Hiring a Sales Team that Grows Business

Hiring a schlussverkauf Team that Grows BusinessHiring a Sales Team that Grows BusinessHiring a Sales Team that Grows Business ConlanThere comes a point where your business cant grow without a team of great salespeople. A solid sales team serves as cheerleaders for your product or service and keeps your client pipeline moving. Great sales teams are collaborators who see opportunities to improve the business not just land another deal.Today, selling is really a team sport, says Ryan Estis, chief experience officer at Ryan Estis Associates, a sales and business consultancy in Minneapolis. The best salespeople at fast-growing organizations are doing a lot of internal collaboration with marketing or finance. Theyre being asked to contribute to RD and product development. The best salespeople are collaborators.Heres how to hire a sales team that rocks for your growing business.Screen for Skills that your Stars DemonstrateIf you already have top sales performers at your organization, use an assessment tool to identify what makes them successful and then hire for those traits.Most organizations have some type of profile or assessment that creates a standard relative to whats needed to succeed, Estis says. A lot of good sales organizations are trying to validate their selection decisions with assessments that go beyond subjective interviews.Using an assessment tool can help you create a behavioral interviewing process that screens for the traits and competencies that ensure success at your organization, says Mike Kunkle, senior director of sales enablement at Brainshark, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based sales enablement platform.Because innate traits are difficult, if not impossible to change, you can help ensure your new salespeople are a good fit from the start. For example, either youre ethical or youre not, Kunkle says.Find Helpers, Not Just ClosersSalespeople cant get by on simply selling and moving on, Estis says. Customers expect them to understand their busines s and provide insights and advice that might not even have anything to do with your product or service.Customer needs and expectations are changing, Estis says. They have mora information and alternate choices, so they have elevated expectations when it comes to personalization and customization. That puts a new kind of pressure on both the sales organization and the individual contributors. Theres been an evolution from sign on the dotted line, shake hands and do the deal.When hiring salespeople, look for people who think of themselves as helpers and teachers, he says. Theyll be helping customers think, execute, solve problems and approach business differently, Estis says. Theyre almost mora like consultants or a guide for the journey.Estis says this helping approach should work internally as well. Youll see that the best salespeople and fast-growing organizations are doing a lot of internal collaboration with marketing or finance, he says. Salespeople are being asked to contribute to RD and product development. The best salespeople are collaborators.Ask About Data SkillsWorking with data is increasingly important in sales, says Dev Tandon, founder and CEO of The Kini Group, a sales performance analytics software company based in Chicago.The line between sales rep and analyst is quickly becoming blurred as more sales tools to evaluate prospects, customers, deals and even technique emerge, Tandon says, although he notes that some reps still rely on wohl instinct and people skills.As the use of data and data analytics grows throughout organizations, look for sales candidates who can evaluate and mine data for insights. Sales professionals who are excited to work with technology and data are a huge asset to your entire company, not just your sales team, Tandon says.Seek Digital Marketing SkillsEstis describes some of the best salespeople he sees today as micromarketers. The forward-thinking salespeople you need for your company are using social media and other t ech tools to contribute to online conversations about the industry.Theyre creating a level of thought leadership and deploying that into the marketplace, he says. I dont care what youre selling you have to have a digital mindset.As you hire salespeople who understand social selling, look for sales candidates who have a robust and professional presence on social media. They share insights from others as well as original ideas and information on how companies can use those insights for themselves.The platform and target audience may vary, Estis says salespeople in some industries may use Twitter more than Instagram, for example but understanding the value of social media and promoting ideas through it is a vital skill for salespeople.Compensate CompetitivelyIn light of all these new skills and roles, you may be wondering if compensation models have changed. Not so much, Estis says. Theres been a lot of discussion about different types of compensation, but he says his research has f ound that when salespeople are compensated on performance through incentives and bonuses, they are much more engaged.When setting up compensation models, stick to the tried-and-true. Salespeople are more committed when they have some kind of incentive or variable-based compensation, Estis says.

