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More Reasons Not to Be So Hard on Yourself at Work

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Turtle Hiding in ShellLast week we told you why you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself when you make a mistake or mistakes! At work. Making errors at work should not always be considered actual errors. If you can learn from these missteps, then it is actually a good thing that they happened in the first place.

  1. There’s always next time

If you give up, you most certainly won’t ever succeed. The biggest mistake you can make is if it doesn’t turn out the way you intended the first time, keep going. Effort and motivation really can pay off.

  1. Practice makes perfect…but it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Stop asking for permission and stop overly questioning your every move. What is more important is that you just start up again and try to make it work.

Making mistakes is part of life. If you make them, and you will (we all do), it doesn’t mean you won’t be successful. Not every mistake will greatly impact your career. When you fail at something, the most logical next step and hope is that the next time you will fail a little less at it – which is a positive in itself.

So, what can you do about all of this?

Prepare. Begin your next project by acknowledging areas you might be unfamiliar with or that you might struggle with. This will give you a chance to prepare yourself. And also, don’t be afraid to ask someone for help when you need it. What is better? Make a mistake and look ridiculous rather than asking for a little help? Or, getting that help first and being the talk of the town?

It is critical that you only compare yourself to yourself, and no one else. How did you perform on a task last week? And how did you do it this week? See improvement? Point for you!

Get More Opportunities with CTM

Contact an experienced recruiter at 800.338.4327. Simplify and expedite your job search (or research) process the moment you need it with Creative Talent Management.

 

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A Few Reasons Not to Be So Hard on Yourself at Work

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frustrated office workerYou don’t have to be a perfectionist to be too hard on yourself when it concerns your job. Making decisions is hard. And it is super easy to second guess yourself after you make them. But at the same time, it is important not to be too hard on yourself at work because; otherwise you might never get anything accomplished. Basically, you need to learn how to let it go (yeah, I know, cue the music).

Making mistakes is not desirable. But think how much more you learn when you first do it wrong. Of course, making mistakes will also hurt someone, or many someones. But the bigger issue is not whether you made the mistake, but whether you take any steps to rectify the situation or to grow from it.

So, it almost seems like it is preferable to go a bit over the edge and stop always playing it too safe. Nothing worthwhile ever comes along with this mindset.

Here is why you can make mistakes and still succeed.

  1. Almost Done Doesn’t Cut It

No one cares about how you were really close to getting the job done. People only care about the final product. Remember that even if it is taking slightly longer, you are making progress. And someone else next to you has probably not even started yet. So, who has the advantage?

  1. So, What Are Your Going to Do About It Now?

Can you grow from this situation? Making mistakes makes you stronger. It helps you approach the next situation with a new set of informed and educated eyes. This way, the mistake will not have been in vain.

Making mistakes is inevitable. You just have to face this fact. So, you need to compare yourself to your past actions and behaviors, not to others. The key is whether that mistake you made last week has been assessed and you have taken preventive steps to not make the same one in the future.

Take Your Career to the Next Level With CTM

Contact an experienced recruiter at 800.338.4327. Simplify and expedite your job search (or research) process the moment you need it with Creative Talent Management.

 

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What to do if Your Interviewer is 12 Years Old

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baby-working on a computerLet’s say that you snagged the next step in a great job opportunity from Creative Talent Management. You are preparing for the interview and discover that the person who will quiz you is much much younger. Your nerves begin to tremble and you begin to worry about the entire meeting. How can you present yourself so that you don’t appear as know-it-all? Here are some tips for making a great impression.

The Elephant in the Room

You can assume that the interviewer has at least half a brain, so don’t start out the interview by bringing attention to their age either. Don’t insult them by being amazed that they could get to where they are even though they are so young. This is not a strong start.

Keeping Up with the Industry

Your youngin’ interviewee might assume that you have little to no knowledge of industry trends and thought leaders. Insert pertinent points about these so you alert them to the fact that you are in touch with the trends and care about continuing to grow in the position.

Keep it Recent

Unfortunately, a lot of people generally have little interest in things that happened before they were born. This relates to possible career points that have occurred maybe while your interviewer was a baby. Focus your experience on the most recent 10 years of your career. This way, you can show how perfect and qualified you are for the job, without appearing to be over-qualified.

Use Your Age to Your Advantage

Being older means you most definitely have experiences your interviews won’t. You will likely be able to showcase your ability management skills, budget allocation, and big successful business decisions you have made.

You need to be able to show your younger interviewer that your age is truly a number. If either party gets the impression that they are stuck in their ways or forcing new methods just for the sake of them, the partnership won’t work. Focus on the skills and experience of everyone involved.

