If you are feeling lost or unfulfilled in your career, it might be time to take a step back and examine your career narrative. 

Okay. Career what??? 

We all have multiple narratives in our lives. You have a narrative about what kind of daughter you are, what kind of friend, significant other, spouse, employee, etc. 

But do you know what your career narrative is? 

Your career narrative is the story you tell yourself and others about your professional journey, and it can have a huge impact on your job satisfaction and success. 

So let’s dive into how you can find, redefine, and project your career narrative! 

What is your current career narrative? 

Take some time to reflect on the story you currently tell about your professional life. 

Evaluate how you describe your job. What do you say when someone asks you what you do for a living? Do you focus on the...

We’ve all been there. 

You’re sitting in yet another this-could-have-been-an-email meeting. Someone claims credit for your work. You don’t get the acknowledgment and recognition that you deserve. Your paycheck doesn’t match the time and effort that you put into the job or the results that you’ve gotten. 

Usually, you fume for a bit, suck it up, and then move on to the next thing. 

Well, it’s happened one too many times and you’re really fed up and tired of the BS! 

You’ve started thinking seriously about leaving your job. Maybe even start a new career. 

How do you know if you’re stuck in a rut or if it’s time to exit stage left? 

Know the Signs 

Burnout can manifest in a variety of ways. You might start feeling more exhausted, cynical, and detached from your job, or feel less personal accomplishment. 

You can even...

Let me guess. 

You studied hard in high school, worked your butt off in college, and did what you were supposed to get your career underway. You’ve held low-paying positions, worked for crappy management, and checked off everything you were supposed to on the proverbial Career Success Checklist.

You thought you were finally underway for where you wanted to be in life. 

And now, suddenly, you are being forced to change your career. 

Even though all of us have heard the saying, “Life happens,” we’re still surprised when drastic changes head our way. 

But I gotcha covered. 

Here are some tips on how facing your fears and making a career change might just be the best thing you could do for yourself. 

Name Your Fear and What’s Behind It

It will feel safest to stay inside your comfort zone. You may think that’s the only way to keep your...

We all have something that we’re insecure about when it comes to pursuing our dreams.

A big one for me was my weight.

I thought I had to be a certain size or look a certain way to show up and succeed on social media.

I knew intellectually that this wasn’t true, but that emotional insecurity still existed for me. I found that by not addressing that fear of mine, I began:

1. Talking myself out of my own goals and aspirations
2. Procrastinating even the little things that could lead to my success
3. Playing the comparison game with other people and thinking, “I can’t do what they’re doing (so why even try?)” which in turn led to…
4. …even MORE insecurity!

I finally got to the point where I had to realize that not only was this not true, but my ambition and determination had to be bigger than my insecurities.

I decided it was better to show up, even imperfectly than it was to continue holding...

So you were an expert in your old field. But now you’ve quit. Finished the race. Tied the bow on the dapper ribbon. You’re starting out as the new kid on the block again because you got the right stuff (Get it? No, just me. Ok. Moving on….) and you’ve sorta forgotten how to be the new kid.

You want to be seen as experienced (you are a professional, after all) but your experience has been in an entirely different industry. You want to be seen as driven, but you also don’t want to drive over people and don’t want to be driven over yourself.

You want to be respected. You want to learn.

And you want to be successful.

Put simply, you don’t want to be the newbie forever.

Here are 7 steps to being a successful newbie from Day 1:

Even if it’s a decision you were excited to make, it can be hard to remove yourself from a job you felt successful in and throw yourself completely into...

You’ve studied hard, worked even harder, and burnt the midnight oil more often than you’d care to remember in order to reach your career goals.

You aced the interview, snagged that dream job, and worked your way up the ladder. You’ve got the house with the picket fence (or a snazzy apartment), a car or two in the garage, a couple of kids, and maybe even a pet or two too. Life’s looking rosy and going uphill.

So, why then does it feel like something is missing from your life? Why do you feel like you’re stuck and don’t know how to go forward? 

You thought it would be a passing phase but it’s been stuck there in the back of your mind- the constant feeling that doesn’t seem to go away. Often people experience the feeling of being stuck if they’ve been working towards goals that don't align with who they are or what they truly desire. 

You may be at a dead-end in your job or maybe you recognize that you could maximize...

Changing careers is a big deal.

It is scary and risky, but it can also be a rewarding experience. A significant reason why many people hold back from making that leap is that they worry about how making such a change will affect their finances. A career change may entail some difficult compromises when it comes to your finances, and most often prefer to play it safe. Let's be real. There’s that rent or mortgage to think of. Not to forget the electric, water, cable bills, childcare... The list goes on and on. 

Yes, the spark is losing its shine when it comes to your current job but it pays the bills, right? It is stable and reliable, so even if you want to get out of it, you think “It’s that not bad. I’ll give it a few more months before looking elsewhere”  but for how long do the few more months really last?

There are proven ways to help you take that leap of faith with confidence and pursue a career that will provide you with the...

The prospect of re-entering a job market can be quite intimidating. There is the issue of the ever-changing job market that continuously makes it difficult for even the most skilled people to stay up-to-date on trends. There’s always something to learn and improve upon. And when you’ve been on a break from work, your resume can suffer in the process.

However, there are a few things that you can do to make the transition easier for yourself and ultimately increase your chances of being hired.

This is a topic that I have quite a bit of experience with because I've been laid off 3 times. Each time was emotionally difficult but I developed a system to help me get back in the saddle and I quickly found another job. 

After losing a job, you may find yourself experiencing a wide range of emotions from panic to frustration to the fear of an uncertain future.

Remember, that this is completely normal and part of the process. Give yourself time to acknowledge your emotions...

I read a lot about networking. A LOT. I'll admit that, as an introvert, the idea of networking makes me a little anxious. I know all the rules but honestly, the only way I get through any of those events is to not network. 

Yeah, you read that correctly. I don't network at networking events. 

Here's what I mean: I don't focus on what the person can do for me (bad) or even how I can help them (better). I focus on simply getting to know that person. Starting that conversation is much easier if you know you have something in common with them, like the same alma mater. Think about it. How many times have you seen someone wearing a baseball cap or shirt with your school and you got excited and maybe even introduced yourself? That's a form of networking!!!! So, use that same energy when connecting with other alums from your school(s).

As a Director on the Wellesley College Alumnae Association Board of Directors, I'll admit to being 1000% biased in favor of alum...

You know you’re doing too much. You feel scatterbrained and like you’re always forgetting something. You’re exhausted but feel like you must keep going because if you don’t do it, who will? And quite honestly, you don’t feel appreciated for everything you do.

Does any of that sound true? Yeah, I bet it does. I know it's been true for me. Been there. Done that. Grabbed a bottle of wine on the way out. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way. 

One of the most common obstacles people face when trying to make a career transition is finding the time to do it. Here’s a secret: It’s not a matter of time. It’s a matter of priorities. We make the time for the things that are most important to us. If your career transition is a top priority, you’ll find the time. If it isn’t, you’ll find an excuse. Either choice is fine. It’s fine if making a career change is a top priority and...