How to Talk About Your Strengths to Employers

How to Talk About Your Strengths to EmployersHow to Talk About Your Strengths to Employers4The interview is for bragging, says Hallie Crawford, a certified career coach and founder of Hallie Crawford Career Coaching. The purpose is to tout your skills. So manage those voices in your head that say you shouldnt be bragging. This is the time to do it.As children we are (appropriately) taught not to brag, says Rick Gillis, an employment coach specializing in trends and technologies in the modern job search and author of Promote Its Who Knows What You Know That Makes a Career.However, Gillis believes that as we get older- high school, college, career search, and advancement- we need to un-learn and be un-taught that it is bad to promote ourselves.There is a way to professionally, appropriately, and consistently promote our ability and contribution to our employers, says Gillis. And its necessary for a successful career.Of course, theres a difference between bragging and using a certain to ne of voice or body language that makes you look or seem like you feel superior, versus confidently speaking about what you bring to the table in a matter of fact way. Keeping an even tone and smile on your face helps, says Crawford. Additionally, You have to be able to not just understand your strengths in order to sell yourself, you also need to be able to speak about them articulately by providing examples of how you produced results.To help guide you in that interview- and give confidence- bring along a guide book, says Crawford. It could be called a brag book- a bound, short document that includes your resume, list of references, testimonials, or recommendations from clients or colleagues lists of any awards or copies of anything that points out your successes or even emails recognizing you for the good work youve done on a project. Documents like these can make it easier to talk about your successes when that time comes.Looking for a flexible job? Start searching for part-time , telecommuting, and flexible jobs in over 50 categories by clicking hereEmployers are looking for multiple things when they ask job seekers about their strengths, says Dana Manciagli, author of Cut the Crap Get a JobFirst, they want to observe how you articulate your best attributes.Then, they are listening for the relevancy of the strengths you are highlighting. Selecting the right strengths for each interview can be what sets you apart.Focus on attributes, skills, and accomplishments related to the specific job you are applying for.Focus on the hiring companys job description, says Manciagli. Read it carefully then select strengths that you feel would be most beneficial to them.In order to win the competitive job seeker game, you need to understand the rules, says Shirley Weis, president of Weis Associates, LLC and the former chief administrative officer of Mayo Clinic, where she provided strategic leadership of the $9 billion, 60,000 employee international healthcare system.Empl oyers want to know that you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses, says Weis, author of Playing to Win in Business.They are looking for confident, self-aware people who know themselves and are realistic about what skills and abilities they can bring to a job, says Weis, who provides the below tips on how to feel more comfortable sharing your strengths.How to Talk About Your Strengths ComfortablyReview the position description to determine what skills are needed in the role. Then, dispassionately assess your skills, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses in the main job areas.If you believe there is a good match of your strengths and the needs of the employer, develop a list of examples where you have demonstrated the skills being sought.During the interview, use your examples to talk about the positive results you have delivered to other organizations, colleagues, and customers. By sharing examples, you will not seem to be bragging or boastful.Do a mock interview with a friend or family member so you can practice talking openly and comfortably about your strengths and skills.Remember that if you have been successfully performing a skill or task for more than 10,000 hours (about five years), you are an expert and can feel confident that you own these abilities. It is not bragging if you can deliver the results.Finally, focus on how you can help the employer meet the needs of their organization by utilizing the skills you have mastered. You want to put your strengths to work for THEM.Exercise Three Steps to Create an Ongoing Written Accomplishment StatementGillis provided this exercise on how to develop, create, and execute a formal written statement of your personal best accomplishments. By completing this exercise- and continuing it throughout your career- your confidence and poise will increase and it will shine through as you discuss your strengths to employers, networking contacts, and other professionals in your industry.1. Start by creating a list of 1 0 to 12 personal best achievements.Then ask (via phone, which is preferred over email says Gillis) family, friends, coworkers, former and current supervisors (if appropriate), vendors, customers, professors, clergy, and charity organizations this questionWhen we worked together, what difference did I make what impact did I have on the business?2. Write the back story to each event- in detail.Be able to describe the how, what, where, when, why, and who of the event. Be certain to begin with the aufgabe.Employers are only ever seeking problem solvers, says Gillis.Be able to state the accomplishment (on paper and in person) in this formatI was responsible for ______________(WHAT you did) that resulted in __________________. (A net result.)For example I was responsible for 49 percent of all sales one fiscal quarter that resulted in $3,200,000 net revenue to the company.3. Make the employer ask this wonderful question How did you do that?Having taken the time to detail the background for each accomplishment, without batting an eyelash, you will now be able to begin describing your achievement in detail. Remember that when an employer asks, How did you do that? they are really asking, Can you do that for me?This exercise prepares you for resume creation, networking, job interviewing, salary negotiation, seeking promotion and potentially, in defense of job termination, says Gillis. Additionally, this exercise produces personal motivation, confidence and poise.You can download a sample accomplishment statement at RickGillis.com.Readers, how do you talk about your strengths to employers? Share your strengths or pressure points with us below

