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Let me ask you. Are you at the place where you’re unsure about your career? Maybe you’re undecided? You probably have an idea of what you want. Or you might have no idea at all. How do you decide your path? How do you set goals?   Today’s guest, Claudia Miller, is going to help us answer those questions. Claudia is a career coach for women in tech. She helps her clients land jobs in 90 days (or less!) that have around a 50% salary increase. She has a vast background from architecture, management, health, technology, finance, to education and marketing, which she now uses to help her clients.  Claudia learned what she knows now out of necessity. Being the first one in her family to even finish eighth grade, she knew she couldn’t rely on her family to teach her what she needed to know to advance in her career. She got great grades, was on honor roll, and earned scholarships. Even in high school, she joined internships, networked, looked for mentors, and did everything she thought she had to do. She believed that if she did all these right things, the interviews, and job offers would come after college. But what exactly happened? She had one interview and one job offer.   That experience led Claudia to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew about the professional marketplace and she started asking questions. How can I hack this career advancement? How can I increase my salary? How can I get multiple job interviews and offers?    What followed was years of learning, multiple career shifts, salary increase at every job offer, and her helping professionals land their next job and put them higher on their career ladder.  “When we bring two intersections of industries that are not correlated, that’s when you become the expert.” - Claudia Miller  Today, Claudia shares many practical tips for leveraging and presenting yourself, networking, learning about the industry, conducting interviews, and even how to secure  yourself in this time of evolving AI.  “Make sure you take care of your mind and your mindset because if you’re not feeling confident, it will leak out to the entire job search process.” - Claudia Miller  And in the middle of this recession, layoffs, and job uncertainty, Claudia’s advice is to keep a clear mind and not let any of the worries affect this job search.  If you’re at this place where you need to decide about your career, remember that you can do whatever you put your mind to do as long as you’re willing to put in the work and be persistent.   Connect with Claudia Miller:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How good are you at handling change? Do you handle it well? How sure are you?  Joining us today is Elizabeth Powers, a sought-after speaker, facilitator, teacher, and consultant. She is also the CEO of EPower & Associates, Inc., which provides people development in the form of training, coaching, consulting, and events, and is the parent organization for The EPower Change Institute and The Trauma Informed Academy.  “The only time we welcome change and are excited by it is if we design the change, we execute the change, and it goes exactly as we want it to. Otherwise, we don’t like it very much, because it’s imposed on us, and we feel like we lose our ability to make choices.” - Elizabeth Powers  Elizabeth’s mother has said that Elizabeth has “gone through more change than a chameleon going through a costume ball.” And Elizabeth agrees!  She started out as a shoe repairer at a shop that served celebrities where she started out not believing that she could do anything more. One day, a client came in, saw her, and said, “You are way too smart to be doing this. Don’t let yourself get stuck here.” That was the first time she felt seen, and she kept that moment tucked in her heart for a long time. Since then, she has worked in public welfare, had (and lost) other jobs, and had to learn how to deal with the different changes in her life.  Here are the key topics Elizabeth discusses today:  Our mindsets around change  Choosing how we respond to change  Developing our emotional intelligence and that inner connection to our own feelings    “If you can’t tolerate the discomfort of learning something new, or of taking in information from other people, you’re going to be stuck.” - Elizabeth Powers  Today, Elizabeth spends her time helping people deal with change. She speaks to motivate others and to share her own story of hope and healing. And that’s exactly what she does in this episode. Do you want to learn how to better deal with change? Listen to Elizabeth to receive her words of wisdom.  Connect with Elizabeth Powers:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s easy to assume that getting the job you want is tied directly to the degree you earned and the specific skills you have. Yet, there is ample opportunity existing outside of your comfort zone that allows you to explore a different career path than the one you expected.  Carlene Shapiro, the Vice President of Human Resources for the WNET group, shares her 25 year experience building a career with Pfizer that gave her the opportunity to explore many departments and interests. Charlene started her education focused on being a teacher, but gave herself the space to figure out and experience what she enjoyed more along the way.  “One of the things I realized very quickly working in corporate America is that relationships were a key to success.” -Charlene Shapiro   In your career, opportunities are dependent on the connections and relationships you build over time. Charlene shares how building a rapport with people in other departments benefited her career.   