How to Learn When Youre Alone in Your Department - The Muse

How to Learn When Youre Alone in Your Department - The MuseHow to Learn When Youre Alone in Your Department We all know that ongoing learning is an important aspect of career success and happiness. Many of us dream of a job that provides opportunities to learn new skills, take on new projects, and be mentored by senior colleagues (that is, in addition to free lunch and unlimited vacation). But what happens when you dont get to work alongside a team of inspiring co-workers? When theres no senior mentor to take you under their wing? How do you continue learning in your role when youre the only one in your workplace who does what you do? Have no fear Here are five tips to keep you growing, even when youre a team of one. 1. Read Everything (and Often)While writing this article, I spoke to professionals from a variety of industries who have had experience working solo. By far, the most common strategy they used was to read aggressively. Look for news articles, blog posts, and books that c an help you keep updated in your field. Also, it never hurts to monitor what your competitors are doing (and publishing). Liz Heijkoop is a one-woman marketing department at a ride-sharing startup called Ridj-it. She suggests making a daily habit of reading relevant publications If you spend just 30 minutes of each day browsing the news in your field, youll not only keep yourself up-to-date, but also leave yourself open to new inspiration and ideas that could wind up being rocket fuel for your company, she says. 2. Join Virtual CommunitiesEven if youre the only one in your company who does what you do, there are probably many people out there who occupy similar roles at other companies. ansicht days, its easy to connect with these kinds of people using social media. Youre almost guaranteed to find a group dedicated to professionals who do what you do. Use LinkedIn, Facebook, and other platforms to find and join these groups. Then, make a habit of contributing your voice to the discu ssion and asking questions. If youre at a larger company with multiple offices, you may be able to connect with others at your company who are in similar positions but at different locations. Some companies even have internal systems that make it easy to establish these connections. You may have to get creative to find the other professionals in your field. That was the case with Dee Dee Mendoza, who works as a university fundraiser. Dee Dee created a unique fundraising model in which startup founders pledge to support their alma maters when their equity becomes liquid. She ended up starting a blog as a way of sharing her innovative model and connecting with those who occupied similar roles at other institutions. 3. Get Educated OnlineAdding some specific skills to your repertoire could improve your performance in your role. There are literally thousands of courses online, many of which are free or available at an affordable cost (we even offer some on The Muse). Some of the people I spoke with also suggested searching YouTube for tutorials and attending webinars. If you find that the training you need costs money, dont be afraid to ask your anfhrer for a professional development budget. 4. Attend ConferencesWhile its great to tap the resources of the digital world, nothing beats a bit of face time with others who do what you do. Find out where professionals in your role meet up in person. Are there industry conferences you can attend? Local meetings or networking events? Aim to attend at least two in-person events per year with others in your industry. Need a budget? Use the same approach you used when asking for funds to cover an online class. Focus on what you hope to learn at the conference, and make the case that your participation will help your company achieve its goals. 5. Continue to Seek Out New ChallengesFinally, continue to take on new challenges at work. Volunteer for interesting projects, even if they dont fit neatly inside your current role. Ste p up to be part of new initiatives, especially those that dont have an established plan or owner. That way, youll be able to experiment with new methods and learn new skills as you work to solve whatever problems you encounter. The most important thing is that you continue to learn and grow on the job. Otherwise, you risk career stagnation, and nobody wants that Rest assured that many people have used the strategies in this article to keep learning while on a team of one, and you can, too.

