Preparing For Career Opportunities

✨ The new year brings new opportunities—but only if you’re ready. Here’s how to position yourself for success in the first quarter of 2025: 1️⃣ Audit your online presence First impressions happen online. Whether it's your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or even your social media, make sure they reflect who you are and where you're headed in your career. 👉 Quick Tip: Update your LinkedIn headline to include your current role + key skills or achievements. Example: “Project Manager | Delivering complex IT solutions ahead of schedule & under budget.” 2️⃣ Set SMART goals for Q1 Clarity is key. Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for the first three months. 👉 Example: Instead of saying, “I want to grow my network,” try “I will connect with 10 new professionals in my industry each week and engage with their content meaningfully.” 3️⃣ Reconnect with your network Opportunities often come from those you already know. Take the time to reach out, check in, and rekindle old connections. 👉 What to say: “Hi [Name], it’s been a while! I noticed you’ve been working on [project/topic]. Would love to catch up and hear more about it. Let me know if you’re free for a quick virtual coffee!” 4️⃣ Identify key opportunities Look beyond job boards. Keep an eye on your target companies for new projects, leadership changes, or expansion plans that could signal upcoming opportunities. 👉 Proactive Strategy: Create a shortlist of 10 companies and start engaging with decision-makers by commenting on their posts or sharing thoughtful insights. 5️⃣ Build a habit of consistency Consistency wins over motivation. Whether it’s updating your skills, building your network, or applying for roles, showing up regularly is what creates long-term success. 👉 Action Plan: Block time each week to focus on job search activities—networking, upskilling, and applications. Treat it like an important meeting you can’t cancel. 💡 Final Thought: The first quarter is the perfect time to build momentum. Whether you’re looking for a new role or seeking to grow in your current one, positioning yourself early gives you a head start on making 2025 your most successful year yet. 🔖 Save this post to revisit your action plan, and if you’re ready to dive deeper into a career strategy that works, stay tuned for more posts coming your way! 🚀 #CareerDevelopment #JobSearch #NewYearGoals #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth

People have always asked me how to build the best CV or resume. No document guarantees anything. But avoidable mistakes can stop a qualified person from getting an interview. For most industry roles, here is what I recommend: • Know the role or job family you are targeting. • Keep one master resume, then tailor it to each opportunity. • Make your level, specialty, and value clear within seconds. • Use a clean, readable, single-column layout with standard headings. Avoid tables, skill bars, text boxes, and complicated formatting that may confuse an ATS. • Opinions on photos differ. Many recommend leaving it off but some true experts like Ethan Evans think it can make you memorable. I leave this to your call. • I also like a statement of purpose of leading paragraph at the top that wraps everything together, especially if you won't use a cover letter. • Keep it concise. One page is often enough early in your career; two pages are reasonable when relevant experience warrants them. No more. • Use short bullets, not dense paragraphs. Readability helps in general and with the ATS • Focus on accomplishments, not only responsibilities. Show what changed because you were there. • Start bullets with strong verbs and quantify impact when truthful and meaningful. • Never invent a metric. Clear qualitative impact is better than a fake number. • Give more space to recent, relevant work and less to older or unrelated experience. • Include important skills, tools, platforms, certifications, and keywords naturally and in context. • Prove qualities such as leadership, collaboration, and initiative through evidence rather than adjectives. • Include relevant projects, freelance work, volunteer work, open-source contributions, and community leadership. • Make your portfolio, website, reel, ArtStation, GitHub, or work samples easy to reach. • For games, name shipped titles when permitted and explain your platforms, engines, discipline, scope, and contribution. • Keep titles, employers, dates, and major facts consistent with LinkedIn. • Never inflate titles, ownership, skills, dates, or results. Be ready to explain every bullet. • Check every link, proofread every word, and follow the requested file format. Then know when to stop. Build it properly. Get credible feedback. Tailor it intelligently. Then focus on relationships, referrals, outreach, targeted applications, portfolio quality, and interview preparation. Set it and forget it - most waste way too much time going in circles over materials once set. A great resume helps someone quickly understand why you deserve the conversation. That is all you are trying to accomplish: going from A pile to B pile.

