Beard Strategies’ Post

Stress, anxiety, and feelings of rejection are all too common in the job search. Susanne Aronowitz and I share how good mental health and well-being practices can equip you with the resilience and confidence needed to persevere through a job search and new career launch. ABA Career Center #LawyerJobSearch #LawyerWellBeing #Research #EarlyStageCareers #ABA

I read a post earlier that moved me and not in a positive way. I don’t know who needs to hear this but I hope it finds them expeditiously! It is in my humble opinion and experience that I state the following… “Denying an opportunity to a candidate simply because they are multitalented, multi experienced and resilient is the same as denying a candidate an opportunity based on race, sex, religion, orientation, etc.” I, myself a devoted top performer exceeding expectations well beyond my role experienced the same for over a decade but was only rewarded more work and the occasional closed door recognition in the sake of disclosure. After nearly two decades one commonality remained consistent outside of the expected corporate America ever existent “red tape”. Despite my loyalty, tenure and accomplishments I was often overlooked simply because the hiring manager deemed the role as a stepping stone to a larger opportunity down the road that I may accept and in return decided to go with a candidate of less experience in hopes they would remain in the role for a longer period of time. For one, it’s unprofessional and ignorant to assume one’s life long career interests and goals based off past experience without so much as simple conversation. Secondly, since when is it frowned upon to grow and develop within your company? When did we decide to punish candidates for taking advantage of opportunities to strengthen their knowledge to deliver more impactful results and earn an honest and rewarding living? When did we choose to discriminate against the very candidates we often seek out, only to gaslight them into being less exceptional so they don’t outshine others? In the end it was a multitude of these experiences that led me ending the relationship with a former employer. If you’re a recruiter or hiring manager your duties are quite simple. If the candidate interviewed well, was a great match for the role, the team, and brings you promise, you present an offer. If you can’t find a valid professional reason not to present an offer, you present an offer. If you seek to pigeonhole anyone for any reason, you are indeed the problem and should not be in the power of decision making! You do not get to play God with peoples lives trying to forecast what possibilities may or may not come their way in the future and what paths they could potentially take to lead to different outcomes. Candidates seek a professional home where they can be respected, earn a living and do their best work in peace. Leave the toxic work culture and games out of career advancement in the workplace. That is it, that is all, carry on… Best of luck in the determination of your candidates for all the roles at hand!

Don't put off tomorrow what you can do today. We all know the script, it gets to October, we have not even had Halloween yet and the shops are full of "the joys" of Christmas. I have already had conversations with friends who have said "I'm getting back to the gym after Christmas" or "I will start looking for a new job in the new year", as if the new year is the one opportunity in 365 day where we have the chance to change. It is nonsense, we have the chance every new day or even hour for a fresh start. I think this diagram below reflects that little and consistent action now will amount over time to big changes in the new year. So, if it is a job change you are after... preparing your CV, engaging with a recruiter who cares about what is truly important to you, starting the interviewing process now (not in January), securing a job offer could lead you into the new year in a whole different position than you are now. Think about it...even smallest step in the right direction could end up being the biggest step of your life. #motivation #legaljobs #legalrecruitment #jobchange #careersinlaw #g2legal

My new blogpost is about career identity and how important professional identity is for self-perception. https://lnkd.in/eUWFk8Be #counseling #careercounseling #mentalhealthcounseling

The Importance of Honoring Your Commitment to a Job Offer In today’s dynamic job market, new opportunities can be tempting. However, once you accept a job offer, it’s crucial to honor your commitment. This decision impacts your professional reputation and the organization that has placed its trust in you. Here are key reasons why you should uphold your commitment when you accept a job offer. #### Professional Integrity Your integrity is one of your most valuable professional assets. Accepting a job offer is a formal agreement, and reneging on your acceptance can signal a lack of reliability and damage your credibility. Employers and colleagues value individuals who are trustworthy and honor their commitments, fostering a positive and reliable professional image. #### Building Long-Term Relationships The professional world is often more interconnected than it appears. By honoring your job commitment, you lay the groundwork for strong, positive relationships within the organization. These relationships can be pivotal for your career development. Failing to fulfill your commitment might burn bridges with the current employer and impact future opportunities within the industry. #### Impact When you accept a job, the organization begins to plan and allocate resources based on your future contribution. They will end the recruitment process, and reject other applicants. If you back out, it can disrupt workflows, delay projects, and increase the workload on other team members. This disruption can create unnecessary stress and harm the morale and efficiency of the team and leave rejected candidates unemployed. #### Legal and Ethical Considerations Accepting a job offer and then declining it later might have legal implications, particularly if you have signed any preliminary agreements or contracts. Beyond the legal aspect, there is an ethical responsibility involved. Ethical behavior in professional settings includes fulfilling the promises and agreements you make, maintaining a fair and respectful work environment. #### Personal Growth and Responsibility Honoring your commitment to a job offer contributes to personal growth by encouraging a sense of responsibility and accountability, essential traits for personal and professional development. It also teaches resilience and the ability to see things through, even if initial enthusiasm wanes or other opportunities arise. ### Conclusion Honoring your commitment to a job offer is not merely about fulfilling an obligation; it is about maintaining professional integrity, building sustainable relationships, supporting organizational stability. While the temptation to pursue seemingly better opportunities can be strong, the long-term benefits of reliability and commitment far outweigh the short-term gains. By staying true to your word, you are setting a foundation for a successful and respected career.

