal process to execute a smooth transition and position your employees for success? 7. Do you have a formal development plan for your staff? 8. How are cross-functional teams leveraged in your organization to build relationships, foster knowledge collaboration, and develop new skills? 9. Is your company (or manager) fostering growth? 10. Do you conduct team-building exercises focused on personality and team interactions? This involves not just having your people take the test but also working with them and guiding outcomes! There is so much more to cover in just this one topic, but this is a good list to reflect upon! Remember CULTURE, PEOPLE, process, and technology. The first two in this list are the hardest to build, maintain consistency, and ensure governance. What are you doing to advance your organization and people? #PositiveDisruptor #ThinkDifferently #ITBasics #Cybersecurity #PeopleExcellence #PosDisruptor #OrgChange #OrgCulture

I have been employed for most of career by a Fortune 500 or 50. There is something to be said about the private company’s. They take chances, on people, resumes and making things right on quota and commission. They have open door policies, direct call into management and when you represent a country. If they do that for an employee, what will they do for a customer? When the CEO calls customers? If you want a company where leadership does not parlay you. Click below. What’s Your Move?

It’s still early in the week and halfway through the month. 🎯 how much time do you commit to your job search each day/week? 🎯 how many jobs are you applying for in a day/ week? 🎯 keep track of your progress 🎯 follow-up

Advice to new #communications and #PR graduates: work for an agency early in your career. Why? You get exposure to: - Multiple industries. There's a good chance you'll find at least one you love (like I did with cybersecurity). - Multiple types of client and journalist personalities (Susan Bassett, we had some fun ones!) - A PR team with ideas, experience and persistence you can learn from (Corinne Federici, you taught me more than you'll ever know). - Companies that succeed and fail, giving you lessons that will last for your career. - A diverse set of activity, such as M&As, product and service launches, executive transitions, IPOs, partnerships and customer wins. (Sorry for all of the "learning opportunities" you had to walk me through, Amy Bermar! )

I get asked once in a while about my 2.5 year journey from Intern --> Director of Sales. The questions are usually about how I navigated the changes and what led to the promotions. Supposing that might be helpful for some, here is what I would say... (1) - Pick the right company. You can do everything exactly right at the wrong company and it won't matter. (s/o Wildsparq for being awesome) (2) - Do not underestimate the importance of your boss. They are the person who advocates for you to the leadership team and assesses your readiness for the next step. I was fortunate to start my career with Josh Etress ⚡️ as a manager and work under Corey Towe now, two phenomenal people developers who have pushed me to get better every day. (3) - Advocate for your teammates. It's not fun progressing through an organization when you colleagues are not excited for you. (4) - Tackle non-job description problems. The higher up you get inside a company, the more you realize how helpful it is to have people that are willing to step in and solve problems regardless of whether it's their "job". (5) - Ask a ton of questions. (my personal favorite) It might seem ridiculous, but I credit half of my success to being unafraid to ask question after question after question. How else are you going to learn? It also signals a desire to understand. Over time, the quality of questions you ask will show that you are beginning to build business acumen. (6) If it's a good situation, stick around. There's something to the idea of staying power: being grounded at one place long enough to build influence and make an impact. --- (1) Pick the right company (2) Make sure your manager is solid (they hold the keys to your future) (3) Be a cheerleader for your coworkers (4) Solve problems that don't even pertain to you (5) Ask good questions (6) Stick around Not a perfect formula but I can guarantee it won't hurt.

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with our Kaseyan Interns. They all are here for the summer and their interests range from Marketing, to Sales, to Operations. They had awesome questions around sales strategy and growing in a company. What was really amazing about this experience is that this round of interns happened to be all women. We were able to speak openly about joining the Tech Sales World as women. At the end one of them asked me - what tips I could provide for someone who wants to be a Wife, Mother, and Career Driven. It took me back to a couple of years ago, I reached a significant milestone: completing my MBA while working full-time, nurturing my marriage, raising four kids, and embarking on a challenging career change. It was a whirlwind journey filled with challenges and triumphs. I shared with them a few things and am excited to share it here, for anyone else it might help. 1. *Define Your Priorities:* For me, it's God first, family second, and career third. These unwavering values served as my compass, guiding every decision and ensuring my efforts aligned with what truly mattered. 2. *Embrace Efficiency:* Time is a precious resource, and it's up to us to maximize its potential. Don't fall into the trap of busyness; instead, be intentional about your activities. Regularly evaluate if your actions align with your goals and values. 3. *Get Comfortable with Change:* Life is dynamic, and so are our priorities. Don't be afraid to adjust your course as needed. Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and recalibration. 4. *Family United:* Family is the foundation upon which everything else rests. When you're part of a family, personal goals become family goals. Open communication, collaboration, and support are key to achieving success on all fronts. At home we focus on teamwork, where everyone contributes their strengths and celebrates each other's victories. My journey taught me that with faith, family, and perseverance, you can conquer any mountain. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to balancing life's demands. Find what works for you and your family, stay true to your values, and never stop learning and growing. Feel free to share your experiences and insights in the comments below! How do you navigate the challenges of work, family, and personal growth? #CareerGrowth #FamilyFirst #TimeManagement #GoalSetting #WomenInTech