I've been writing resumes for over 15 years. A long time. After all these years, there is still one widespread mistake I see in these files that is easy to fix: Heavy emphasis on day-to-day tasks with minimal results. If you want your resume to stand out and be noticed, it must share value. Value is best demonstrated through results. Fill your resume with specifics, metrics, and personal initiatives, and aim to create results-rich resume statements like the samples below. Examples of helping a business do things faster, better, or smarter: 🔹 Lowered customer complaints 60% by launching a formal feedback system. 🔹 Improved product delivery time 23% after assigning clarified monthly job tasks to the entire team. Examples of making money, saving money, or increasing efficiency: 🔹 Grew revenue 44% and improved gross margin 25% in 1 year by standardizing business operating procedures. 🔹 Produced $2.5M in cost savings after renegotiating all supply and service contracts. Examples of personal success: 🔹 Built sustainable technical sales organizations from the ground up within 3 global organizations. 🔹 Generated over $4M in new revenue after identifying, pursuing, and securing 2 new international client contracts. The above statements can be further detailed for more significant impact with added context, but hopefully, you get the idea: * Focus heavily on results, not tasks. * Share metrics and measurements. * Be specific, not vague. * Focus on details unique to you that align with the target audience's requirements. If you don't think you have any results, check out the comments for a link to a free guide to help you better identify and track your achievements. Every person has done something well in their work, and these things can be measured more often than not. The key is to start identifying them and writing them down!

To the new cohort of first year uni students. 9 things I wish someone told me when I was in your shoes: 1. Spring Weeks: Explore Spring Weeks offered by top companies. These short internships allow you to gain insight into the corporate world and build essential skills early on. They're also a surefire way to bag an internship the following year! 2. Network with Second Year Students: Connect with students who have already completed a spring week. They can offer guidance, share their experiences, and provide valuable advice. You can easily find them on LinkedIn by filtering for your university, course, etc. and browsing through profiles. 3. Divisions: Knowing the differences between divisions within firms like investment banks can set you apart and make you stand out in interviews. Career Guides has a growing collection of paid and free resources to help you explore different roles and divisions. 4. Cover Letter & CV: Begin crafting your cover letter and CV now. Early preparation allows you to fine-tune these essential documents over time. Don't submit an application without getting your cover letter and CV reviewed by a previous offer holder. 5. Commercial Awareness: Start building your commercial awareness by following industry news, reading business journals, and staying informed about current events. 6. Societies / Extracurriculars: Join societies or engage in volunteer work that aligns with your interests. It's easy (and unimpressive) to be a member. Take on an active role. Holding a leadership position is more impressive than just turning up to events. 7. Interview Prep: Familiarise yourself with interview techniques such as STAR (Situation Task Action Result). Practice makes perfect, so start early to build your confidence. 8. Insight Days: Look out for Insight Days offered by companies. These events offer a sneak peek into their operations and culture, providing valuable exposure. You can include these on your CV to display initiative. 9. Diversify Your Applications: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to a variety of companies, industries, and roles to increase your chances of success. Your career will span 40+ years. Now is the time to explore anything and everything rather than restrict yourself to one industry. Your first year is an important time to lay the foundation for your future career. Don't be one of the thousands of students who regret not doing the above early on. Stay motivated, be a sponge (keep learning / soak up information), and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. This is the first step in a long road ahead. Your career is a marathon not a sprint. Good luck! Ps. Notice how none of the above points focused on grades? When it comes to careers, experience > grades. Always. -- Join 3,500+ others supercharging their finance careers each week: https://lnkd.in/eUMfrhQY #Finance #Careers #Students #University