How to Present a Job Gap in a Positive Light

How to Present a Job Gap in a Positive LightHow to Present a Job Gap in a Positive Light10It could be that the problem is the way she presents this period of time in her resume- is it addressed at all? Trying to hide it by avoiding bringing it up is a badeanstalt idea. Is it a future employers geschftlicher umgang to know exactly why you have a gap in your resume? What about the many temporary jobs she has been doing to pay the bills while trying to find full-time work? Should this be added?Here are a few tips on how to present a job gap in your job search in a positive lightConsider a functional resume.Most employers understand that there will be recovery periods after surgery, and will appreciate the responsible behavior that makes sure you can pay bills on time with temporary positions. The functional resume is a good way to putgaps in work historyin the best light. Consider the many options it gives you. It will help youhighlight skills and experience in a Professional Experience sectionlist employers in reverse-chronological order in a Work History sectioninclude all volunteer experience and lessons learned during time offbe prepared to answer questions about gaps during the bewerbungsinterviewTime taken to recover after major surgery means you are in good health and able to work. The temporary jobs taken during the job search prove that fact. They also show your work ethic and reliability. These are valuable assets to an employer and your resume should show it.Of course, health issues are not the only reasons for job gaps. Being let go/downsized is another reason. Add a long, drawn out job search and you might be looking at a six months or year-long job gap. Or for some clients, taking years off to stay home and raise children. We have many clients who take five, 10, even 20 years off to raise a family and are getting into the job market again.Honesty is the best policy.The bottom line is the employer or hiring person wants to know what you have been doin g with your time. If you took a year-long sabbatical and traveled the world, let them know Stayed home and raised children? Be honest about it. An easy way to do this is to simply add a sentence or two about it in your cover letter. Something like, After taking time off to raise my children, I am eager to return to product marketing Short and sweet. It lets the reader know what you were doing, or what the reason of the gap was.What did you do with your time off? Volunteer at your childs school? Think of your responsibilities during that time. Youll be able to add that both in the cover letter and the resume. Did you take an online course while caring for an aging parent? That needs to be added as well. Start up a small business or consulting company? Use those skills to transition into your next role.What you thought was a problem in your career chronology may not be a problem at all. Use what you did during your unemployment to your advantage. Your job gap may turn out to be the th ing that lands you your next jobReaders, do you have a gap in your resume? How do you present a job gap in your job search? Share with us belowErin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, BS/HR, is a certified professional resume writer/career consultant, and the president of Professional Resume Services. She is a nationally published writer and contributor of 14 best-selling career books. She has achieved international recognition following yearly nominations of the prestigious T.O.R.I. (Toast of the Resume Industry) Award. members receive a special discount on Professional Resume Services

Finding a Job

Finding a JobFinding a Job

The Undeniable Reality About Resume Template for High School Students That Nobody Is Sharing With You

