How to Choose the Right Job - Your Career Intel

How to Choose the Right Job - Your Career IntelImagine this after multiple rounds of interviews, thank you notes, reference calls, and background checks, youve been offered an amazing opportunity or better yet, two opportunities. Youve finally reached the finish line and can breathe a sigh of relief, right? Actually, the hard part is just beginning. Many of the candidates I work with are so focused on proving that they are right for the role that they forget to evaluate whether the role is really right for them.Ive been an executive recruiter for Lucas Group for almost 25 years, and I truly enjoy guiding my candidates through some of the most important decisions of their lives. When helping candidates choose among job offers, here are some of the things Ive found are most important to consider.What are the top three things that are most important to you about a job?At the beginning of every job search, I recommend candidates take a moment and write down the three things that are most important to them in a new opportunity. Are you genuinely someone who wants to be in the C-suite, or is work-life balance mora important to you? Do you value stability, or are you ready to take on more risk and share in more of the upside? Do you want to surround yourself with competitive players, or do you want to work in a collaborative and nurturing environment? Be honest with yourself about what truly matters most. The only right answer is the one that aligns with your needs not what society or your peers say you should do.Once your priorities are clear, it is much easier to evaluate different opportunities. Perks that look good on paper but arent mission critical, for example, wont be a distraction. Youre also unlikely to negotiate over a few thousand dollars if you know what really matters are more flexible work hours or work-from-home options.Who can you turn to for honest advice?Youll naturally have a lot of questions during your job search, and its important that you choos e the right people to ask for help and advice. Your first instinct might be to consult your mentors, people who are more senior whom you respect and admire. But you also need to make sure you talk to people who really know you well and with whom you can speak candidly. Are you going to be able to admit to your old boss that youre looking to make a change because you dont want to work 80 hours a week anymore?This is where it really helps to work with an experienced recruiter. Its in a good recruiters best interest to find a role thats a great fit for you where youll be happy in the long-term. Ive followed some candidates throughout their entire careers, from staff accountants to CFOs. I understand their motivations, development goals, and priorities very well at this point. They also dont need to prove anything to me or justify a career pivot. This puts me in a unique position to give them advice not just on their next role, but also on their overall career trajectory.Will this job h elp you become who you want to be in five years?The biggest mistake I see candidates make is running away from a bad situation instead of running towards a good situation. Dont just say yes to a quick fix. When evaluating an offer, think about where it will take you in a year, and in five years. Will the role help you achieve your goals and ambitions down the line?Recently, I helped a candidate evaluate two different offers for positions here in Denver. Offer A was a more senior title with higher pay, but not ideal long term prospects. Offer B was for a more lateral role however, it offered the opportunity for advancement at a more successful company and would lead to far greater responsibility and compensation down the road. The candidate found it very difficult to turn down the more senior title. But together we looked at what he wanted to accomplish in five years and concluded that Offer B was the right fit for the long run. He accepted the role, and hes now confident that it was the right decision.We spend more time at work than we do almost anywhere else, so if you arent happy on a day-to-day basis, it doesnt matter how good the job looks on paper.Have you had experience choosing among multiple job offers? I invite you to share in a comment below.

