Hi everybody, today I wanted to share something a little bit different with ya’ll. One of the main reasons I scroll through social media is for motivation. For inspiration. I have so much on my plate on a daily basis, much like everyone else reading this I’m sure. Because of this, I desperately search for happiness, motivation, and humor. Does anyone else do this?
This year, I had the privilege of attending the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. It was awe-inspiring, motivating, and awakening. I got to hear a ton of boss ladies share their touching life stories and tips for success. I got to hear Amal Clooney speak about her powerful work with Nadia Murad and her journey for justice. Amal IS NOT just George Clooney’s wife, but a human rights lawyer working to secure accountability for genocide committed by ISIS. Not to mention, she has acted as counsel to the Armenian government on the Armenian Genocide (my people). She is literally goals! I also learned about 16-year old Amanda Southworth and her development of AnxietyHelper, which is a mental health guidebook that provides resources on mental illnesses, as well as Verena, a security system for LGBTQ+ members in abusive situations. I was so impressed by all of these keynote speakers! I love the way these women-focused conferences build and bring together a strong community of empowered women. Below are some notes/advice from some bad-ass women.
The Importance of A Morning Routine
It’s a no-brainer that having a good morning routine will set a productive tone to the rest of your day. For me, I like to plan out everything the night before, leaving very little decision-making for the next morning. Let’s face it: you wake up groggy, yearning for just another minute of sleep. The last thing you want to be doing is picking out your outfit or scrummaging your fridge for lunch. I’m definitely not a morning person, so I limit my brain activity A LOT. I have a heck of a commute in the morning, so I really don’t have the time to take it slow in the morning at home. However, I get to work somewhere between 7:30-8:00 AM. It’s early enough that I started taking 10 minutes for myself in my office before I start working. I make my hazelnut coffee and oatmeal. I open up google chrome for my daily inspirational quote + travel image and automatically feel happy. I read my Philadelphia Inquirer newsletter to inform myself of what’s going on in the world and in my city. That’s all it takes, 10 minutes and you’ve set a positive mood for the day.
Networking
Networking isn’t only about looking for a job, it’s also about sharing your dream with others. You excel when you’re driven and motivated. If you are looking for a new job, set goals for yourself every time you go to an event. Try and collect at least 5 business cards when you’re chatting. And if you take a bunch of business cards from other people, don’t just toss them in your purse and forget about them! Put them into your contacts and try to build that relationship and nurture it over time. When employers are looking to recruit new people, they are looking for authenticity and personality, in addition to your education and experience of course. No one enjoys a transactional conversation. Lastly, attend events that are purposeful and meet your needs. And do not be afraid to LEVEL UP and approach people that are above you in their career! This move just might get you that promotion you’ve been waiting for. Remember to leverage your relationships so that you can use them down the road.
Clean Up Your Resume
Your resume needs to speak to the job you want. Make sure that it matches the skillset and experience of the job you are applying for. Your resume should not be filled with experience that is irrelevant to the job. The hiring manager will not care about how you volunteered at a camp one summer! Also, do not embellish too much. The hiring manager will hone in on specific parts of your resume, do not try to add more to fluff it up! Here are 3 tips that were given to me:
- Do not put dates with regards to education. However, if you are a recent graduate, you will need to focus more on your education section due to not having much professional work experience yet.
- Do not make your resume longer than 1 page.
- Keep it simple and short in your work experience and expand upon your various projects on LinkedIn.
Knowing Your Worth
Lastly, be brave on your pursuit in finding a new job, or jumping to the next level in your career. Find your true passion and follow your dream. Work in a field that will constantly speak to you and motivate you to want to do more! All of these words really resonated with me. The PA Women’s Conference was hands down one of the best opportunities I have ever been granted. If you are in the Pennsylvania area, make sure that you look into next year’s conference!! Tickets sell out within the first week of the event posting, so watch out! I hope you all enjoyed this post and I sure hope I helped spark some energy into ya!