The Undeniable Reality About Resume vorlage for High School Students That Nobody Is Sharing With You With some vital data in the ideal order, everyone can create one. The very first section of your resume should consist of information on the way in which the employer can contact you. Your contact information should always go on top of your resume, so that employers can readily find it. If not, you can choose to compose References on request. Up in Arms About Resume Template for High School Students? There are an assortment of reasons why doing a resume is a terrific idea. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better prospect of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. In case you have any part-time work, that will go a ways towards a fantastic experience section. Now its time to create your first resume. Next, you will learn how to create a college resume prepared for the big leagues Theres a l ot of competition for jobs for high school students, and that means you should make certain you stick out from the crowd. In fact, education and learning history indicates a great story for the HR team since they will need to understand the place you were planning to school and which sort of education you possess currently. The education that the teenager and skills are key and how theyre implemented in the hobbies helps to demonstrate that the teenager can work for the possible employer. Lies Youve Been Told About Resume Template for High School Students As a high school student, employers wont expect you to develop into an authority in your work in a week. You may believe that you dont require a resume when applying for employment while youre still in high school. It is possible to also leave off any jobs that are entirely unrelated to the job which you desire. Youre going to see the very best college application resume on Earth. There are an assortment of student and teach er resumes here to pick from. If youre a high schooler that has been accepted to a college already, you may also state your colleges name and the date you will start attending. Include the field in which you mean to major and, if it isnt a resume youre submitting to a college, include where you want to visit school. Where to Find Resume Template for High School Students Overloading your resume with information that isnt really linked to your abilities or job-related talents is rarely a great concept, as it can create the employer or job recruiter to get rid of interest and continue on to the next candidate. No matter your degree of work experience, your resume structure is very important to making your application stick out. Building a resume can be a difficult task especially if youve got no prior work experience. You could stick to the guidelines offered in the job resume template here and produce your own resume. Resumes may look like facets of the corporate Earth, but th eyre increasingly necessary for all kinds of entry level jobs. They are typically quite short often only about a page but they are often the first chance you will have to make an impression. They give potential employers a way to learn about applicants quickly and easily, and they are your first step toward new job opportunities. When youre in high school, your resume objective should highlight the skills you possesses, and ought to succinctly state why you are a great candidate for any particular job. For an objective statement, concentrate on the particular job you need or an overall job type and after that highlight your qualifications. Take note of everything you did appropriately related to the job youre applying. Take a look at the following links to begin hunting for exciting job positions locally.Learning how to do a resume when do not have any work experience is quite a bit easier if its possible to demonstrate some seasonal or short-term work experience. A scarcity of job experience doesnt signify too little work experience. You will need experience to have a job, but you want a job to acquire experience. Volunteer working experience on high school resumes are an excellent means to add work experience whenever you dont have anyor even when you do. Conclusion If youre a high school student seeking to land a part-time job which brings you extra income and enables you build some skills that might become important to your career in future, you should present a compelling resume to prospective employers to enhance your odds of being picked for the job. Therefore, taking the opportunity to thoroughly craft a new version for each job youre applying to is usually suggested. Simply saying that you are interested in getting the job is not too compelling, but something that describes how you aspire to use your individual skills to fulfill a defined end in the employers industry can be very convincing. The skills in technology and societal media are stated in the resume to supply appropriate quality to the resume considering that the individual doesnt have experience on the work thus skills are wanted in the job place. Your resume will be broken into sections. Resume examples and templates are really helpful, especially when youre writing one of your very first resumes. Consider what youll be putting on your resume, and select your template accordingly. Employing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for numerous reasons.