Positives of Being at Your Previous Company for Decades 

Loyalty to your previous company is a good thing. But a different generation might see it differently. Explain to your interviewer the numerous opportunities you took to team-build, collaborate, and be flexible during your tenure. This will illustrate that you are willing and able to continue these excellent skills in this new position.

Ready to Take on Your Next Interviewer?

Contact an experienced recruiter at 800.338.4327. Simplify and expedite your job search (or research) process the moment you need it with Creative Talent Management.

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TMI: Social Media Sabotage

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social media icons on a cellphone screenSociety is full of over-sharers. And the internet and the advent of social media has allowed this to blossom beyond anything anyone imagined. But having so many personal details posted online can have a detrimental effect when searching for a job. What is one to do?

Don’t be naive

Whether you like or not, hiring managers are looking you up on the world wide web. And you cannot really blame them. They want to know who they are hiring. So, why make it easier for companies to pass you by when you embarrass yourself through your social media accounts?

Where are you online?

You probably can quickly name off your most frequently visited social media sites. But you should also search yourself on the rest of the web to find what is really out there. What you don’t know can indeed hurt you.

You might be thinking what do these hiring managers find to be negative content? Most of it is pretty obvious. If you have pictures of you consuming drugs, posting inappropriate comments, naysaying previous employers, and just generally behaving in an unprofessional manner, potential employers won’t take the time to get your explanation. They’ll just move on to the next candidate.

Go in a hole

Although your social media accounts can be your downfall, this doesn’t mean that you go under a rock. It can be just as bad to be invisible on the internet, as it is to be all over it. The key is to be professional about what you post. You are a professional. Take you career seriously. And companies will do the same.

Ready for a smart social media decision?

Connect with Creative Talent Management and we’ll help you develop a perfect portfolio, online and off – one that hiring managers will covet and will help you achieve the career you want. Call us today at: 800.338.4327.

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How to be a Successful Designer

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Being a Successful Graphic Designer
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/samanthat1259/infographics/?lp=true

You know the old adage that everyone and their dog thinks they are a graphic designer. It can really tick you off because REAL DESIGNERS spend so much time learning, honing their skills, and finding just the right way to “say” the intended message.

With that being said, designers also know that they have certain skills and personalities that others simply don’t possess. Take a look at the included infographic. Let’s work through this guide, digging into it to see if these skills are really specific to what designers need.

Sky is the Limit

This is great for designers, because often clients come to you with a general idea and want you to take it to the next level. Which means you need the ability to think way outside the box. On the other hand, I believe everyone has the potential to be great if they just put enough effort into it. So, this means that regardless of your career, you should always be pushing yourself.

Creativity Comes from Within

Any successful designer knows that they often have to try out numerous ideas before the right one works. But they also know that they shouldn’t give up until they find it.

Communicate

Don’t be surprised if your design is way off from the point if you don’t take the time to communicate about the goals of the project. Not only do you save time but you also have a much more enjoyable designing experience because you actually know what to do!

Get Your English Right

Proofread, proofread, proofread. And then check it again. You are bound to have missed something.

Develop Constantly

As much as you might think you are an expert, don’t forget that you should always be learning, learning, and learning. Each new skill or more experience with the ones you already have is another opportunity to add a new and different design method to your repertoire.

Practice Makes Perfect

Not sure how to approach a project? Wish you could make a design you see on a sign or online? Well, what is stopping you? Use these as practice clients and test your skills remaking these creatives.

KISS (Keep it Simple Silly)

Simple is elegant. Simple is concise. And simple is what wins people over. Don’t overly complicate your designs. Spend some time organizing what you foresee as your end product and work your way there. Then be willing to erase if it is just too busy.

Never Stop Learning

This one was sort of covered already above. But every time you use one of your skills, you are getting better at it. And each time you create a design, you are building a canvas to build others on or to use as a foundation to then go in a million different directions. So, never stop learning.

Be Persistent and Passionate

Being able to match exactly what a client has in mind can be difficult. But if you listen, ask questions, and are persistent, you will prevail.

Jack of All Trades

…And master of none. Being a jack of all trades is not often a positive because it implies the individual can sort of do a lot of things but each not very well. But with design, it has a different connotation. The more skills you can bring to a project means your final product will be miles ahead of the competition.

Acknowledge

Use your manners. It really is as simple as that. Don’t forget about those who have helped you along the way and helped you gain your skills. And then on the other side, remember that you were a newbie once too so help out others just like you were helped.

Want Your Creative Skills to Shine?

Creative Talent Management offers top creative and design talent opportunities. Let CTM help you find our next great opportunity. It is closer than you think. Get started today by calling one of our experienced recruiters at 800.338.4327.

 

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