There are so many lessons to learn about your professional life. The best professional advice I received from one of my coworkers was "always take the time to introduce and reintroduce yourself." She gave me this advice after I had been at a new company for about four months and it changed my trajectory.
 
In this blog post, we will explore when you need great introductions and how to create an introduction that people will remember.
 
When are introductions important?

• In a Job interview or when you start a new role
• Every day when you meet new people at work
• When you reconnect with colleagues to share updates
  

 
How to create a great introduction
 
Step #1: Think about what you want people to know about you
It is important to help people get to know you. When you think about your story and reputation, ask yourself what the important aspects of your career are. Some of the things I share with people include projects I have worked on, skills that I have, certifications or degrees and what I am passionate about. Remember also to include aspects of your personal life. There is so much power in connecting with people on a personal level.
 
Questions to consider

• What do you want people to know about you?
• How do you want to be perceived by the people you work with?

 
Step #2: Write your intro statements
In my experience, I have learned that when you write down a short introduction, it allows you to think through your message. Write down many options and refine your introduction as you go. As you work on your introduction statements, try not to over-engineer it.
 
Questions to consider

• What are the most important words you want to include in your introduction?
• How long would you like your introduction to be?

 
Step #3: Practice your introduction with people you trust
One way to improve your introduction is by sharing it with your trusted advisors. You can send it to them in written form or practice telling them in person. The objective of this activity is to gather feedback and ideas from people who know you really well.
 
Questions to consider

• What feedback do people that know you very well have for your introduction?
• Which improvements do you want to make to your introduction?

 
Step #4: Update and tweak your Introduction
Based on feedback and your experience as you tested your introduction, it is time to adjust your intro statements. The goal is to have a version you are comfortable with sharing with more people. It might not be perfect, and that is fine.
 
Questions to consider

• How will you keep your introduction fresh and relevant?
• What aspects of your introduction are the most important?

 
Step #5: Introduce and reintroduce your self
Now it is time to start using your new introduction. Depending on your audience, you may want to tweak your introduction. By practicing and working on your introduction, you will get better. I have also started being more aware of how other people introduce themselves and what I can learn from them.
 
Questions to consider

• What parts of your introduction resonate the most with others?
• Is your professional brand being strengthened by your introduction?

 
Action Plan

• How do you want to be remembered by the people you meet at work?
• How will you keep improving your introduction?

 
Final Thoughts

• Take every opportunity you get to introduce yourself to people at work.
• Your introduction is your opportunity to share things with people that you really want them to know.
• Own and manage your professional brand.

 
Great Resources

• 2 Ways to Create a 1-Line Elevator Pitch (That'll Make People Want to Keep Talking to You)
• How to introduce yourself so you’ll be unforgettable (in a good way!)
• The Best Way To Introduce Yourself In Five Potentially Awkward Situations
• Ways to introduce yourself in person, at parties or networking events (and a few you should skip)
• A Complete Guide to Answering “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview (Plus Examples!)
• How to Tell People What You Do—and Be Remembered

We spend a lot of time in our lives at work. Recently, I have been reflecting on some of the experiences that I have had at work that had very different outcomes than I expected. I am making peace with the fact that setbacks are a part of every successful career.
 
In this blog post, we will discuss five ways to deal with disappointment at work.
 
Starting point: What type of professional setbacks have I faced?
Some of the experiences that have stuck in my memory include:

• Being passed up for a promotion
• Not getting the project that I really wanted to work on
• Being unable to negotiate my salary or a pay raise

 
Five ways to deal with disappointment at work
 
Don’t be too hard on yourself
It is important to not let all the weight of a setback rest on your shoulders. Going through a difficult time at work can often make your life feel less balanced and make you unhappy. Being aware of the impact of disappointment at work on your happiness is essential. Putting it all in perspective will help you move on.
 
Questions to consider

• Would you care about these experiences one month or one year from now?
• How can you take care of yourself in these difficult times?

 
Be better prepared
After major setbacks in my career, I wondered if there was a way for me to be more prepared to overcome the deep sadness I felt. And I have found that the answer is yes, you can prepare for the impact of disappointment on your life and work. Taking the time to plan for the negative events helped me bounce back.
 