WHERE ARE THE EXECUTIVE-LEVEL JOBS?   How about looking at where most of the hiring occurred in March 2025?   Here are five key takeaways from the recent ADP Employment Report you can use to create your company target list: 1️⃣ Target Resilient Sectors: Manufacturing and Financial Services Lead Growth “Manufacturing delivered stronger-than-average job gains for the second straight month… Financial activities surged with 38,000 new roles” (ADP Report). Jobseekers should consider focusing their career transition efforts on industries demonstrating consistent demand. Financial roles (e.g., risk management, fintech) and advanced manufacturing (automation, sustainability) are hiring despite market turbulence. 2️⃣ Small and Large Employers Are Hiring – Mid-Sized Firms Lag Small businesses (1-49 employees) added 52,000 jobs, while large corporations (500+ employees) contributed 59,000 roles. **Mid-sized companies grew more slowly.** Action: Cast a wide net – target agile startups and established enterprises to maximize opportunities. ** This is noteworthy! Most companies in the world employ less than 100 employees. If you focus most of your efforts on the “big fish,” you’ll miss out on opportunities where the action is happening. 3️⃣ Upskilling for Services Dominance Professional/business services (+57,000 jobs) and leisure/hospitality (+17,000) dominate hiring. Staying on top of market trends to future-proof your career. Prioritize certifications in project management, AI tools, or customer experience to align with service-sector needs. 4️⃣ Geographic Strategy Matters While national data shows growth, regional variations exist. Use LinkedIn’s job search filters to identify hotspots for your target roles. Where are the hot spots? 5️⃣ Network Smarter, Not Harder It is widely agreed upon that career changes at the executive level often happen through personal connections. With 155,000 jobs added, many roles remain unadvertised. Prioritize 1:1 conversations with industry insiders over blind applications – especially in active sectors like financial services. Final Thought As Nela Richardson, ADP Chief Economist, notes: “The March topline number was a good one… if not necessarily all sectors.” Your career pivot isn’t about chasing every opportunity – it’s about strategically aligning with growth areas while leveraging transferable skills. Are you focusing on these areas where hiring is taking place? Find the report here: https://lnkd.in/gFymwQEX #CareerVelocity #QualfiedIsntEnough #jobs

Is the looming New Year giving you career anxiety? Here’s something practical to do with that nervous energy. Think of three job titles that interest you. The kind of role that, if you saw it on a job ad, you’d think “ooh yes please!” Put each of those titles into the LinkedIn search bar and find half a dozen local people who are in those roles now. Scroll down to the bottom of their profile and look at their Interests - the Top Voices they follow, Groups they belong to and the Newsletters they subscribe to. Now, you do the same—follow those Top Voices, join those Groups and subscribe to those newsletters. Now you’re seeing what they’re seeing in their professional world. Now you're improving your understanding of the demands of those roles, so you'll be better able to position yourself as a strong candidate. Of course you can reach out to these individuals to explain your interest in them and maybe ask them how they got their current role. and if they have any advice for you. Follow them and make an intelligent comment on a post of theirs (just one comment for now—don’t make it creepy). And when you’re looking at those profiles, make notes about their experience, skills and qualifications. Across those half dozen people, what do they have in common? What do those roles require? Now benchmark yourself against those aspects. Not to flare up your comparisonitis, but so you can clearly see what you might need to add to your resume. And now you have a plan for 2025. It might be a course you can do. Could be skills you need to develop. Maybe some experience to get. Think creatively about how you can build skills and gain experience in the role you’re in now. Action is the antidote for your career anxiety. 