How To Maximize Your Maternity Leave

How To Maximize Your Maternity Leave As I welches stepping out the door to commute on my first day back at work after maternity leave, I joked with my husband, I dont think I should be operating heavy machinery. Much like the disclaimers at the end of a sleeping pill ad, I was so sleep deprived, hormonal, and carrying around new purse full of mom-guilt that Im surprised I could operate a moving vehicle. (Although, I have to admit I was pretty happy to have an arm free to at least hold a purse.)I lovingly refer to this phase of my life as the Hot Mess phase. I made all the classic mistakes moms make when going back to work. In my new mommy haze, I thought maximizing time with my infant girl meant leid being away for more than an hour or two while on leave. In fact, going cold turkey did not allow her or me to learn the skill of mommy always comes back. As I was doing the ugly cry on the freeway on mysecond day back, I vowed to help moms through this emotional transition.The narrow mat ernity leave window is painfully short for fruchtwein of us. Having a plan will not only help relieve the guilt, but it will also set you up for a peaceful transition. Your plan should include the 3 Bs of going back to work. Prepare your Baby, your Boss and your Brain to successfullyreturn. And then check out our maternity leave checklist for more help.Preparing your babyHelping baby through the change of fulltime baby bonding to fulltime childcare is a big one that requires planning, patience, communication and rallying your tribe. So when it comes to preparing for childcare, heres how you can plan it out.If baby is a healthy weight and breastfeeding is established, pump one side in the morning at approximately one month post birth. Freeze and label expressed milk with date and ounces. Be sure to follow these milk storage guidelines. Understand your budget with your partner and start to explore childcare options that is the right fit for your family.Introduce a pacifierwhen your ba bys one month old.Introduce a bottle once a day to around one month before going back. Here are some great tips on how to introduce a bottle to a breastfed baby.Preparing for childcarePractice being away. This is an emotional rollercoaster, but think of it as a skill that you and baby need to learn. Baby will learn that mommy always comes back. You will learn that a bit of time a way is actually good for your mental and physical wellbeing. And hey, you might get a pedicure out of the deal.Practice childcare daily, one week before returning to work to gradually increase the time apart from baby. This will help baby get physically comfortable with the surroundings and care providers. Here is a good guideline for what to pack and what not to pack for daycare.Preparing your anfhrer. Despite what you think, your coworkers have NO clue how you have fundamentally changed over leave. And most likely your boss is not equipped to deal with the emotional side. So be sure to cover the following with him or her before you go backConfirm date of your return and any paperwork necessarySecure a pump room location. By law it cannot be a bathroom. (If the ACA is not repealed)Ask for flexibility return on a Wednesday or half days for the first weekPreparing your brainRally your tribe of mom friends who will allow you to cry laugh, complain or rejoice when you head back to work. Prepare your mind and your heart for the transition and a supportive network will help you get thereLearn to say no, delegate and set boundaries. You are redefining who you are as a working mother. Be clear that your child is at the top of your priority list.Going back to work after maternity leave requires a solid plan, where you prepare yourself, your boss and baby for this new phase of your lives. Surround yourself with a supportive tribe will help you navigate the emotional ups and downs. You can do it mama--Elaine is a Working Mom Support Coach on a mission de-stress maternity leave and propel a nati on of thriving working mothers. From her own emotionally traumatic return-to-work after her first daughter (HOT MESS), ThriveMomma.com was born. She coaches new moms on of return-to-work readiness, time management and mindful living. And consults for corporations on paternity transition planning and work/life policies to retain and nurture working parents.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer

Learning Code In Los Angeles These Places Have You Covered

Learning Code In Los Angeles These Places Have You Covered The Los Angeles tech scene is elend to be underestimated. Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Snapchat, BuzzFeed, and dozens of other tech companies have offices in LA??often located in the Westsides Silicon Beach region.If youre eager to break into that LA tech scene, look no further The following groups will get you started on yur journey to become a developer, or help you level up your skills if youre a mora advanced student. Check out the list below to see which courses are right for you.LearnTeach CodeCourse level Beginner??AdvancedExample courses Intro to HTML Workshop Python Programming Study GroupPrice sortiment $0Founded in early 2015 by Liz Krane, Learn Teach Codeis as much about building community as it is about learning computer science skills. Liz began hosting the meetups so that she herself would have fellow beginners to study with first in my living room, then in coffee shops and any offices that would offer to host us. In 2016, Liz gave a presentation about starting the group when she herself was a beginner. She explained, You dont have to be an expert to help other people learn something.Over the past year and a half, Learn Teach Code has evolved into a highly active programming meetup with multiple events per week, ranging from study groups to workshops. The group is beginner-focused but welcomes students of all levels. At our study groups, the goal is to share knowledge and meet people, says Liz. If youre a motivated learner looking for some study buddies, this could be the group for you.Girl Develop It??Los AngelesCourse level Beginner IntermediateExample courses WordPress 101 Intro to Mobile App BuildingPrice range $0??$90Girl Develop It is a national nonprofit focused on teaching women to code in an affordable, judgment-free setting. Natalie MacLees, Co-Founder and Chapter Leader of GDI Los Angeles, explains that what sets Girl Develop It apart from other coding classes in the area is it of fers a welcoming, supportive, beginner-friendly environment. As Natalie notes (and as any woman in tech knows), It can be really helpful to have a supportive community of women who can give advice, help you learn, push you to excel and listen when you vent. That supportive community can definitely be found at Girl Develop It??Los Angeles.Although Girl Develop It does focus on instructing women, classes are open to all students aged 18 and up. fruchtwein of the LA chapters courses are targeted to beginners, but as the chapter grows they do intend to offer mora intermediate and advanced classes. Thinkful L.A. Course level Beginner IntermediateExample courses Flexible Web Development Bootcamp, Full Time Web Development Bootcamp, Flexible Data Science BootcampPrice range $0??$14,000Thinkful L.A. is a coding bootcamp focused on helping students learn to code and get jobs as developers and data scientists. Every week, they host free events for beginners and intermediate developers on to pics like HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and important developer tools like git/GitHub. Bi-weekly tech talks focus on topics like getting started in tech, choosing your first programming language, and building an impressive portfolio.Thinkful offers both full time and flexible options for their coding bootcamp, where they teach full stack web development through 1-on-1 mentorship and project-driven learning. Thinkful is the only L.A. coding bootcamp with a job-placement guarantee and an independently audited report on student outcomes.Coding Dojo Course level Beginner IntermediateExample courses Onsite Flex Bootcamp Dev AcceleratorPrice range $50??$11995No matter what language youre looking to learn, theres a pretty good chance youll find an applicable course at Coding Dojos LA campus, located in Burbank, CA. The school offers a 14-week flex bootcamp in which students choose three different technology stacks to learn??choices include PHP, Python, iOS, Ruby on Rails and MEAN. Alternatively, advanced students can choose to learn a single stack during a four-week Dev Accelerator course. Not ready for the commitment? Coding Dojo has evening classes and single-day workshops to choose from as well.Katie Bouwkamp, Coding Dojos Director of Communications, explains that the main advantage to the schools multi-stack style is that employers in LA are looking for versatile, self-sufficient developers. We believe that the best way to prime students for the job market is to teach multiple programming languages. Better yet, Coding Dojo offers scholarships of up to $2,000 for aspiring female programmers. UCLA Extension Engineering Technology Course level Beginner??AdvancedExample courses Introduction to PHP with MySQL Google Android DevelopmentPrice range $925??$8,950The Engineering Technology department at UCLA Extension offers a variety of individual courses, certificates, and sequential programs on topics ranging from python programming to machine learning. According to the scho ols website, most programs offer open admission??that is, you simply enroll by paying the initial fee. In many cases, you can simply enroll in a single course that interests you (even if that course is offered as part of a certificate).If this traditional higher ed setting sounds right for you, dont miss UCLA Extensions list of offerings. The school does not offer job placement services, but does note on its website that your coursework will provide you with opportunities to network with instructors and other students, many of whom are working professionals. Los Angeles Womens Ruby on Rails Group Course level BeginnerExample courses Introduction to Git and Github Open Source Pair Mob ProgrammingPrice range $0+The LA Womens Ruby on Rails Group is a beginner-focused group that meets regularly on LAs East Side. According to Organizer Jen Diamond, its meant to encourage women to join into the technology space by offering a comfortable, inviting environment. Anyone whos curious about le arning to code (but perhaps doesnt know where to start) would be well-suited to attend these meetups.Jen explains that the events are a great place to learn by collaborating with other developers. They provide an opportunity to meet other developers to work with or to find a mentor, to ask questions and to learn. The meetups are free of charge, but Jen notes that the group is planning to add some more formal classes to its agenda in the near future which will have a small fee. General Assembly Course level Beginner IntermediateExample courses iOS Development Immersive Introduction to Lean UX MethodsPrice range $35??$14,500Generally Assembly has well over a dozen campuses around the world, including two in Los Angeles one downtown, and one in Santa Monica. In addition to providing high quality instruction, the school has an education-to-employment approach aimed to set students up for success outside of the classroom, according to Marketing Manager Marina Rusinow.General Assembly of fers full-time and part-time immersives for beginners, as well as many shorter classes and workshops. The wide variety of of topics and class types makes this school a great pick for many students.Join PowerToFly today to become part of our fast-growing network of all-star women in tech. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a const ruction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 1000000 construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadershi p roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo-verstrker welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an a verage salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.