Top 5 Strategies for Landing a Job on Capitol Hill

Top 5 Strategies for Landing a Job on Capitol HillTop 5 Strategies for Landing a Job on Capitol HillMany young people with their newly printed political science, public policy and law degrees set their sights on Capitol Hill as a place to get their feet wet in the national political scene. They dream of working long nights crafting legislation, talking points, and press releases. They cant wait to get neck-deep in Washington politics and policymaking. But these people dont start in the thick of political drama. First, they have to master making coffee and copies. And only after performing well on menial tasks do they get to start taking on tasks theyve daydreamed about since they decided they wanted to work on Capitol Hill. Earning a job in a congressional office is not easy. The competition is stiff. Hundreds of well-qualified twenty- and thirty-somethings apply to the lowliest of jobs. So how do you emerge from such strong applicant pools? Here are five strategies you can employ to help you land a job on Capitol Hill. Network The best way to make your anthroponym more than just another collection of letters at the top of a resume is to meet people on Capitol Hill. Most applicant pools for congressional office jobs are loaded with people who had the quintessential college careers for work on Capitol Hill, but if you can be the one person who is a known commodity, you have an edge. And it doesnt have to be a huge advantage to pay off. It can be as simple as being the person who made an appointment to talk with the legislative director and then made a good impression. Think about who you know who knows someone important in politics. The connection can be a family friend, a professor, a former employer... anyone The trick is to find one or more paths from you to the person hiring entry-level staff in a congressional office. If you have no idea where to start, see if you can get a meeting with the district director for your congressman. Consider it both a lear ning experience and job interview. You probably wont get the job at the first meeting, but you definitely can lose it. Prepare well, and make yourself look good. Volunteer for Campaign Work To the victor go the spoils. No doubt youve heard the saying. In American politics, it means elected officials can help those who helped him or her get elected. And when a Republican ousts a Democrat or vice-versa, there is a considerable amount of churning among congressional staffers. Sure, the campaign manager is going to have his or her zupflmmel of choice jobs like thechief of staff, legislative director or communications officer, but there are many jobs to be handed out. Now, not every person working on a campaign can get a job right away, but if you prove yourself as dedicated and hardworking, you stand a good chance of at least getting a bit of help in moving your career forward. It may take working on a few campaigns before you get your opportunity at a Capitol Hill job, but keep doi ng good work, and good things will happen eventually. Move to Washington, DC Moving to a city especially an expensive city like Washington, DC is a risky move when you dont have a job. But doing so can give you an edge when it comes to Capitol Hill jobs. First, living in DC gives you more opportunities to meet people who can help you in your career. You can introduce yourself to people you meet, ask them about their jobs and tell them about your career aspirations. Who knows? They might be able to help you. And if you run into enough people, youre bound to get some help. The second reason to move to DC is hiring managers in congressional offices are more likely to interview people who already live in the area. Youre already in town, and that gives you more flexibility in scheduling. After all, hopping on the DC Metro will get you to an interview much more quickly than booking a flight to Dulles, Reagan or Baltimore. Plus, you wont incur travel expenses each time you have an in terview. Sure, youre going to have to find roommates, and youre probably going to live in an apartment that is way too small for the number of people living there. But youre pursuing your dream, and its going to require some sacrifices. And youre going to have the same living situation once you land a low-paying entry-level job on Capitol Hill. Use the Senate tischordnung Office Each congressional office is its own employing entity. There is no central human resources office supporting members of Congress. However, they do have some help. In the Senate, help comes from the Senate Placement Office. The Senate Placement Office performs two key functions for senators offices and committees. One, they advertise vacant jobs. They do this through Senate Employment Bulletin. Each job posting has information about the employing senator or committee, job duties and how to apply. The other main function of the Senate Placement Office is maintaining a resume bank. Hiring managers in senato rs offices can ask the Senate Placement Office to refer qualified candidates. It only takes three steps to put yourself in the mix. First, you create an online profile. Second, you input your resume. Third, you participate in an informational interview. Remember, this only gets your resume into a big pile of others, so this cant be your only strategy for getting a Capitol Hill job. Use the House Vacancy Announcement and Placement Service Much like the Senate Placement Office serves particular human resources needs for Senate offices and committees, the House Vacancy Announcement and Placement Service supports House offices and committees. This placement office publishes the House Employment Bulletin and keeps a resume bank. Again, signing up to receive the House Employment Bulletin and putting your resume in the bank cannot be your only steps toward your internship or congressional staffer job. Work as many angles as you can. You never know which ones will pay off.

How to Decide Between Multiple Job Offers

How to Decide Between Multiple Job OffersHow to Decide Between Multiple Job OffersWhile some job seekers struggle to get any offers, other candidates experience the good fortune of several employers wanting to hire them. If you find yourself in this fortuitous situation, carefully evaluate each position before making a final decision.Here are factors both practical and personal to consider when debating between multiple job offersMoney and BenefitsAs tempting as it might be to immediately lean toward the job with the larger paycheck, putting too much stock in numbers can backfire. That said, every person desires ritterlich compensation for work performed and needs to pay bills.Calculate what salary you need to cover current expenses and important future goals (such as a vacation or a better car). If an offer isnt meeting this level, youll need to negotiate for more money or remove the position from consideration.In a similar vein, look at the benefits available for each position and know what you require. If health insurance is a must, dismiss offers without it.Take a hard look at the overall compensation package. An awesome retirement plan, a generous amount of vacation, and tuition reimbursement may more than make up for slightly lower take-home pay.The Nature of the WorkExamine what each job entails on a daily basis. Which gives you the most opportunity to perform tasks you find exciting? As noted by H.V. MacArthur, author of Low Man on the Totem Pole Stop Begging for a Promotion, Start Selling Your Genius, You will be spending the majority of your time at your job. You will want to make sure the time spent feels enriching vs. draining.Think, too, about how each position fits in to your larger career objectives. Is the job connected to your lifes purpose and passion? Will taking it help you move closer to the role you ultimately hope to hold? Experience and skills gained from one position often influence the next.drehort and FlexibilityEvaluate how each job fares in terms of promoting work-life balance. A lengthy or challenging commute definitely could be a strike against certain offers, as might the work schedule.Likewise, companies may score brownie points for offering flexible arrangements such as telecommuting and focusing on deliverables rather than the clock. Flexibility of hours enables you to spend time with your family and friends in a way that enriches those relationships, so look to see how flexible your schedule can be, MacArthur says.CultureMacArthur also stresses the importance of gauging workplace culture. If you are a laid back professional who is looking for a fun and creative environment, dont let the promise of a big paycheck lure you into believing you can handle a buttoned-up culture with lots of checks and balances. You may find it difficult to stay motivated and engaged in a way where your best work comes to the forefront.Think about the vibe of each place. How did it feel to be there? Did you enjoy the people yo u met? When you look at the companys website or read about it on social media, does it sound like a firm which youd be proud to represent?Gut ReactionLastly, remember that for better or for worse, selecting a job isnt a precise science. While spelling out the pros and cons of each offer aids in making a sound decision, dont discount intangibles. That nagging feeling that something isnt quite right with one employer or how another company just keeps sparking your imagination shouldnt be ignored.Looking for some outside perspective?Check Out Our Career Coaching Services