Here’s how hiring works in 2025: (And why job seekers do it backwards) Here’s how most job seekers THINK they should find a job: Job Boards 1. Search for open roles online. 2. Apply to every job posting that looks remotely relevant. Referrals 3. Ask your friends for referrals. 4. Reach out to random people on LinkedIn. Portfolio Work 5. Spend weeks polishing your portfolio. 6. Add fancy visuals and buzzwords. Interviews 7. Practice answering generic questions. 8. Hope the recruiter calls you back. Negotiation 9. Take the first offer. 10. Pray it’s enough $$. If you’re looking for a job in 2025, please don’t DO THIS. Here’s why: this isn’t how hiring managers hire. How hiring managers ACTUALLY hire: 1. Internal Referrals: • Their first call is to someone internal—“Do you know anyone who could be a fit?” 2. Networks: • They ask trusted peers or colleagues, “Who’s the best person for this role?” 3. Strategic Pipelining: • They keep an eye on designers who’ve already impressed them online or through personal interactions. 4. Job Postings (Last Resort): • Only when none of the above works do they post a job and sift through hundreds of random applications. Most roles are filled before the job posting even goes live. The disconnect: Job seekers start with job postings; hiring managers start with trust. You’re chasing listings when they’re looking for credibility. The real game is to get on their radar early—long before they even need someone. If you’re looking for a job in 2025, here’s what you should do instead: Build Trust, Not Just Applications: 1. Identify Your Dream Companies: • Research their challenges and goals. 2. Show Up Where They Are: • Share insights on LinkedIn. • Comment on their posts with valuable perspectives. 3. Build Relationships: • Engage hiring managers by asking smart, specific questions. • Offer insights they can’t ignore. 4. Pitch Before They Post: • Create a Minimum Valuable Pitch (a tailored solution to a problem they’re solving). • Prove your value BEFORE the job even exists. Here’s the sequence of steps: Hiring Manager’s Flow: 1. Internal hires/referrals. 2. Network outreach. 3. Strategic pipelining. 4. Job postings (last resort). Job Seeker’s New Flow: 1. Build trust by sharing insights and ideas. 2. Build relationships with hiring managers. 3. Pitch tailored solutions to their challenges. 4. Get on their radar BEFORE the role is posted. 5. Skip the job board frenzy and get the referral. Here’s a great example: Alex, a UX researcher, skipped job boards entirely. He built a relationship with a hiring manager by sharing insights on their user research process. When the role opened, Alex was the first person they thought of—and he didn’t even have to apply. Focus on matching their flow, not the job boards. When you align with how hiring managers hire, the job comes to you.

“Don’t mistake activity for achievement. To produce results, tasks must be well organized and properly executed; otherwise, it’s no different from children running around the playground—everybody is doing something, but nothing is being done; lots of activity, no achievement.” - Coach John Wooden If you are just going through the motions without a plan, you might as well stop right now. Applying to online job postings isn't the best job search strategy. It’s certainly one of the things you should be doing, but mass applying to every or any job is like those kids on the playground. Step back. Think about what you really want to do and what companies you might like to work for. (It is OK to slow down and spend some time thinking- but don't get stuck here.) Start with one company. ✅ Go to the company career website and see what jobs are available. If there isn't anything relevant, see if you can create a profile and upload your resume. Set alerts if available. ✅ Go to the company's LinkedIn page or search for connections who work for that company. Reach out to any first-degree connections and ask to have a conversation.  ◼ If you only have second-degree connections, reach out to the first-degree connection and ask for an introduction. ✅ Next go to your college/university's LinkedIn page and search for alumni who work at that company. Connect with those alumni and ask for a conversation. ✅ No connections at all? Then identify several people who hold jobs similar to the one you are interested in and invite them to connect. Be sure to include a personalized note explaining why. ✅ You aren’t done yet. Tell all the people you know that you are interested in learning more about that company and ask what they’ve heard or who they know.  🔁 Repeat these steps for each company you are interested in and use them for every job posting you choose to apply to. People hire people, not resumes. By building connections inside companies you think you might like to work for, you are attempting to differentiate yourself and be more than a piece of paper. Remember, employee referrals are a win-win.