Questions to consider

• What steps can you take after a career setback?
• Who will support you on your journey to get over your disappointment?

 
Identify the learnings
One of the things I am learning about all negative experiences in life is that there is always a lesson to be learned. When you experience setbacks at work, make time to think about what the lessons may be. It might not be easy to see the lessons. However, they exist and would help you a lot on your future journey.
 
Questions to consider

• What can you learn from this experience?
• Is there a common theme with the disappointments you have faced at work recently?

 
Find something positive that motivates you
Having a positive outlook on your career is a great gift. Especially when something does not go the way you planned, having something that excites you can help you stay happy. A great mindset to have is to view your future journey with optimism.
 
Questions to consider

• What is the one thing you enjoy about your job?
• What are some recent accomplishments that you have had?

 
Know when it is time to find a new job or role
Depending on the type of situation you may be going through at work, it may be time to move on to the next career adventure. It is crucial to know when that time comes and to take action.
 
Questions to consider

• What are you looking for in your next job or role?
• How will you utilize the learnings from your past experiences in your next job or role?

 
Final Thoughts

• Disappointment at work can be expected, how you deal with it will determine how successful you will be.
• Going through any negative experience with an active support group will make it easier.
• Building resilience for setbacks in your career is a strategy you can learn.

 
Call to Action

• What is one of the biggest setbacks you have faced in your career?
• What strategy helped you get over that disappointment?

 
Great Resources

• 5 Ways to Bounce Back from Disappointment at Work
• How to Deal With Professional Disappointment at Work
• Overcoming Career Disappointment
• How to get over career disappointment
• 5 Major Work Disappointments and How to Handle Them

Throughout my career, I have been through transitions that have taught me many valuable lessons. After going through so many changes, I now accept that it is part of my professional journey that I cannot avoid if I want to grow.
 
In this blog post, I will share some of the lessons I have learned about career transitions and ways I have worked through them.
 
What are Career transitions?
There are numerous types of career transitions that involve unanticipated or even undesired shifts in an individual’s career path. In addition, the term career transition may refer to the process by which an individual changes from one job to another within the same job family; and it may also refer to a more dramatic career change from one occupational category to an entirely different one. Finally, a career transition takes place when an employee merely shifts to a new position within the same company or organizational structure.
 
MC's Journey
Most of the career transitions I have been through happened without me planning them. Although transitions were not my primary goal, they came through actions I took to grow my career. My career development is something I am very intentional about, and I have learned to appreciate the positive side effects.
The top career transitions I have been through include:

• Increased scope: Going from managing one-time small projects to ongoing project portfolios for clients.
• New role: starting a new role managing a Global Program Management Office.
• New job, new company: after almost eight years at my old company I took a leap and joined a new company.
• New role, same company: a few months ago, I started a new position with different responsibilities at the new company.

 
5 Lessons I learned about reinventing yourself in your Career
 
Lesson #1: You don't have to do the same thing for life
Especially when I lived in Germany, it was quite common to see people who have had the same job or worked for the same company for close to 20 years. Somehow, I could not imagine being in the same company for that long. I like the stability that being in the same company offers you. However, I also wanted to enjoy the comfort of knowing your company and environment. Moving to the US, especially here in Silicon Valley, people typically spend less than two years in one role. I have learned the benefits of working in different roles and companies throughout of your career.
 
Question to consider

• What new role or job have you been thinking about?

 
Lesson #2: Change in your career is good - embrace it
Embracing change is definitely something I am learning every day. Before the transitions, I typically feared the unknown and the upcoming changes to my life. Reflecting on my career, I have seen that the changes and transitions that I have been through have turned out good even when they were accidental and not planned.
 
Question to consider

• What aspects of changing your career are you worried about?

 
Lesson #3: You need to keep learning
Throughout our careers, it is crucial to learn new skills and gather knowledge. When I prepare for transitions, I make sure I equip myself with a strong foundation for what is about to come. Over time as I learn more about my new role, I take trainings and read more about the areas where I have knowledge gaps. Continuous learning has helped make my transitions more successful.
 