Whos Worried About Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing and Why You Should Listen to Them

Whos Worried About Udemy - Resume Secrets Get mora Interviews by Better Resume Writing and Why You Should Listen to Them New Ideas Into Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing Never Before Revealed With other resume services and career sites which simply accept resume writers and allow them to write in whatever style they wish, you can receive an excellent writer or maybe you wind up getting one weve rejected. Dress codes and Appearance to acquire past all your Competitors. The Upside to Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing A resume requires certain style and format, and you need to adhere to these requirements to create your resume attractive to a prospective employer. Use the checklist to make certain you have included all appropriate data in your resume. Receive a FREESalary negotiation E-Book at the conclusion of this Course. Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing Features Both of th ese things differ mainly since theyre ready for different positions. Highly competitive people with wonderful expectations, extensive understanding, desire for prosperity, and an urge to obtain a better job live in this kind of aggressive world. Think about that for a minute. Any person having a difficult time to acquire a meeting. Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing - What Is It? Electronic types of your resume (e-resumes) must meet standards which are required by several databases and Internet websites, or else itll be rejected. Theres so much details on resumes, that should you read 30 distinct sources, you will likely discover 30 unique opinions. Hell lead you through each step of the writing process in addition to give you all-new examples of industry-specific resumes and the ones that cover every stage of your career. Somtimes if you got a very long directory path whilst extracting its going to giv you an error. Have a look at the work description and discover whats most important to the provider. For instance, if you are asking for an administrative position, put on a business outfit. There isnt anything more important to the practice of receiving an internship than getting an interview. Then read through your resume as though you are assessing another individual. The Pain of Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing abflug with reading through the work advertisement to have an excellent sense of what the provider is searching for. A fantastic job is the secret to living a joyful life. To discover a good job having a more comfortable salary, you will need to compose a powerful resume. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing Is Wrong You can locate it in lecture 77 There are lots of techniques whom I have never considered while conducting a work hunt. Sayingyou completed a training course is very good. Pupil s looking for a teaching fellowship. The Pain of Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing Targeting your resume to every employer is about more than simply highlighting the vital facts. No one would like to read overlong sentences. Dont use personal pronouns. How to Get Started with Udemy - Resume Secrets Get More Interviews by Better Resume Writing? This collection addresses the complete array of topics relevant for the highest degree of succeeding in career advancement. You are able to observe it can be hit or miss. If do not have any work experience, references associated with your academic achievements could possibly be a fantastic help. Keep in mind these basic rules, and youll never get into a photo-trouble. The electronic type of your resume must satisfy some standards that were necessitated by the a variety of databases and email systems. Ask another man to read it as well, as you might become accustomed to the language and skip past a korrekt choice error. Do not trust the spell checker.

Online Networking for a Finance Job

Online Networking for a Finance JobOnline Networking for a Finance JobKelly, a job seeker in Southern California, welches surprised by the importance placed on having an online presence, but she welchesnt caught off guard.Kellys experience during the Great Recession has been different from some of the horror stories you might have heard on the news.Instead of wallowing in unemployment for a long time with no hope of resurrecting her career, Kelly was proactive. Never one to go without a plan, she started looking for a job while she was mucksmuschenstill employed, joined FinanceLadder and worked closely with the FinanceLadder career coaches.When her position at a financial services company was eliminated in June, her job search was already well underway. She just had to kick it into high gear.Of course the job search took a lot of work, but Kelly was still able to spend much of her summer on the sunny beaches of Southern California. Because she was with her former employer for more th an 12 years, Kelly was given a sizable severance package.One of the elements of the job search that surprised her was the importance of having a presence on the Internet.I was surprised at how much more companies have gone to online search, she said. If you dont make that a primary part of your channels, youre really missing out.Then through her networking efforts with former colleagues, who had since moved on, she was able to pursue a new job with another financial services company - a position that was actually created just for her.After several virtual interviews, which her coach was able to help her out with, she was hired sight unseen. The coaching, she said, was particularly helpful when it came time for the salary negotiation because she had an impartial sounding board against which to practice the interchange and get helpful feedback.I got a bump in title and pay, she said. This was better than anything I could have planned out.