Key insights Charlene shares:  Exploring a career path instead of following it  Relationship building up and down the chain to build rapport throughout  The state of HR and employers retaining employees post-Covid    The exciting news is that even with tons of opportunities, there are more opportunities to work remotely if you desire to. Employers are having a hard time making a daily commute and reason to be in office appealing for employees. When weighing options on what your next career move is, make sure that you consider lateral moves and moves that may not include more money.  “It's really important to connect to people on a personal level. You can keep that business distance, but people need to know you care about them as a human being.” -Charlene Shapiro   Connect with Charlene Shapiro  Website  Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve known about the glass-ceiling for years. The difficulty you’ve faced to advance your professional career as a woman, or an ethnic minority wasn’t your imagination. Getting into a senior position may be difficult, but it’s far from impossible.  Today’s guest, Jocelyn King, is an impact life coach with a senior executive background from Silicon Valley. Among numerous accolades, she’s been voted a Top 10 Woman in Cybersecurity. Jocelyn coaches and inspires people to live their life better on purpose.  “I had to learn how to overcome the fears and limitations that I was primarily putting on myself.” -Jocelyn King  Jocelyn has had such an impressive career, and yet in spite of her success, she’s still had to overcome the fears and limitations she placed on herself. We all have struggles both internally and externally that we have to overcome to learn how to break through the glass ceiling and become movers and shakers.  Ideas we discuss for breaking through the glass ceiling:  What it means to be movers, shakers and glass-ceiling breakers  Being in the room where decisions are made  Breaking your own limitations  Jocelyn has a very logical and direct approach to employment and climbing the corporate ladder that really resonates with me. You have to understand that there are conversations taking place with or without you. Rather than be angry and feeling victimized, take her tips and strategies to get in the room so that new roles are created for you instead.  “If you apply for a position that’s already posted, it’s too late.” -Jocelyn King  Connect with Jocelyn King  Website  Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ability to work remote has opened the opportunity for you to apply to work in any state and in any country regardless of your location. Seems like the playing field should be level, but the cultural differences and expectations can make it difficult and near impossible to secure employment if you’re not conscious of these differences.  Julia Kirst is a cross-cultural strategist that helps international professionals secure employment opportunities in the U.S. Julia understands that being highly qualified isn’t enough without context and knowledge of cultural values.  “Having an awareness of what's normal for the other person is so important. We can only respond properly if we understand how that person is reading us” -Julia Kirst  Ideas to consider when applying outside of your country:  How to present your skills and credentials  Understanding your audience or the gatekeeper is a benefit  Interviewers are human and want to be seen and heard also    Jula released her book, What the United States Wants, to help broaden the reach of the international clients she consults with one-on-one. She considers her books to be a roadmap and guide that can be used as a resource when applying for study, work, and visa opportunities in the U.S., but this book can also be a great resource and food for thought if you are U.S. based and applying for international employment opportunities.  “I can give them the tools to understand what is expected of them and to present their skills and their credentials in a way that is respected by the gatekeeper” - Julia Kirst  Connect with Julia Kirst and sign up for her newsletter for tips and resources she shares in her bi-monthly newsletter website.    Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your job expected you to keep everything organized, fully stocked, clean, and running smoothly from the start of your shift to the end of your shift, you’d probably expect a pretty busy day. When you meet with your boss and they also add that they need other team members managed, conflicts resolved, clean clothes, meals prepared, and everyone’s schedule accommodated, you may feel overwhelmed and exhausted quick. Later, when you realize all the work expected is paying $0.00/hour, you may actually walk and say forget it all.  The life of a homemaker involves all of this and more. It’s no easy job, and yet many homemakers are taken for granted. Many homemakers are dealing with low self-worth and low self-value when looking to rejoin the workforce. “I’m JUST a homemaker” or “I only stay home with my kids.”  Today’s guest, Laura Troy, is the President of the Displaced Homemakers Network of New Jersey. Her commitment to helping women navigate the process of going from unpaid work as homemakers to paid work is a passion that began with a personal experience very close to her.  “The sad thing is we don't put much value on the homemaker, and the child raising part of the family.” -Laura Troy  Helping individuals return to the workforce is a process that requires mental work and preparation, as well as support and encouragement. Laura shares how she’s been able help these women boost their confidence and self-worth and see the value they really bring to the table:  Recovering from mental and emotional abuse of feeling undervalued  Career assessments and skill translation from being a homemaker to skilled and valued employee  Providing emotional support to individuals who’ve lost themselves in years of servitude    It’s so easy for women in particular to feel marginalized when going through life changing events like divorce, separation, a disabled spouse or other situations. A big part of what Laura is doing is helping people see their worth after what feels like a scary traumatic experience.  “All moms are working moms, no matter what, you worked.” - Laura Troy  You can connect with The New Jersey Displaced Homemakers and Laura on their website.    Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beverly is talking with Steven Toboroff, the CEO of Woolco Foods Inc. His employment journey is like many, diverse and not what was initially planned. He found out he loved Woolco Foods, the premiere distributor for the finest restaurants, hotels, bakeries, caterers and institutions in the New York and New Jersey area. Steven shares one of the best things about the industry and his work is the opportunity to collaborate with others in the industry.   He shares how the pandemic affected the industry overall, and their business specifically. It explains that it was an incredible challenge and also said how blessed he felt to have such an amazing management team that kept things going in a difficult time.   A couple of months into the pandemic, he decided that his company would come out of that challenging time stronger. One of the things he did was participate in community outreach. Many of their clients were suffering and they decided to help.   His leadership tips:   Be a good listener   Look for opportunities to collaborate  Develop long-term relationships with clients   Tap into creativity as a method of problem solving   “Having a business, you can be as creative as you want.” - Steven Toboroff Hear how he encourages and embraces the chance to be creative in any type of business. It’s a new way of looking at what’s possible.   Is a career in the hospitality industry for you? Steven explains what it takes to be successful. His advice: make sure you love it. It’s one of the best times (in his opinion) to be in the industry.   Best advice: look for an apprenticeship opportunity. The space allows for this and can often give you greater access in the industry.   What does Steven look for when hiring?   Initiative, willingness to learn and problem solve and a true interest in the industry. He likes to work with people who are self-driven, and he wants his employees to take ownership of their job and place in the company. He also mentioned good communication skills and an open-minded approach which fits the company culture. People with those skills do well at Woolco.   Resources:   Podcast: The Profitable Table   Woolco Foods   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does who you are mean? In the workforce, do you have a good understanding of who you are? How would your co-workers define you? Every decision you make is not a decision about what to do, it’s a decision about who you are. Neale Donald Walsch If you are looking for a new job, have future ambitions in your current position, or want to make a career change, understanding who you are is step one. Being honest with yourself is key. It’s hard for us to see ourselves objectively, but it’s important to use self-assessments to truly understand ourselves, so that we can also understand how we show up. There are generational perceptions that may align with how you see yourself or may be unfairly pinning attributes that don’t fit you personally. This is one way to begin to identify your personal brand. If you’re new to the job market, just out of college, there are both positive and negative attributes that you can amplify and may need to dispel. Understanding how this impacts your job search will help you no matter your skills and education. Embrace the concept of teamwork. You don’t have to be a people person, but in today’s workforce almost all positions require some element of collaboration. At minimum, you will be expected to be polite and respectful of others. Be the person you would want to work with. Begin somewhere. You cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do. Liz Smith Be proactive about your personal brand. It’s an essential element in managing your career. It’s a vital element in how you move forward in life. It’s a combination of reputation and your skills and abilities. It’s how you show up. Your personal brand is what people say about you when you are no in the room. Jeff Bezos Strive to be the type of person that others want to help. View yourself as a professional and let your conduct demonstrate that to others. Establish a favorable reputation by handling yourself with integrity, treating others with respect and demonstrating a willingness to apply yourself. Hear the 7 steps you can take to build a positive personal brand. Knowing who you are and how you want to be perceived will help you no matter where you are in your career. The tips in this episode will help you self-assess and determine where you are already doing well, and where you can improve. You get to oversee how others see you when you know who you are.