Marie-Claire AssekoAfter over a decade on the job market, I know how career development and personal growth can feel like a maze that is daunting to navigate 🫥. Recently, I had the pleasure of delivering an online workshop at McGill University. It focused on providing actionable insights and empowering individuals to create their own career journey. I do not pretend to have all the answers, but my hope is that the answers I have gotten so far helped someone in the audience🙏🏾.
Here’s a recap of the essential takeaways from the session.
You have the opportunity to download the slides and access the recording at the end of this article.
Own the Intersection of Identity and Career
First, it’s important to acknowledge how our unique backgrounds shape our professional paths. As a Canadian immigrant, a Black woman, and a Millennial, I’ve navigated the complex dynamics of being often the only person of color and the youngest in professional settings🙆🏾♀️. This unique intersection of personal attributes has not only influenced my career journey but has also equipped me with a distinct perspective on diversity in the workplace.
I have come across unexpected allies and mentors on that journey. They have taught me how to own my place😏. Thanks to them, I now know that no one made me a favor by letting me into those spaces – I worked my butt off to get in! ⚡
Embrace Your Non-linear Path to Education and/or Career
My educational journey includes dropping out of a chemical engineering program, venturing into fashion marketing, and later, obtaining a Bachelor in Business Administration specialized in Business Intelligence. At the same time, I dived into product ownership, venture capital and other fields because I was curious about those topics🤓!
This non-linear educational path mirrors the career shifts many of us experience. From marketing roles to embracing technology, my career journey is a testament to the fact that one’s academic background does not confine their professional potential💡.
A diverse, atypical background is a powerful asset. Indeed, by embracing our unique stories, we can bring fresh perspectives and innovation to our roles, making substantial contributions🔦 to our teams and projects.
Friends ➡️ Introspection and continuous learning are pivotal in career advancement! I carved a niche for myself by pivoting across different careers and educational backgrounds without formal training in my current field💫. I then created my story by highlighting the common thread in all of my experiences and connecting them to my vision for my career journey.
So I hope that my story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength that lies in diversity and the potential for personal reinvention. And above all, I hope that it encourages you to explore!😉
Concrete Steps in Your Career Journey
The average person will spend approximately 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime (around 1,920 hours per year)! It’s quite the staggering number! And it shows how important it is to think about the ways we want our jobs to contribute to our professional happiness and personal satisfaction.
During this session, I covered the first 2 steps out of 5 (the remaining 3) that have worked best for me.
Build Your Brand
Building your professional brand involves more than just your job title or professional achievements. It encompasses three key components:
- Your Elevator Pitch🗣️: it is a concise, specific, and memorable statement about you and what you stand for. Having several tailored pitches ready for different contexts is crucial.
- Your Presence👤: This is about how you add value to your network and how you position yourself as a resource on specific topics. Your digital and physical presence should broadcast your skills and areas of expertise and, should be consistent both online and offline!
- Your Network🛜: Effective networking isn’t just about taking; it’s about giving back and fostering relationships that are mutually beneficial.
Build Your Career Journey
Define What “Dream” Job Means For You
Whether it’s finding a job that offers a sense of belonging, purpose, or enough challenges, understanding what you value most can guide you through career decisions. You have to ask yourself the right questions and be bluntly honest about where it stand.
Being clear on your values before you start your job hunt is particularly key! Why?
Once you’re in it, it’s incredible easy to get swayed by attractive job offers with big numbers or benefits…Emotions run high, you’re being pressured by HR to give them an answer quickly, the imposter syndrome kicks in and next thing you know, you’re pulled into an organizational context that does not suit you 😖
That’s why I strongly advise against compromising on your core values and I encourage you to maintain a personal scorecard to help align your career moves with your personal growth and satisfaction, your priorities at the stage of life that you are in.
Stand Out in Job Interviews
We did a quick poll during the workshop and it appeared that fear of rejection and social anxiety😰 were the most feared during job interviews. So I dedicated some time sharing tips to enhance our interview skills. Not in terms of what to say (this was discussed in the second part of the workshop) but in terms of how to mentally 💭 approach the interview.
- Authenticity: Being true to yourself is key. Authenticity resonates with interviewers, making you more memorable.
- Connection Over Performance: Approach interviews as conversations rather than performances where you’re trying to impress your audience. This mindset shift can alleviate anxiety and foster a genuine connection.
- Learning from Rejections: Each interview is a learning opportunity. Reflect on feedback and continuously refine your approach.
- Confidence and Preparation: Confidence is built through preparation. Understanding your strengths and how they align with potential roles can significantly impact your interview presence.
Other strategies like practicing responses, engaging in mock interviews, and visualizing positive outcomes are invaluable tools to boost your confidence and improve your performance in interview.
TL;DR – Empowering Your Career Journey – Part 1
Mastering your professional brand and navigating your career path requires self-awareness, preparation, and the courage to embrace your unique story. It’s essential for individuals to see their unique backgrounds as assets that can propel their careers forward, not just in tech but across all industries.
I strongly believe that every professional is capable of crafting a narrative that not only highlights their skills🔨 and experiences🧬but also aligns with their personal values and aspirations.
This blog article is just a glimpse into the rich discussion and learning that took place. For those looking to dive deeper or seeking personalized advice, I invite you to connect and explore how we can further tailor these insights to your unique career path.
The entire recording is available on Youtube. You can download the slides here.
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