Question to consider

• What new skills do you want to learn?

 
Lesson #4: Be open to explore different jobs and roles
Sometimes new roles or jobs don't look perfect initially, or you may feel like you're not ready. In my experience, the most significant growth I have seen in my career has come from the roles I did not feel totally prepared for. I turned down one particular position multiple times, and when I accepted it, I was pleasantly shocked by the great results.
 
Question to consider

• What new roles and jobs do you want to read more about?

 
Lesson #5: Have a career plan
Being intentional about your career growth is crucial. There are some career changes that you can plan and prepare for. Especially if you are planning to change jobs, you have the opportunity to start planning the steps you want to take to achieve your career goals. I have learned to always plan and prepare for the next step in my career.
 
Question to consider

• What is the next step for you on your career journey?

 
Call to Action

• What new role or job are you going to start preparing for? Get ready for your transition.
• How can you be more successful in your next transition? Plan for success.

 
Final Thoughts

• Career transitions are a crucial part of your career development and growth.
• You have the power to change a transition that started negatively to good.
• See transitions as a way to reinvent yourself.

 
Great Resources

• [Podcast] Career Transitions
• Ready for a re-do? 5 tips to reinvent your career at any stage of life
• 5 Essential Tips To Reinvent Your Career
• 10 skills you already have that can reinvent your career
• Five Ways To Reinvent Your Job When You Can’t Change Your Job Title
• How to Survive the 4 Types of Career Transitions Everyone Goes Through
• Understanding Your Career Transition

In a few days, I'll be celebrating my first anniversary at my new job. Marking this significant point on my journey, got me thinking about my experiences in the last year and other significant career milestones.

In this blog post, I will share some of my most memorable career milestones and the lessons I learned along the way. Also, check out my previous post titled "Celebrate your professional achievements" to learn five simple ways you can start celebrating your accomplishments.

Starting point
We are accustomed to celebrating some typical milestones such as birthdays and landmark anniversaries. In my experience, we do not spend enough time thinking about the crucial points in our careers.

MC's Story
Let me take you on a journey of some of my memorable career milestones:

My first paid part-time job
Although it was over 18 years ago, I can still remember the first twenty euros I made. The excitement of being able to do something I enjoyed, support someone, and get paid was immeasurable. This experience kicked off my career and taught me some many valuable lessons.

Lessons Learned

• Taking responsibility for a task and putting in the work can have financial benefits.

Getting my first Internship
Throughout my time at University, I wanted to go into the industry and take a job that let me see how I could use the skills I had learned. And in summer 2009, I had the great opportunity for my first internship at a Bank in Luxembourg. This was my first practical introduction to project management.

Lessons Learned

• Ask many questions and learn what you need to know to build the career you want.

Starting first full-time job
I can still remember when I interviewed for jobs after I finished my first degree. And after a few months, I received my first offer for my full-time job as a Project Manager in a Digital Agency. Thinking back, I did not know what I was getting into. I learned a lot of excellent skills in the years that followed.

Lessons Learned

• You have something great to offer, don't underestimate yourself.

Getting my first big promotion
Doing great work was a priority for me. After a few years of being a great contributor to the company, I got my first promotion. I now appreciate the fact that back then putting in great work was what got me a promotion. It definitely gets more complicated as you progress in your career.

Lessons Learned

• Work hard and learn new skills to get to the next level.

Moving to work in a new country
When we move to a new country, we typically focus more on settling in from a personal life perspective. I had a unique situation that I started working in the US only two days after I moved here. I remember the first day I walked into my new project assignment in a new country. It marked the start of the most substantial growth I have experienced in my career.

Lessons Learned

• Change and transitions in your career can bring many growth opportunities.

Working on projects with much responsibility
A few years ago, I was asked to lead a Global Project Management Office. Initially, I rejected the offer because I felt I was not ready, and I did not want to travel for work. Thankfully, they offered me the job about two months later, and I took it. This move in my career set me up for the more significant opportunities and took me to places I would never have been if I did not take the leap.

Lessons Learned

• You grow more when you take significant risks in your career.