Cannot fill in that box on the form? You will NOT get the interview! There's becoming a seemingly increasing obsession these days with the form filling for applications [ career wise] why? I should think few have dared to ask this for sake of their own careers being put in balance by management, should they speak out on issues. As an outsider who will possibly never be part of 'the club' I can say a bit more from that external viewpoint, in my own experiences, regarding the ridiculous measures in place these days to even attempt to get into a particular environment of which one is eminently experienced. Why? You tell me! I do not know -except I know one thing has been often hinted [ and I cannot be the only one who notices this] that obsession that if you do not fill in those online 'boxes' on forms, in exact way required, to the nearest dot, then you will NOT get the opportunity to progress on the ladder career wise. [Whatever obvious supreme abilities or qualities you obviously may posses]. I find personally [York] to be in the same position in this attitude to applicants [ and should imagine it is general policy] elsewhere - a 'Closed community]' of those 'With' careers - who do little to allow anyone else into their special 'club' of opportunity. Things are made more rigid once certain places, or institutions become government controlled [ local as well as national] as here there is so much ridiculous regulation it could stifle original minds and new thinkers in all disciplines merely because that dam 'form' cannot be satisfactorily filled into the satisfaction of some faceless statistic mad machine. Bu it will not change? Will it? Who will 'empower' themselves to be brave enough apart from my one 'outsider' self - to take on this madness of form filling - and give people a chance to prove what they know ?

We must be careful to find a middle ground between caution and decisiveness. Assume for the moment that someone is debating taking a job offer in a distant city. They should carefully analyse factors including the type of employment, the environment, and how well it aligns with their long-term goals. #thought #act

Are you thinking about returning to work after a break for any reason? Before you accept any offer of employment, it’s critical to know what you want and need. Then, make a business case for it. Be clear about which department you want to join, at what level you think you should return, and what your expectations are for salary and schedule. Understand the business needs of the prospective employer and convey why it’s in their financial interest to hire you. Negotiate what you need in terms of flexibility, training and development, and career path by making a business case for the flexibility you need. Will it fill a hole or save them money? Hiring you as a reentry candidate should benefit the employer as well as meet your needs. Think long term. Instead of holding out for the dream job, you might take a lower ranked position with fewer hours or less pay than ideally desired, but with the opportunity to work your way up. When you’ve proven your value to the employer, you’ll have a better shot at reaching your goal. Obviously, you want to negotiate for as much of what you want as possible at the outset. But even if the initial opportunity isn’t exactly ideal, consider how you can use it as a stepping stone to something better while building your current work history. Have you negotiated a reentry career position? What tips can you add? #lawjobs #legaljobs #legalrecruiting #reentry #jobsearching For more insights into job search strategies, the legal industry, and the California legal job market, follow SeltzerFontaine LLC, and connect with me and ring the 🔔 at Valerie Fontaine.

Some advice you receive may not always be the best advice, however well intentioned. Are you tired of hearing the same outdated job advice over and over again? In this article from HuffPost, they debunk the 6 most common pieces of job advice that could be holding you back!

DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE DISRESPECTED We all agree that job search can be such a hectic task but do not allow anyone to portay disrespect in the process. Well, we earn respect if we respect ourselves 1st. Today I had an engagement with a jobless fella who has been promised a job that is way too low below her capabilities in all aspects. She was adamant but her parents are pushing her. My advise was simple 'do not allow anyone show disrespect because of your situation'. Personally, I do not settle for less. Even in consultancy I have set my principles clear. I allow no one violate my rights nor look down upon me. I know my worth. Even for beginners, each job seeker should write down what they are looking for to avoid falling into just any job and end up drained or demoralized. I understand pretty well that the situation can be dire at time but I insist, know your worth💯. #knowyourworth