Why Good Business Etiquette Matters More than Ever

Why Good Business Etiquette Matters More than EverWhy Good Business Etiquette Matters More than EverWhy Good Business Etiquette Matters More than Ever Blaszczyk, Managing Editor, Resource CenterIs your business a place that cultivates good business etiquette?And more to the point why should you care?If you think etiquette is a thing of the past author Barbara Pachter advises you to think again.herbei new book, The Essentials of Business Etiquette How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet your Way to Success (McGraw-Hill, 2013) makes the case for why good business etiquette particularly social media etiquette is more important than ever.And as she points out in this interview, its bedrngnis always the employees who commit etiquette no-nos.Monster Your new book covers a lot of territory. Is it geared to a particular audience?Pachter The book is geared to new entries to the workplace and seasoned professionals. Everyone can benefit from staying up-to-date with etiquette, including the new social med ia guidelines.Monster Do Gen Y, Gen X and Boomers all struggle with good etiquette?Pachter We can all struggle with whats appropriate behavior in todays ever-changing workplace. Our mothers couldnt have taught us how to be polite with social media it didnt exist when most of us were growing up.Monster Do Millennials face a bigger challenge, given their level of social media use?Pachter They mayas social media has become their main mode of communication. One young woman said that she looks at her phone the last thing at night and the first thing in the morningpositiv many Millennials started using social media before they entered the workplace and dont realize that they may have to adapt their social media presence/activity for the business world.Monster Should younger workers be held to the same rules around social media use at work as everyone else? Or is that a sure-fire way to create discontent?Pachter Yes, we all need to follow the same rules. Everyone needs to remember that th eir use of social media can impact their reputation and their relationships with others.Monster What challenges has social media created in workplace behavior? How should employers address these issues?Pachter Employers need a social media policy. They need to address issues such as Can employees access social media while they are at work? (This is somewhat difficult to stop as most employees have access via their phones.) What company information is appropriate to post or not to post? And what are the penalties for employees abusing the social media policy?Monster What other challenges are common around workplace etiquette?Pachter People mucksmuschenstill have the tendency to text under the table at meetings. This use of the Smartphone is rude to the speaker. In addition to understanding how to be polite with social media, many employees still need to learn how to shake hands correctly, dress appropriately and stay sober at business-social events.Monster Whatno-nos do employers som etimes commit in the workplace?Pachter Employers have a tendency to set guidelines for employees, yet dont always follow the rules themselves. One boss does not let his employees text in the office, but he will text when he is in a meeting.Monster You mention the importance of good grammar and spelling in communications. Is social media, which is inherently casual and often quickly executed the biggest culprit?Pachter It is certainly one of them. Though the workplace is more casual today, it is not okay for people to be unprofessional when using social media. Your reputation can be affected by the quality/content of your emails, posts, tweets and texts.Monster Should recruiters reject a great resume that includes a few typos?Pachter Whether they should or they shouldnt is not the question. They do Recruiters will reject a resume with typos in it.Consider this One typo may be overlooked, but if there are three, four or more errors, it sends a message that you are not paying attenti on to the details.And why would I want to hire you if you make a lot of mistakes?Monster Is it up to employers to train their new workers in soft skills that may often be missing?Pachter Yes. Employers want their employees to be the best they can be. Having employees who have soft skills have the competitive edge. They can effectively establish relationships, communicate more clearly and interact more professionally and politely (whether on the phone, in-person or with social media) with internal and external customers.Author BioBarbara Pachter is president of Pachter Associates. The Essentials of Business Etiquette How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet your Way to Success (McGraw-Hill, 2013) is her 10th book. She is an internationally renowned business etiquette and communications speaker, coach, and author who has delivered more than 2,100 seminars throughout the world. For more information, visit pachter.com.

