99SecondsCareer

In the old days, if you were a “journalist,” you wrote news. If you were an “engineer,” you built things. But now? The lines are blurred. A “Community Manager” could be anything from a social media moderator to a high-level brand strategist. What does that mean for your career and job search?www.schmied.be

Todays topic is one that that touches each of us: the intricate relationship between our careers and our personal lives. Our careers and our personal lives are not separate worlds. They're more like two rivers that flow into each other, shaping the landscape of who we are.  Think about it. For many of us, our work is more than just a paycheck. It's a big part of our identity. www.schmied.be

Negotiating your employment contract can be intimidating, but it's one of the most important steps in shaping your career. In this episode, we'll break down the key strategies to help you confidently negotiate better pay, benefits, and terms—without the stress.www.schmied.be

Today we're strapping in for a high-flying perspective on your professional journey. Ever felt like your career was a maze with no exit? Or that finding a new job was like searching for a needle in a haystack? Buckle up, because we're about to soar above those challenges and gain some game-changing insights. We'll reveal why 'career' has become such a loaded word and uncover the hidden obstacles that make job hunting feel like an uphill battle. Get ready for some turbulence-free career clarity – our flight to success is now boarding.www.schmied.be

I my mentoring practice I often support people who find it difficult to land a new employment. We spend quality time to explore why this might be the case and what maybe needs to be improved or changed. What often surprises them is, that we are not only talking about how to best update their CV and/or their online profile. Of course this is needed. But it is by far not the only thing that needs to be explored to increase their chances to find that job they are looking for.www.schmied.be

Do you know that every organization for whatever role has two fundamental requirements that are lurking in the shadows of every hiring process. They are never mentioned in the open job description, but they are silently scrutinized for every single candidate. Let's find out what these two hidden job requirements are and what that means for your job application.www.schmied.be

Let's find out the risks if you love your job to much and what to do, if you don´t feel any of that “passion” in relation to work. We're flipping the script on something we all think is 100% positive: workplace passion. What if I told you that loving your job could actually hurt your career... and your health? Buckle up – this episode might change how you view your 9-to-5! www.schmied.be

Find out why besides the technical and interpersonal skills, companies are looking for passion in their candidates, and how you can successfully demonstrate it. www.schmied.be

Are you tired of losing track of your applications and missing out on potential opportunities? Did you know that effective job search organization can increase your chances of landing your dream job by up to 50%? Today, we'll explore cutting-edge strategies to streamline your job search process and stay ahead of the competition. www.schmied.be

Frustrated by HR silence? Discover why your job applications go unanswered. An ex-hiring manager reveals 8 eye-opening reasons HR doesn't respond, plus insider tips to boost your chances. Learn which factors are beyond your control and how to avoid common pitfalls that might be costing you interviews. Don't miss these crucial insights for your job search success! www.schmied.be

You don´t have a second chance to make a first impression This phrase neatly captures the importance of initial encounters in both personal and professional contexts. It emphasizes the need to present ourselves positively right from the beginning.   For jobsearchers that means, that the first impression in an interview is crucial. Which leads us to an important question: When does the interview actually start? Lets find out and be prepared for a surprise. www.schmied.be

Starting a career can feel like standing at the edge of a vast and mysterious forest. Which path do you take? How do you know where it leads? In today's episode, we're going to break down the journey into clear, actionable steps. Whether you're a recent graduate, someone making a midlife career pivot, or just feeling stuck and unsure where to go next, this episode is for you www.schmied.be

In today's interconnected workplace, going it alone just isn't an option. Teamwork has become a must-have skill, not a luxury. In this episode, we'll dive into the eight key teamwork skills that can set you apart and make you a standout contributor. For each skill, I'll also share two practical pro-tips you can start using right away to boost your impact and build stronger team connections. Let's get into it! www.schmied.be

There are many ways to find out your values: read self-help books, do online tests, ask AI to help you finding them or work with a coach or mentor. I want to propose a simple way, that only involves a paper-notebook and a pencil. Why don´t you give it a try?

