by Angela Copeland | Oct 3, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Focus On Your Strengths.” In it, I discuss looking past your weaknesses to find your stregths.
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of sitting on a career panel about making the right career moves. In a packed room, we covered everything from preparing for a job interview to how office politics can influence promotions at work.
Just as the panel was about to wrap up, a young man stood up in the back of the room with a question. He asked, “If you could speak to your younger self, what advice would you give considering what you know now?”
His question was very insightful and has continued to come up numerous times since then, so I wanted to share my thoughts on this topic with you.
To read my entire article and learn how you can start focusing on your strengths, check out the Memphis Daily News here.
by Angela Copeland | Sep 28, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Free Tools to Help With Your Job Search” In it, I outline the best free tools to use for your job search.
This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mike Steinerd from Indeed.com. Indeed is the No. 1 job site worldwide with over 140 million visitors per month. We talked about everything from how fast you should apply for a job to companies you should consider if you’re looking for work-life balance.
The conversation made me think. Often, the current online application process companies use creates barriers for candidates. It often feels like you’re sending your resume into a black hole – never to be seen again. Much of my philosophy is built around helping job seekers get around this difficult online process.
But, on the flip side, Internet technology also opens more doors for us than ever before. There are a number of excellent free resources available for job seekers today that didn’t exist 15 to 20 years ago.
To read my entire article and learn about all the best free resources available to help with your job search, check out the Memphis Daily News here.
by Angela Copeland | Sep 19, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Are You Sharing Too Much” In it, I discuss the importance of minimizing distractions during your interview.
When it comes to job seeking, sometimes less is more. Everything we do – from the clothes we wear to our resumes to our social media accounts – says something about us. These things are pieces of our personal brands.
While looking for a job, one of your top goals should be to minimize distractions. You want your new employer to focus on your experience and the words coming out of your mouth. You don’t want an interview to be derailed by a minor personal detail.
Someone once told me they didn’t want to work for a company if the company didn’t like them personally. This approach is OK if it’s not important you find a job. But, if you need a job, you should save making friends for later.
To read my entire article and learn how you can minimize distractions and stop over-sharing, check out the Memphis Daily News here.
by Angela Copeland | Sep 12, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Door Opener or Doorstop.” In it, I discuss the importance of selecting jobs that match your skill level.
When I talk with millennials who have recently graduated from college, one thing is clear: They’re struggling to figure out what exactly to do next.
A common theme is they’re taking jobs that would normally be considered beneath their skill level.
Many recent college grads are afraid to apply for higher-level jobs. Perhaps there’s something in the job description that seems more than they can do. Maybe there’s one requirement they don’t meet.
In the end, these college graduates are submitting themselves for jobs that only require a high school diploma. This market seems to be more comfortable and less competitive. It’s faster and easier to find one of these jobs. There’s less pressure of failing and you can start working right away.
The problem is, when you do this, you’re really holding yourself back. To read my entire article and get a better solution, check out the Memphis Daily News here.
by Angela Copeland | Sep 5, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Jobs are Like Buses.” In it, I discuss the importance of waiting until you find just the right job.
The title of my column today may sound a bit confusing. It comes from one of my own mentors. Years ago, when I was finishing graduate school, I spent a significant amount of time searching for the right job.
Occasionally, one would pop up that would seem almost right. It would have a great job description. The company seemed stable. The team seemed interesting. But, there was something about the hiring manager that was off – or perhaps the company wasn’t offering a competitive salary.
I would meet with my mentor to tell him about the jobs I was considering, and discuss the pros and cons of each. If a job seemed like the wrong fit, he would encourage me to walk away. The thought of turning down an offer without another in hand was nerve-wracking. My mentor would then remind me, “Jobs are like buses. Just wait; another one is always coming.”
To learn about why it’s important to wait for the right job, read my entire Memphis Daily News column here.
by Angela Copeland | Aug 29, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Standing Out in The Crowd.” In it, I discuss how you can stand out from your peers in your job search and professionally.
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in a panel as part of the Memphis Urban League Young Professional’s 2014 Empowerment Conference. We spoke on the topic of “Stand Out in the Crowd.”
This was my first time to attend the Empowerment Conference and I was impressed at the level of organization and detail put in by a volunteer staff. Many attendees used the hashtag #Unite2Lead when posting online, and that seemed to be just what the conference was all about. Led by MULYP President Cynthia Daniels, it brought together over 200 young professionals in the Memphis area, along with out of town guests coming as far as Washington, D.C., New York, and Los Angeles.
My panel – moderated by Austin Baker and also featuring Cedric Brooks, Latosha Dexter, and Adrian Davis – touched on everything from how to dress for an interview to how to deal with office politics to knowing when to move on from a bad job.
To learn about the main theme from our panel and how you can stand out in the crowd, read my entire Memphis Daily News column here.