🌟 Reflecting On My Interview Experience At Microsoft 🌟 Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to interview for the Field Product Marketing Intern role at Microsoft. Although I wasn't selected for the position, the experience was immensely valuable and filled with invaluable insights. 💡 I had two rounds with the Microsoft team throughout the interview process. The questions pertaining to the role were notably insightful and probing in nature. The discussions gave me a deeper understanding of the field of product marketing and the dynamic environment at Microsoft in addition to providing me with an opportunity to showcase my abilities and experiences. Even though the result didn't turn out as I had intended, I truly think that every experience—successful or unsuccessful—offers a chance for development and education. From my interview experience, I learned the following important lessons: 1) 📚 Preparation is Key: A great interview experience requires significant preparation, which includes studying the business and comprehending the job criteria. This takes time and effort. 2) 🌱 Embrace the Learning Process: Every interview is an opportunity to discover new aspects of oneself, refine communication abilities, and identify possibilities for professional and personal growth. 3) 📝 Seek Feedback: An effective tool for development is constructive criticism. I intend to ask for feedback from this experience in order to better hone my abilities and strategy in preparation for new chances. I am incredibly appreciative of the chance to interview with Microsoft and to have interacted with such great people. Even if it may not have worked out, I am more determined than ever to pursue my love to contribute my skills and experience to the organization wherever I work and look into new opportunities for development and education. Thank you Matt Brayley-Berger and Emma Reynolds for your time! #Microsoft #CareerGrowth #Learnings #InterviewPrep #InterviewExperience #ProResumeTips #SoftwareDeveloper

‘I am not liking, what I am going through’ said one of the veterans who was working in the corporate. What happened, I asked? ‘I am not liking the culture here and desperately looking for a change’, he responded. You see, culture isn't just about rules; it's about how things get done around there. It's like the hidden code of conduct that guides everything from interactions to decision-making. So, how can we prep for this shift? First off, expect change (from the military culture) and be open to it. Then, dive into company culture before diving into the job. Connect with insiders, if possible, look out for opportunity for internship/ short stint there, or like me, show up early and soak in the vibe. Yes, I remember, when I was called for my first interview, I reached the corporate office about an hour earlier, sat in the waiting area, strolled through the canteen, and just observed what was happening around… to get the vibe. What else do you suggest to understand about the culture of a company before joining? -------------------------------------------- To explore top-notch Resume, LinkedIn and Interview tips for transitioning military veterans, follow me -https://lnkd.in/d39b7S3C Click on the bell icon 🔔 on top right corner of your profile to get notified of my posts. -------------------------------------------- #linkedinstrategy #jobsearchstrategies #transitioningmilitary #transitioningveterans #commanderram #mentorship #resumetips

Wondering what it's like to be a sales intern at Gartner? Get a glimpse into the life of our interns and see how they've grown both personally and professionally during their time with us. Explore their stories and see why Gartner is the perfect place to launch your sales career. #LifeAtGartner #Sakes

15 Things I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Business #8: The right fit is always better than finding the right experience. As I’ve talked about, The Good has evolved a lot over the years. This means that we’ve had employees in positions that are perfect for them, but when the job shifted, they didn’t fit anymore. Instead of forcing them to stay in that box, we always made sure to transition people into the best role for them. Even if it seemed unconventional. Our Director of Strategy Natalie, for example,, started with us as an intern. From day one, she showed a clear head for logic and openness to new ways of thinking that fell exactly in line with the way The Good was heading. She was a major part of what ended up becoming our Conversion Growth Program™ (now our Digital Experience Optimization Program™). She was only a year into being a full-time employee when she stepped into the director role. I remember it like it was yesterday, I said, “Here's the situation: your director is leaving, and I think you’re the best person for the role.” She told me she didn’t think she was qualified. I gave her some time to think it over. By time, I mean 24 hours. I told her that I think she’s a great fit, and I'd do everything I could to support her and make sure she succeeds. Five-plus years later, she’s taken control of the role in a way even I couldn’t have expected. While Natalie is just one very notable example, I can honestly say that most team members at The Good has a similar story. They are here for a reason, and they shape the company into what we are. Not the other way around. And that’s why we’ve been around for 15 years.