In this episode, we explore how discovering your core values can transform your decision-making in life and career. Learn how aligning with your true values, like famous figures have, leads to more authentic, fulfilling choices. Tune in to find your purpose and make better decisions! www.schmied.be

Most of the time we talk about finding a job we think about becoming employed by an organization. But when we take a broader look there are other legal frameworks in which work and making money can happen. You could become an entrepreneur and start your own company or offer your skills and capabilities as a self employed person. Find out what the advantages and disadvantages of self-employment are. www.schmied.be

It remains true that continuous learning in today's workplace is essential. And it is also true that there is hardly any job that is or will be impacted soon, even plumbers, artists, nurses or people performing manual labor in agriculture will need to adapt. We all will have to. Let's find out why this is the case and what to look out for. www.schmied.be

Improving our communication skills is not rocket science – even introverts can do it. It involves a combination of self-awareness, practice, and seeking feedback. Here are some actionable steps to help you enhance your communication abilities. Be prepared, I want to give you a long list, so weather you just want to start the journey to improve you communication, or you feel you already are mastering it, there is something for all of us. My website: https://www.schmied.be

Do you remember the last job interview you had? You received the invitation and you were interviewed. But hold on, there was something else going on at the same time we maybe even were not aware of.  During a job interview, there are actually two interviews going on in parallel. The organization is interviewing you, and – you might not have thought about it – you are interviewing the organization as well. How can you best prepare for this? My website: https://www.schmied.be

You put your visitor batch on, entered the elevator, pressed 7th floor and another person is joining you. The elevator starts to move, and the other person looks at you and says: “Good Morning. I see you are a visitor. What brings you to the HR department, that sits on the 7th floor?” Do you agree with me, that if you are not prepared for such a situation, whatever you say will be suboptimal – if not worse. You do not know who the other person is, might be your future boss. How will that first impression about yourself be for her or him? Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.  My website: www.schmied.be

Jobseekers have a problem. Eventually, they find a job in a company, they would like. But before signing an employment contract, they want to be sure that they can do the job, and that they would like to work in that job, in that company together with new colleagues, bosses, and everything else. But how can they?

Think about your professional life. You have a career, right? We also sometimes say that we “make” a career, meaning that we progress and grow professionally. However we use the word “career”, we always think about it as a singular thing. We have one career.   Allow me to challenge that belief for a moment. What if it would be possible, to have more than one career? And what does that mean?

Most of us would not do the job we currently have for free, just because it is so nice. We might like it, but we still need the money. So, is money the prime motivation to work? And equally important, would money make us happy? comments here: https://www.schmied.be

You are currently not working and are looking for a new job. Before you might have spent around 8 hours a day working, while now these 8 hours are free. It is said that finding a new job is a full time job. What does this mean and why is it like that?

You have decided to resign from your current job. Before you start a new job, there are some important steps to take to quit your current role. To maintain your professionalism, it's crucial to handle these steps properly.

There have been many improvements in understanding leadership lately - yet many of those styles refer to outdated and debunked leadership practices that continue to persist despite being proven ineffective. Alex Haslam, a professor of social and organizational psychology at the university of queensland calls those “Zombie Leadership”, as according to him, many of those dead ideas are still walking among us

We all want to advance in our careers. One of the things that helps us with that is our intelligence. Isn´t that the ingredients career advancement is made out of and the more you have of it the better your career goes? Let's find out, why it actually might not be the case.

I think you would all agree that social media offers us a powerful tool —all of which can significantly enhance the job search efforts.  But watch out, as you are researching potential organizations you want to work for, they will research you too. Mainly after they have decided that they want to meet you for an interview and before they send the invitation.

One innovative tool gaining popularity is the introduction video to complements the CV. These short, personalized videos offer candidates a unique opportunity to showcase their personality, skills, and passion directly to potential employers. You could create one on your own initiative, yet more and more organizations ask candidates to send them a short self introduction video before they decide whether they want to interview you

I would like to address something that is not talked much about, especially during job-interviews. It is the mistakes we make at work. And more specifically, the consequences making those have or could have on us and our career.

Staying perpetually unhappy in your career or workplace is no longer acceptable. Millennials and Generation Z, in particular, place a high value on work-life balance. They understand that they don't have to put up with everything from their employers.  Let's explore some warning signs that might tell you to consider resigning sooner than later.

Are work friends a source of support and camaraderie, or do they blur the lines between personal and professional boundaries? Let's explore the pros and cons of having friends at work.