You Dont Need a Career Path to Get Ahead -The Muse

You Dont Need a Career Path to Get Ahead -The MuseYou Dont Need a Career Path to Get Ahead Theres almost a 75% chance that your current jobs unrelated to your college major. You spend four years sweating for that BS in accounting...only to end up as a field sales rep for a pharmaceutical company.You break your back for your BA in herunterkommen European History...and now youre a fleet manager for a rental car company.Or, in the case of Lindsay Moroney, you follow your heart and obtain a degree in Art History, and then through a series of twists and turns, you find yourself the VP of Strategy and Operations at The Muse.Moroney, a recent guest on the Happen to your Career Podcast, is a perfect example of someone who hopscotched her way to her current position, going from pre-med to art history to a job in the art industry before landing, quite happily its worth adding, in her current role. She got ahead even when she didnt know where she was going.We discussed the idea that as much as we want to view our career path as one thats been laid out for us, illuminated by lights like an airplane runway, its really nothing of the sort. In fact, its a journey through a labyrinth, with myriad twists and turns and unlikely surprises along the way, and its OK if you dont have a career plan. You may wonder then, what is the point of setting goals, working hard, and ending up somewhere you never intended to be? How can you make progress if you continually break course? How can you be successful if you cant even follow a straight line?Heres the thing The more activities you participate in, the more people you meet, the more opportunities you grab hold of, the more likely you are to find something amazing along the way- regardless of (or maybe especially if), your path is quite windy. In the words of the inimitable Oprah Winfrey, Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity. Moroney and I (and, apparently, Oprah) are strong believers in saying yes to the next cool opportu nity, even if the end goal isnt abundantly clear. When I asked her how her career evolved, Moroney said, I didnt have an end goal in mind. I never thought, Well, if I do these things Ill end up at The Muse. Instead, her guiding light has been to look for new opportunities and chances to learn and grow. That just kept taking me on steps that were really wonderful, she says. So, how can you adopt this philosophy of action in your career? 1. Make Yes Your DefaultWhen your manager needs someone to take part in an interdepartmental project, volunteer. When you landsee that the internal documents needs updating, take on the task. Poke your head outside your cubicle and look around. You never know what youll find. It doesnt matter if a project or opportunity isnt the stuff of dreams not every single occasion is going to be the best thing ever. But embrace the less exciting moments, and youll reap the benefits learn a new skill, expand your experience, grow outside your comfort zone.2. Expa nd Your CircleConnect with people outside of your normal orbit. Get back in nichts von with your old high school friend whos now a record producer. Have lunch once a month with a former colleague, just to catch up. Talk to the guy sitting next to you at the dog park. Find commonalities and differences between your industries.An early connection through a friend of her fathers was able to show Moroney that a career in the art world was possible. She had turned a passion into a real job, Moroney recalls, and that was inspiring. Conversations with people who were living the life she imagined made her dream seem achievable. FIND A JOB THAT FITS YOUR PERSONALITY ...and awesome companies hiring nowFind Your Niche Right This Way 3. Give Serendipity Room to OperateNot all opportunities have to come from the office. Take that Spanish refresher course, volunteer for a cause you believe in, join a running group. The great thing about serendipity is that it can- and does- occur everywhere. Over 50% of the people who Ive helped make career changes have job offers that originated from chance encounters or relationships. So dont leave your career up to chance- create more opportunities for yourself, and see what you discover.For instance, Im a big fan of the airplane encounter. Sure, I could be silent the whole flight, focus on my iPad (Iman introvert, after all), and not strike up conversation with my seatmate, but then Id miss out on opportunities to meet people and expand my network. This is how and whereserendipityhappens.In sum, your path doesnt have to be linear from A to Z. What looks like a side trip may actually end up being your next great career move. It truly is as much about the journey as the end destination. As Moroney says, Ive just followed what Ive enjoyed and what Ive been passionate about. Things had a way of working out for her- and if you want to get ahead, youve got to stop stressing over the unplanned course of your career. Keep your life in motion an d your eyes open, and, chances are, itll work out for you too.Want to hear my entire conversation with Moroney on the Happen to Your Career Podcast? Click here to check it out.Still trying to figure out your path? Ditch the confusion for clarity by downloading The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Career That Fits You from Happen to Your Career.Here at The Muse, we love introducing you to people who can boost your career. We are working with this contributor on an affiliate basis (meaning we earn a little money when you choose to use their services), but rest assured that we dont just work with anyone. When it comes to articles like this, we chose to work with this coach not because he wanted a Muse byline, but because his advice was truly awesome. Heres to finding the career of your dreams