Working at a new company
After working at my last company for almost eights years, I made the transition to a new company. Thinking back to my first day at the new job, I was very excited to be starting a new phase of my career journey. And now, it's been a year already, and I'm in my second role, I am looking forward to seeing where my journey goes next.

Lessons Learned

• Know where you want to go in your career and work towards it.

Final Thoughts

• Write your own career story - tell the story you want people to remember.
• Own your career development - don't depend on others.
• Celebrate your wins and accomplishments.

Call to Action

• What are some of the career milestones you are most proud of?
• How do you plan to celebrate your career milestones moving forward?

Great Resources

• 25 Career Milestones Worth Celebrating
• 12 Little Milestones You Should Be Celebrating at Work
• 4 Career Milestones You Think Will Make You Happy (and What Actually Will)
• 15 Career Milestones Everyone Should Reach by Age 30
• 3 Pivotal Career Milestones and What I Learned From Them

Do you know how to tell a compelling story about your Career?
 
Over the past months, I have been interviewing for a new role at my company. Going through the process, I had the opportunity to tell my Career story to a new set of people I networked or interviewed with. Sharing my story has been something I had struggled with in the past but have been learning to do over the past two years since I launched my blog.
 
In this post, we will explore the benefits of telling your career story, some aspects you can include to make it a compelling story and five steps to create your own career story today.
 
Why is it important to have and share your Career story?

• Helps you introduce yourself in interviews and when you meet people for the first time.
• Helps people get to know you better through your lens.
• Provides you with the opportunity to share lessons and motivate others.
  
• Helps people connect with you professionally especially through similar experiences.
• Reminds you of how amazing you are : )

 
What can you include in your Career story?
Some components of a great career story are

• Your qualifications - degrees, certifications, trainings.
• Success Stories - accomplishments, awards.
• Challenges you faced - lowlights, areas of improvement.
• Your passions - topics that excite you, work you do outside work.
• Your unique selling point – traits or experiences that make you different from others.

 
How to prepare yourself to tell your story
 
Step 1: Take stock of your career
Take time to reflect on your career. Think about some of the accomplishments you have had, situations where you overcame challenges, skills you gathered, and your unique selling points.  This activity may take a while and feel painful. However, the reward will be worth it.
 
MC's Tip: Do some research and see how other people tell their career stories.
 
Step 2: Write it down
Writing down your career story brings it to life.  Remember, at this point, it is more important to write down your first thoughts. Your story will be refined and tweaked in the next steps. The best stories are honest and authentic.
 
MC's Tip: Get your raw thoughts on paper. Don't edit yourself.
 
Step 3: Gather feedback
As part of the process of perfecting your story, it's crucial to test it by sharing with people around you. Select a few people who know you very well and others who know some of your work to get their feedback.
 
MC's Tip: Practicing with real people will give you additional data points to make your story better.
 
Step 4: Share it with everyone
A story gets better as you share it with more people. Be prepared to share your story at any time with people you meet at networking events, interviews, mentors, or sponsors. When people hear a compelling story, they never forget it.   
 
MC's Tip: Take every opportunity you get to share your story.
 
Step 5: Tweak and update
As you share your story, you will recognize areas that people find exciting and what you can improve. Take the time to evaluate the quality of your story and make it better. Success is when you can convey the aspects of your story that you want to share, and people are resonating with your story.
 
MC's Tip: Continuously craft and improve your story. It's an ongoing process.
 
Call to Action
What have been some highlights in your career? Highlight your accomplishments.
What are some unique aspects of your career so far? Highlight your unique selling points.
 
Final Thoughts

• Own your narrative - tell the story you want people to remember
• Be bold - share your story with everyone.
• You have a unique story to tell that no one else can!

 
Great Resources

• 7 Elements of a Juicy Career Story
• The Right Way To Tell Your Career Story
• Stop Rambling! How to Tell a Concise, Compelling Career Story in an Interview
• 7 Candid Career Stories That'll Motivate You to Kick Ass in 2018
• The Key to Career Growth: Surround Yourself with People Who Will Push You
• Make Your Career a Success by Your Own Measure

 

How often do you make time to reflect on your career?  
 