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having more than one interest or more than one passion isn’t so unusual. In fact, most of us have multiple interests and as you go through high school and college you are coerced into choosing one path, one direction, and one career.  But why not pursue more than one career? Aside from time, money, and effort, pursuing multiple careers, especially complementary or adjacent careers, makes sense and can lead to a more fulfilling life, in spite of the challenges.  Today’s guest, Dr. Michael Fenster, is better known as Chef Dr. Mike. He is a Board-Certified Interventional Cardiologist, a Professor of Culinary Medicine, and a Professional Chef. Talk about mixing careers. Dr. Mike’s approach and inspiration in creating multiple careers doing what he loves comes from challenging conventional wisdom and being aligned with his interests over enough time to develop career sustaining passions.  “I am a victim of two-by-four-karma, which means I'm not very bright, and I often have to get hit in the head with a two-by-four before I pick and pay attention and follow the path.” -Dr. Mike  Career nuggets from Chef Dr. Mike:  From dishwasher to executive chef  Becoming a cardiologist after earning his degree in gourmet cooking  Personal experiences that influenced his career fusion  What culinary medicine is and how seeking truth challenges conventional wisdom    Chef Dr. Mike has a unique career path, rich with experience and filled with challenges along the way of fulfilling his passion. As a bonus, Dr. Mike shares why food is medicine for the body and how to keep your physical and mental health strong with real food, exercise, and meditation.  “If you don't have 10 minutes a day for a meditation, you probably need 20.” -Dr. Mike  You can connect with Dr. Michael Fenster, a.k.a. Chef Dr. Mike, on his website.  Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental health impacts millions of people and is one of those things people can avoid dealing with their entire lives depending on the culture and part of society they were exposed to. Some cultures view seeking therapy and professional help as a sign of weakness and embarrassment.  Among black communities, mental health is only recently being openly discussed. According to NAMI.org, 63% of black people believe that mental health is a sign of weakness, which leads to shame and not having the conversations or seeking the help they need.  Over 11 million adults are estimated to have had serious suicidal thoughts (source)  More recently, there has been the normalization of mental and emotional health in the workplace. Though Covid took us through one of the worst periods in modern global history, it was also part of the change in mental health conversations between employers and employees.  Today’s episode is dedicated to a dear friend, Dansby White. Like many people lost to suicide, his sudden and unexpected departure serves as a wake-up call for all of us to check in with our friends, family, and loved ones, especially the ones that appear to be fine.  Beverly is giving you 8 tips to maintain mental and emotional health during your job search. The tips being shared are from Chapter 1 of Your GPS to Employment Success, Prepare, Plan, Persist, Persevere.  “When the world says give up, hope whispers try it one more time.” -Unknown  Resources Mentioned in this Episode:  From Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story  The National Alliance on Mental Illness    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration  Thrive Global  The Holistic Root to Managing Anxiety  The Resiliency Advantage: Master Change: Thrive Under Pressure, and Bounce Back from Setbacks    Remember to check-in on the people you care about, and make sure you have someone to talk to when you’re not feeling your best.  Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At different stages of your career, you begin to formulate different expectations from your employer. With time and experience in different industries and different work environments, you start to assess what you can tolerate from management and co-workers, and what you’re not willing to tolerate as well.  75% of employees quit their boss, not their job (source)  Victoria Dew does not consider herself to be a great employee, but has created her business, Dewpoint Communications to help employers create better employee experiences that contribute to both a better life for their employees, and higher productivity for the business.  Have you ever worked for an employer that’s not supportive or invested in your growth? How has microaggressions and toxicity in the workplace affected your stress levels and productivity? Victoria reveals several ways she’s making sure employers see the benefit of improving their internal communication and employee experiences.  “When employees are [...] better able to do their jobs, that’s better for business.” -Victoria Dew  Victoria’s employment experience insights and findings shared in this episode:  Why a people-powered employee centric business is good business sense  Opportunities that exist in this shifting employee market  Employee expectations include being happy and satisfied with meaningful work  Which skills are worth pursuing in a tech focused future of innovative solutions  What people and businesses can expect returning to the office after Covid    The employer-employee relationship doesn’t have to be strained with mistrust and poor communication. No relationship can thrive in those circumstances. Employers that invest in services such as the service Victoria’s company provides, speaks volumes to whether you will find value working together. As Victoria points out, it is an employee’s employment market, and there are ways to leverage the shift and create better relationships and opportunities in your career.  