A collection of favorites
Welcome to Quarantine 15: a spot of joy in your inbox on work, life, and navigating the start of 2021. In case we haven’t met, I’m Nikki Gusz, a co-founder of Lloyd, a career GPS for young professionals. You can follow me on Twitter @nkgusz or subscribe to this email newsletter here.
Today, around here you’ll find:
(1) A little reflection on the week
(2) A collection
(3) A treat from me
(1) A little reflection on the week
I’m simultaneously skeptical and intrigued by personality, work style, team role, etc. assessments, as the data behind them is often poor. However, to put today’s message in context, on the popular Gallup CliftonStrengths, one of mine is Input, or a strength of collecting. Not to make light of the seriousness of hoarding, but the description of this so called strength did make me wonder if I was on the path to overflowing drawers and cabinets. I used it to my advantage for today’s collection (every weakness has a strength, no?). Today, I’m sharing my favorites on an assortment of work topics. If it leans overstuffed to you, my apologies in advance.
(2) A collection
Without further introduction, a collection of some of my ever evolving list of favorite stories / resources about work.
The Resume.
“Every 3 sentences, use at least 1 number to demonstrate your (concrete) impact. Folks who did that saw gain a +40.2% boost over their competition.”
Love it. Hate it. The reality is, a resume is still often the key currency and way that we communicate about our job history. Use the benefits of data analytics in your favor to structure your resume and even job search more broadly through this collection of findings. Though this article is a few years old, much of the advice still rings true. (TalentWorks)
Starting a new job. Remotely. In a pandemic!
“It’s kinda like a first date.”
While the many difficulties of the job market have led newspaper headlines, there are still organizations hiring and people getting jobs. Whether you started a new job remotely or act as a colleague to someone who did, this article does a lovely job of summarizing the exciting but at times awkward experience. Read for a bit of humor, humility, and humanity. (Vox)
Deciding on career side projects
“It’s always good to start with a bit of introspection—what do you want to achieve with your career side project?”
This article helps you think through whether taking on a side project is the right move. I find many people interested in side projects often have many ideas at the same time, and I think the framework helps one think through a variety of projects and where to start. I also find the definition of a hobby vs. a side project (both important!) helpful, while also realizing what may be a hobby for someone might be a side project or even career for someone else. I’ll admit I’m a little biased since this comes from us at Lloyd, but I think it’s an important consideration before taking on a new gig! (LinkedIn)
The all-star colleague
“I sat facing her and every morning watched her routine, which was terrifying.”
Maggie Haberman has been one of the most prolific writers and voices on politics of our time. Whether you agree or disagree with her approach and perspective, understanding how Haberman works is fascinating. This is especially true as this piece is written from the perspective of a longtime colleague. Reading it reminded me of the coworker we all have whom we deeply admire—but also slightly fear their awesomeness. Also, I didn’t know there was a limit to the number of Gchats that could be going at once, but apparently that is a thing. (The New York Times)
Personal board of advisors
“Instead, there are a number of network support roles beyond that of formal mentor.”
Many of us think about the mentors, sponsors, advocates, etc., we may have in our career. I love the concept of a “personal board of advisors,” as there are actually many types of roles that help support our career. The framework about one-third of the way into the article about the different types of beneficial advisors is one of my recent favorites in thinking about the community supporting your career. It helps put in perspective where you may want to identify further advisors and where you are likely rich in resources you didn’t even realize. (MIT Sloan Management Review)
Building your network
Even as I type this, I know some of you are groaning. Networking, ugh. I like reframing this a bit and thinking about the community one wants to build as we each grow in our career, i.e., who we’d like supporting us and who we’d hope to support in turn. One of the keys of building a network is an informational interview, and I think this video provides a nice, friendly overview. (Stanford Life Design Lab)
(3) A treat from me
Interested in working on your personal board of advisors, resume, or another career topic? Sign up for office hours with me this week to start your month (and almost spring!) off strong.