Navigating our careers and being successful requires action on our part. Reflecting is an easy way for you to gather some insights on what you want to start, continue or stop doing to get to the next career level. 
 
In this post we will reflect on your career so far, start planning for the future and discover a tool to help you build the career you want. This is one of the posts where you would have to take notes to get the most value.  
 
Why is it important to reflect on your career? 
The benefits of making time for reflection include: 

1. Helps you get clarity of what you want and what you don't want. 
2. Helps you be more aware of your professional strengths and weaknesses. 
3. Reminds you of your achievements. 
4. Gives you the opportunity to identify lessons learned on your journey. 
5. Equips you with tools to boost your career. 

Reflection Questions 
What aspects of your career have you found most rewarding and why? 
Think about your fondest work memories. Reflect on what made those experiences so special and great. Reflect on the work assignments that brought you joy. 
 
What keeps you excited about your field of work? 
Reminding yourself of the reason you decided to take the career path you are on, is something you should do more often. It is easy to forget the passion you once had. 
 
What are your career-related fears? 
Reflecting on what has been holding you back from making those bold career moves is very important. Especially if you would like to see different results and achieve your career goals, knowing your fears allows you to address them.  
 
How do you prioritize your career growth/development? 
The concept of owning your career development is one that I talk about frequently. Making a conscious effort and investing in your career development should be a priority for you. Discover more practical tips in my previous blog post "Own your career development".  
 
Who influenced you in your career? 
Surrounding yourself with great peers, mentors and sponsors is essential to build a great career. Think back on the people that have played a small or large role in your career. 
 
What's the best career advice you ever received and how has it changed your career outlook? 
Think back on some of the great things you heard along the way that helped in your career. It could come from people, books, trainings or other sources. Write it down and share with others. 
 
What are your greatest professional goals or objectives? 
Knowing what you want to achieve in your career will play a huge role in your satisfaction and help you plan for the career future you want. Having a career plan will help you on your journey. 
 
Tools in your Toolkit - Create your Career Journal 
To make it easier to reflect on your career moving forward, start writing things down as you go.  A few years ago I started writing things down mainly in preparation for conversations with my managers to ensure I did not miss any important details about my work. Recently, I made a slight change and started my weekly career journal. It may sound like as big task, but it is not. I dedicate about an hour every Thursday evening or Friday morning to document what I worked on, my highlights and lowlights from the week. This consistent practice helps me reflect on the week, celebrate my achievements, identify things I want to change and plan for the next week. 
 
MC's Story 
I recently transitioned to a new job. At the start of my job search, it was important to me that I had better experiences than in my previous job. At this stage I had a mixed portfolio of achievements and failures. I had learned lessons on what I wanted to do more of and what I did not want to do. 
Reflecting on my career provided clarity in the following ways: 

• Knowing when it was time to leave my company: In the 8 years of working there, I had many phases when I wanted to quit. However this time was different and I started preparing myself. 
• Searching for new positions: while I read through many job postings I was able to filter out jobs I really wanted and others I would have settled for. 
• Interviewing for great positions: I interviewed at four companies and spoke to almost 20 people. Reflecting on my career helped me speak about my achievements clearly, highlight my strengths and ask for what was important to me. 
• Starting a new job: being very aware of my career goals and aspirations helped me strive for more and not settle. I prioritized finding ways to navigate my new company because I knew what I wanted. 

 
Call to Action 
What are the three biggest lessons you have learned in your career so far? Learn from your past experiences. 
What are you working towards this year? Identify your career goals and plan action. 
 
Final Thoughts 

• To build the career you want, make time to reflect and plan. 
• Implement the lessons you have learned and prioritize growth. 
• Don't neglect a huge part of your life. Your career is important. 

 
Great Resources 

• Want to Keep Moving Forward? You Better Know the Answers to These Key Questions 
• These Simple Self Reflection Exercises Will Repower Your Career 
• The 15-Minute-a-Day Habit That Can Boost Your Career 
• Want to Get Better at Your Job? Build in Time to Reflect 
• Five Career Reflections To End This Year Strong And Get A Running Start On Next Year 
• You better reflect on your career: a starter’s guide 
• Career Coach: Looking back to look ahead in your career ​