Connect with Victoria Dew:  LinkedIn  Website (download The New Rules of Employee Experience and Communications in 2022)    Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many times in your career have you heard; your network is your net worth? If you’re like the average person, we don’t always prioritize or value networking in our respective industries. In fact, you may cringe and shudder at the thought of going to a networking event.  For Robert T. Szyba., networking comes easier when the focus is on meeting people and making connections. This perspective has helped Robert pivot from his earlier career in the entertainment industry to become a partner at Seyfarth Shaw overseeing Labor & Employment.  “The biggest problem with networking is the fact that it sounds so scary, and the fact that people make it out to be a lot more than that is interesting” -Robert T. Szyba.  Robert’s Reasons and Tips for Networking Discussed:  When you don’t network, there is a void in your professional development  Focus on meeting people, making connections, and making new friends  It’s not always a direct benefit, but it is an opportunity to build your reputation  Tips for introverted people to find other ways to network without social pressure  Networking requires you to extend yourself, no way around it.    Robert was recently selected to the 2022 edition of the Best Lawyers in America. He shares about the surprising turn of events that lead him away from music and performance to a closely connected legal career.  Connect with Robert T. Szyba:  Linkedin  Website    Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams’ book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How you show up and present yourself in a meeting, at a workplace or corporate event matters. The problem is, often we don’t see the issue with some of the habits we have in casual environments, and we bring that into a setting that can be detrimental to our career success and growth.  Doris Young Boyer is a Global Protocol and Etiquette Expert who helps us through awkwardly embarrassing moments. Doris is sharing what etiquette is and why it still matters, no matter what level of your career.  “This is the big deal with etiquette. That your manners, your behavior, your presence is always under examination, and people deny you things based on how you present yourself.” -Doris Young Boyer  What you should know about etiquette and your career:  Etiquette is about the look you want to convey to others  Confidence, practicality, and reducing conflict are 3 major effects of etiquette  Etiquette includes what you do, where you do it, and how    Beverly and Doris break down a few scenarios where poor etiquette was observed, and how it impacted the perception of the person in violation. Doris explains how proper etiquette helps strengthen relationships and achieve greater success.  Books Mentioned in this Episode:  How to be a Gentleman   How to be a Lady  Connect with Doris Young Boyer:  Linkedin  Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams’ book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the workplace evolves and takes on different shapes as people relocate to working from home environments, and as politics continue to find its way into nearly every corporation, ethics is more important than ever before.  Employers have their code of ethics, and many professions have a standard code of ethics that people should be familiar with to keep out of trouble. Beverly thinks of ethics as referring to standards of what’s right and wrong. It’s important to know your company’s’ ethics so that you stay in compliance.  Debbie Peterson has experienced multiple careers intensely focused and anchored to ethics. As the first and only female elected mayor of Grover Beach, California and a real estate broker with Peterson Team Realty, Debbie shares the basic rules that have helped her navigate a corrupted political system.  “I want to show people how to be vigilant.” - Debbie Peterson  Some key topics Debbie exposes about ethics:  What to do if you’re ever in doubt if something is ethical  Why word choice is key to calling out unethical behavior  What guard rails for proper business conduct includes  How to address ethical concerns without jumping to whistleblower  Debbie literally wrote a book exposing the corruption that she uncovered in her political office. She and Beverly share two noteworthy rules of thumb:  If in doubt, just don’t  If it doesn’t pass the smell test, there’s a problem  As you observe your current work environment or explore new opportunities, putting company ethics onto your radar may save you from unnecessary trouble and involvement. Not knowing your company’s ethical standards isn’t an excuse for not speaking up and allowing things to continue.  Debbie Peterson’s upcoming book: The Happiest Corruption: Sleaze, Lies, and Suicide in a California Beach Town.  Connect with Debbie Peterson:  Linkedin    Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In your personal life, being ethical may not be a conscious thought or an idea you have to think about too hard. You know right from wrong and as a good citizen, you abide by the rules of the society we live in. In the workplace, however, ethics may sound like a different conversation and isn’t always black or white.  