Most resumes don’t get rejected for lack of experience. They get rejected for how that experience is presented. Over the last 3 months, I’ve reviewed over 50 resumes.  Friends, Referrals, and community members. Each time, I notice the same patterns. The mistakes are often small but costly. The wins are subtle but powerful. Here’s what I’ve learned from those reviews and what you can fix today: What actually works? 1 - Tailored Content The best resumes don’t try to be everything to everyone. They’re sharp, role-specific, and rich with keywords that match the job description. 2 - Quantifiable Achievements A line like “handled sales” is forgettable. A line like “Increased sales by 20% in 6 months” gets noticed. 3 - Simple, Clean Formatting Single-column. Consistent fonts. No design drama. ATS systems will thank you. So will recruiters. 4 - Professional Summary > Objective Statement Start with a crisp summary that answers: “What do I bring to the table?” 5 - Action Verbs “Led,” “Built,” “Implemented,” “Optimized.” Not “Responsible for” or “Helped with.” What to absolutely avoid? 1 - Generic Phrases “Hardworking team player” is white noise. Show it. Don’t say it. 2 - Outdated or Irrelevant Info That 2012 internship? Probably time to let it go. 3 - Over-designed Layouts ATS bots don’t care about your Canva skills. Keep it functional. 4 - Typos & Formatting Errors One comma out of place? Might not ruin your chances. But why risk it? 5 - Missing Contact Info Yes, this still happens. Double-check that your phone and email are visible. Bonus enhancements that make a difference: - Use metrics in every role, not just the latest one. - Match your skill section to what the job actually demands. - Move education below experience, unless you're a fresh grad. - Include certifications and recent courses. - Keep font styles and spacing uniform throughout. My suggestion? Take an hour this weekend and do a ruthless edit. - Cut fluff. - Add metrics. - Tweak layout. Ask a friend for feedback. And if you want a second set of eyes, I’m happy to help. I regularly do resume reviews (for a small fee). If you're looking for personalized, actionable feedback, DM me or drop a comment. Let’s make your experience shine the way it deserves to. -- ♻️ Reshare if this might help someone. ▶️ Join 2,485+ in the Tidbits WhatsApp group → link in comments

Creative thinking is now officially a hard skill. But psychological safety is what unlocks it. The new World Economic Forum New Economy Skills 2025 report just validated something COMB has been solving for nine years: 💥💥💥 Creative thinking is the #1 hard skill for the future of work. Not coding. Not automation. Not even data analysis. Creative thinking. WEF emphasizes that in an AI-driven economy, companies win not by working harder but by thinking differently. AI can generate answers, but it cannot generate originality, intuition, or vision. Yet inside most organizations, creative thinking is the first capability to disappear. Last year, I worked with leaders at a large FMCG company; intelligent, capable, hardworking people. But when the market shifted abruptly, something became painfully obvious: 😪 Every idea sounded like a safer version of the last idea. 😪 Every strategy felt like a slightly edited version of last year's plan. 😪 Every conversation was shaped by fear of being wrong. They weren't being "uncreative." They were being unsafe. So I asked a simple question: "What is one idea you are afraid to say out loud?" Silence. Then a manager in the innovation department whispered something that cracked the room open: "Our biggest competitor isn't the brand we benchmark... It's the future customer we haven't learned to understand." Within 120 days, their innovation pipeline tripled. And suddenly the conversation shifted: 🚀 From fear → possibility 🚀 From compliance → imagination 🚀 From hierarchy → collaboration COMB has been solving this exact problem for nine years, long before WEF made it official. In fact, we coined the term "soft power skills" - resilience, self-awareness, adaptability, collaboration, and executive communication, and have been training teams and organizations in these capabilities across Indonesia and Singapore for nearly a decade. We build psychological safety so creativity can breathe. Because the neuroscience is clear: A brain in fear cannot innovate. A team without trust cannot imagine. A leader without safety cannot inspire. Our work across Indonesia and Singapore consistently produces the same transformation: 🙌 Leaders speak with more clarity 🙌 Teams contribute more breakthrough ideas 🙌 Collaboration deepens naturally 🙌 Cross-functional creativity increases 🙌 Innovation becomes effortless, not forced Companies that don't solve this in 2025 will spend 2026 watching competitors who did. AI can copy patterns, but it cannot create breakthroughs. Only safe, grounded humans can do that. Lead Beyond Yourself. Rise Beyond Limits. If your leadership team generates safe ideas instead of breakthrough ideas, what breakthrough is waiting to emerge when there is safety? 👉 Ready to unlock your team's creative thinking? Let's talk. #creativethinking #futureofwork #softpowerskills #teamperformance #innovation #cassandracoach