There are many ways to use AI to help you creating your CV and cover letter and maybe preparing for interviews. With much less time you should get much better results. This is at last what they promise: Get a perfect CV ready to be send in less that 15 minutes.   How could that work? And is it a good idea?

We often encounter advice urging us to chase our dreams.  But have you ever contemplated whether it's always the wisest choice? The appeal of pursuing your passion is undeniable, yet considerations like money and job security should not be overlooked. 

The excitement of a new job is often accompanied by a dose of nervousness. From mastering the office layout to meeting new colleagues, the first day can be rather overwhelming. Changing jobs is ranked among the highest stressors in a person's life. But fear not, these jitters are perfectly normal. I'll guide you through the essential phases to ensure you step through the office doors feeling confident and ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

How to cultivate a positive professional relationship with your boss while remain authentic and true to yourself. Link to my book: https://www.schmied.be/ask-the-book

Not hearing back might have nothing to do with yourself, your experience, skills, achievements and so on.  The longer the job-search takes, the more desperation might build up. Especially, when you apply and you do not receive any feedback. Your self esteem is deteriorating quickly, you doubt yourself. I am useless, I am wrong, I am not worthy and so on. A horrible place to be - but it doesn't have to be like that. 

Some learning might take a lifetime. Even 87 year old Michelangelo said “I am still learning.” Oooo, you might say, these artists. I sit in my office all day long doing the same job, I learn nothing new. Really? We often learn without realizing that we do

A 2 page CV contains between 500 to 1000 words depending on formatting, font size, and the amount of information you include. This is not a lot to convince your reader to read it all, that you can do the job and that you are trustworthy. On top of that, you want to be authentic and establish communication with the reader.  It is no wonder that most people find it very difficult to write theirs, and that the only 2 out of 100 applicants are passing the CV-filtering and are invited to an interview.   We need to make each of the 500 to 1000 words count.

You see this in job advertisements, on social media posts and websites and you might hear it during a job interview. Here at company XWZ, we are like a family. Is this good or bad?

Instead of looking at bosses and the many things they might do to make their people leaving them and resign, I want us to have a look at what good bosses are made out off

Some students have developed a rather clear view on their professional journey, others simply don´t know yet. Both of it is fine, we all approach life in different ways. For those, who do not know, I want to give you some thoughts about how to maybe find out. And those who do know, I want to challenge you a little bit.

Recruiters might put your CV aside once the see your age, regardless of everything else. This discrimination is still out there, even it is illegal in many countries, we need to deal with it. Reality is that a higher age for many recruiters is seen as an issue. You need to tell them, that with you it actually is not. Here is a list of nine arguments they might have against older candidates and how you could counteract them already in your CV:

Like all other, older people too could be confronted with the need of finding a new job. During their job-hunt, they have to battle some discrimination because of their age, called ageism, yet they bring experience to the table that younger candidates simply can't compete with

For most of us, career progression is an important aspect of professional growth and job satisfaction. Let´s see see, how to find out if your career is stuck and what to do about it. 

There is one question you will get asked at every interview, mainly towards its end. “Do you have any further question for us” they will want to know for you. And the worst answer is “no” because it instantly tells them you're not interested in the role. So, what should you be asking?

Let´s assume you have created a CV you believe is as good as it can get. What are the next steps? Finding suitable open positions and send an application, with your CV as the key component of your application. Right? You are missing a step!

Think about your job. Being in your comfort zone means you feel at ease and in control because you're doing tasks and working in an environment that you're familiar with. It's like finding your sweet spot in the professional world, But you might for forced to leave your comfort zone or you take a calculated risk to step out of it. Let´s have a look what is waiting for us outside of our comfort zones

I want to discuss how important learning is with 2 experts. Interestingly, they would not even exist if they did not learn and trained a lot. There is a lot of discussion about them, and now is my opportunity to not talk about them, but chat with them about how important learning really is. 

This is terrible and hard to deal with, as it demolishes our self-esteem and self-worth. But you cannot give up, if you need a job. But is sending even more application the answer?

Besides external factors and medical reasons there is stuff going on in our head that might not allow us to fall asleep. High pressure situations, unresolved issues, or excessive worrying can make it difficult for us to relax and fall asleep. Here are some common factors that can contribute to work-related stress.