In a 2015 survey, it was stated that 84% of upper and mid-level management polled considered their staff to be inconsiderate and rude, while 65% believed their staff lacked a moral compass. The question becomes, is this an ethical issue or a problem with etiquette. Furthermore, is this the kind of work environment you currently work in, or would you choose to move into a work environment like this?  In this episode, Beverly is pointing out the hotspots you need to be aware of around ethics and etiquette. More importantly, this episode can serve as a guide and compass for you in your employment journey as you navigate murky waters with your current employer, or do your research for an employment opportunity you are considering in the future.  “It's up to you to do the work necessary to determine whether or not the employers that you're considering seeking employment from are reputable people of integrity, so you don't have any ethical, unethical experiences.” Beverly Williams  Key points covered:  Actions don’t have to be illegal to be unethical  Red flags may include communication, wages, and hours   What to do if you suspect unethical activity in the workplace  Old fashion manners and decent behavior is still “in”  Etiquette applies to text, emails, and verbal communication    When it comes to being ethical and demonstrating proper etiquette, the important thing to remember is to always put your best foot forward, and conduct yourself honestly and with integrity. Your reputation matters and so does your personal brand.    If you received value from this episode, please share and consider leaving a review of this podcast. It is greatly appreciated!  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you consider living through a global pandemic that rendered businesses and entire economies helpless, and you consider the number of people that are one paycheck away from being homeless, you have to ask yourself how do people sleep at night knowing they are relying on one income to survive?  Technology is changing the landscape of the workforce. Jobs are becoming obsolete, and as technology advances and infiltrates our day to day lives, changing our habits and needs, entire industries are being jeopardized. More reasons exist today than ever before for why having multiple incomes streams isn’t a luxury, but a necessity.  Michele Banister, a.k.a. Michele Sfakianos, is the ideal example of what having multiple income streams can be. She is a registered nurse, a certified coach, a speaker, an educator, a trainer, and a radio host with professional writing services.  “There's plenty of resources out there that can point you in the right direction. So the only person that can take responsibility for moving is yourself.” -Michele Banister  Key ideas from Michele:  Unlikely educational path  Juggling multiple jobs with kids at home  How to reinvent yourself  How to quit the right way    After hearing this episode, you should be ready to plan out potential income streams beyond where you are at the moment. Think vertically and horizontally and consider what adjacent industries and skills you can put to work, or skills you can develop. Starting with one additional income stream will help build your confidence.  Connect with Michele Banister:  Website  The 411 of Reinventing You   Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think of unions and labor management, it’s easy to default to factories in the industrial age of unfair wages and poor work conditions for those employees. Are unions still relevant today or are they slowly disappearing?  Beverly recently had the opportunity to contribute to Authority Magazine to discuss the top trends in connection with the future of employment. One of those trends was the resurgence of unionism.  Arnold Shep Cohen joins Beverly to unpack some of the underlying pros and cons of joining a union. Arnold is a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and an adjunct professor at Rutgers School of Law in New York. He is also a partner at Oxfeld Cohen, P.C. where he is still practicing law.   “Where there is a union, there's usually a better-operated facility than when there's no union.” -Arnold Shep Cohen  Beverly and Arnold dive into several areas where labor-management is strained:  Education  Healthcare  Lack of trust between employers and employees  How unions need to reinvent themselves    From this episode, you’ll be able to assess whether joining a union is the right move for you, and to make sure you’re aware of the obstacles, the benefits, and whether being part of a union is better than not for your particular industry.  Connect with Arnold Shep Cohen:  Website    Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Great Resignation has been receiving a lot of attention from the media over the past few months. Employers are scrambling and creating new incentives and packages to retain quality employees. Yet there are still employees who are on the fence and considering what their next move should be. Should they join the rest and leave their employer, or stay and make the best of the situation? Mitch Case’s journey from employee to entrepreneur may hold the key to what some of you may need to hear. Mitch transitioned from full-time mechanical engineer to entrepreneur, but it was not a brash decision. Initially, his company, More Than a Meal, was in the passion hobby. “I decided to walk away from my engineering career, and go full time into our business “More Than a Meal” to say that I can look back in 20 years and say, ‘even if I fall flat on my face, [...] I went into something that I believed in’, and I had the right things in place” -Mitch Case Mitch started a personal growth journey and began to sort through and recognize what he valued, what brought him joy, filled him with purpose, and gave him meaning. Mitch’s 3 tips for anyone transitioning to entrepreneurship: Don’t allow money to be your motivator Have a plan in place for how you will transition and grow Talk to as many people as you can who have already transitioned   More Than a Meal started from a pain point Mitch and his wife experienced after the birth of their first child. That was the starting point of finding something that held much more value for Mitch than the monotony of his full-time engineering career. “There's no better way to show appreciation than meeting somebody where they are at.” -Mitch Case One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is seeing first-hand what can be created when your passions begin to align with your values in a way that serves others. Mitch’s story is filled with opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with value through and through. You can download the 11 Steps Customer Marketing Strategy he mentioned in this episode here. Connect with Mitch Case: Website Linkedin Email   Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated.   Check out Beverly Williams book: Your GPS to Employment Success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hopefully, you have begun to pursue a career that you are passionate about. If you are one of the lucky ones, it’s necessary to balance pursuing your passion while holding down a 9-5 job. Regardless of what anyone says, job security matters. Kristen J. Eddy is a full-time employee by day and a thriving TV production and talent management freelancer by night, so to speak. She joins Beverly to share her employment journey and reveals how she is navigating the best of both worlds. “My growth, my evolution of accepting things as they are and relaxing involves watching things fall into place accordingly, and just knowing that things are going to work out as they should….” -Kristen J. Eddy Kristen’s employment journey involves working on TV production and with talented comedians in the entertainment industry. She candidly shares what it’s like to be torn between wanting the security of a regular job and coming alive in pursuit of her creativity as a TV production freelancer. Key Areas Discussed: Defining unconventional networking Recognizing opportunities and missed opportunities  Being respected and commanding respect from your employer and clients  “The most expensive mistake is a missed opportunity.” -Beverly Williams quoting H. Jackson Brown, Jr.  Having the confidence to act on opportunities and the skill to handle opportunities you may not be prepared to act on immediately can make or break a career. These ladies share how opportunities have led to painful disappointments in some cases.   As you proceed on your employment journey, remember that working a 9-5 does not mean that you need to live a life devoid of passion and fulfillment. Often people make excuses and create obstacles and roadblocks for why they are not pursuing their dreams. Kristen’s journey is evidence of what it means to pursue your passion while appreciating the job security you’ve come to rely on. The right small steps will get you moving in the right direction. Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Please check out Beverly Williams’ book: Your GPS to Employment Success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you have a bachelor’s degree, master’s, or no degree at all, it is important to remember that formal education does not define success or your ability to obtain success. In fact, it is well documented that a college degree is not required to be successful. Salimah Williams is joining Beverly to share her interesting educational journey and career planning in real time. Like so many others, what Salimah started off dreaming about has not become the passion she pursues today. “Success means different things to different people. I encourage you to define success.” -Beverly Williams As Beverly is a strong advocate for charting your career path, she encourages you to take the time to define what success means to you given your personal preferences and experiences. In this episode, Salimah shares her journey from fashion designer, to pursuing a career in nursing, and to applying for a master’s program in public health. Key Areas of Focus: ●    Network within your professional field early. ●    Select your role models carefully. ●    Create a professional portfolio (even while in school) ●    Develop a career plan with room for unplanned opportunities.   “You don't want to be completely dialed in to the exclusion of an opportunity that may present itself, one that can catapult you to where you want to go more quickly” -Beverly Williams This episode is packed with prime examples of two widely different educational journeys. Both Beverly and Salimah share their ups and downs, likes, and dislikes, and experiences applying for educational programs and opportunities. Charting your employment journey may not be easy. It helps however to have a career plan that includes steps to take along the way. Hopefully, taking these steps will serve you well. A key lesson to remember is that “opportunity does not always present itself in a recognizable way.” You have to be vigilant in your pursuit and open to exploring new possibilities as they arise. Leaving a review of this podcast is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Please check out Beverly Williams’ book: Your GPS to Employment Success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices