Career Guidance Strategies

Most people think career success comes from making the perfect decision. It doesn’t. It comes from making timely, values-aligned ones. Especially when the next step feels unclear. One of my clients, a brilliant VP, spent 3 months stuck on a single choice: “Do I speak up about being overlooked, or wait for my work to speak for itself?” She called it strategic patience. But it was really fear disguised as overthinking. We ran it through this framework. She made the call. Six weeks later, her promotion was fast-tracked. She was finally seen, heard, and most importantly, included. Because here’s what I tell every high-achiever I coach: You don’t need more time to decide. You need a better way to decide. Try the 2-Minute Decision Framework™ (Career Edition): 1. QUICK DECISIONS → Handle it NOW For low-stakes tasks that clog your mental bandwidth: → Can you respond to that email in < 2 minutes? → Is the request low risk and easily reversible? → Are you spiraling on something that just needs action? ✅ Do it. Momentum builds trust and confidence. (Your career doesn’t stall in the big moves, it drips away through tiny indecisions.) 2. TEAM DECISIONS → Resolve it TODAY For collaborative work or project bottlenecks: → Who’s recommending this approach? → Who’s doing the work? → Who’s accountable for the final call? ✍️ Assign roles. Align expectations. Move forward. (Most team confusion comes from no one knowing who’s driving.) Use this anytime you’re: – Leading a cross-functional project – Navigating performance reviews – Building team trust through shared clarity 3. CAREER DECISIONS → Make it THIS WEEK For decisions that affect your growth, visibility, and voice: Use the 3–2–1 Method: → 3 options: Brainstorm career paths, scripts, or solutions → 2 perspectives: Ask two mentors, not the whole internet → 1 call: Choose the path aligned with your long game 🎯 Clarity > complexity. Every time. This works for: – Deciding whether to advocate for a raise or promotion – Considering a lateral move for growth – Navigating visibility or speaking up on tough issues The truth is: courageous careers aren’t built on perfect plans. They’re built on small, aligned decisions made with intention. That’s C.H.O.I.C.E.® in action. So here’s your coaching moment: 🔥 Pick one decision you’ve been avoiding. Run it through the framework. Make the call within the next hour. Then ask yourself: What changed when I finally decided? ❓ What’s one career decision you’ve been sitting on too long? Share it below, or DM me, and we’ll run it through together. 🔖 Save this for your next “Should I…?” moment 👥 Tag someone who needs this framework in their toolkit Because alignment isn’t found in overthinking. It’s built through C.H.O.I.C.E.®. ➕ Follow Loren Rosario - Maldonado, PCC for tools that actually work in real life. #CareerCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment

Hey there, it’s me, your coach Nina, how are you today? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the exciting but vast possibilities in your career? Society, your parents, friends, strangers on social media, and even your own expectations have all been suggesting paths you “should” take professionally. If you're intellectually curious and enjoy learning, you likely have a strong drive to grow already. You might already have some ideas about where you want to go and how to get there. However, with endless possibilities and only 24 hours in a day, it's important to have a focused and sustainable approach to your career development, one that prevents overwhelm and burnout. Here are some strategies to consider: 1️⃣ List out your career goals: What do you really want in your career? Is it money, title, creative freedom, influence, fame, or making an impact? In my early career I wanted to get promoted because the society says so, but after a few years I started to optimize for learning new experiences (hence jumping from corporate to startup to stand up a new team.) 2️⃣ Figure out your why: understand why you want to achieve something adds meaning and boosts motivation. Are you aiming for FIRE (financial independence to retire early), seeking respect as a manager, or craving intellectual exploration? 3️⃣ Define success: know your destination helps you figure out what resources or skills you need to get there. For instance, aspiring to be a people manager might require learning how to inspire others. 4️⃣ Identify the resources you need: Just like planning a trip, you need to know what to pack for your career journey. Determine the skills or knowledge necessary for your dream role. 5️⃣ Choose how to learn: Different people prefer different learning methods—reading, visual cues, podcasts, or hands-on experience. Find what works best for you and experiment if you're unsure. 6️⃣ Practice: Apply your new skills whenever possible. Shadow others, volunteer for projects, and actively develop the competencies you need. 7️⃣ Reflect regularly: Set a monthly reminder to assess your progress and adjust your strategies if needed. 8️⃣ Seek accountability: Remember the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Find a mentor, friend, or a coach friend to support and hold you accountable. What strategies have you used or would you recommend to feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in your career growth? #careerdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #midcareer

I decided to start the week with this. I’ve discovered that for experienced professionals, some things seem like platitudes. But for folks who are still feeling their way through their career, and “adulting" the right type of guidance helps. You feel overwhelmed at work & are not doing tasks you like. Unmotivated & frustrated, you're uncertain if you should quit, pursue a master’s program, or start your own business. But even that is confusing! Sounds familiar? Here is how I recommend you get out of that rut. 1) 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: It's okay not knowing everything. The key is to embrace learning & keep growing each day. Accept that it's fine to make mistakes, provided you learn from them. It's part of the learning curve. 2) 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: SMART= specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Instead of saying, "I want to get better at my job," say, "I want to improve my sales numbers by X% in Q3." This gives you a clear target and a way to measure your progress. 3) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 Y𝐨𝐮𝐫 G𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: Have clear, tangible goals and visualize them daily. They serve as your signal in times of uncertainty and remind you what your targets are. 4) 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: While motivation is a can aid action, it fluctuates. Discipline, on the other hand, keeps you going even when motivation wanes. Discipline is committing to your goals and working towards them, 5) 𝐀𝐜𝐭!: Instead of waiting for the perfect plan, take action based on the information you have. Be willing to adjust your approach as you gain new insights, moving closer to your goals with each step forward. 6) 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Seek constructive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. This can give you insight into areas where you can improve. Remember, feedback is not a criticism of you as a person but a tool to help you improve. 7) 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬: Maintain a sense of curiosity about your work and field. This can lead to a deeper understanding and open new avenues for growth. Ask questions, do research, & always strive to know more. 8) 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Building relationships can be beneficial. You can learn from experiences, get advice, & discover opportunities you would not have otherwise found. Don't be afraid to connect with others. 9) 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Everyone has days they feel inadequate. It's part of being human. Instead of feeling bad about yourself, approach these situations objectively. 10) 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞: Work is important, but so is the rest of your life. Ensure you have work-life balance. This prevents burnout & keeps you from getting overwhelmed. Relax. Spend time with loved ones. Remember, personal & professional development is a continuous journey of growth and self-discovery. Embrace the process, stay resilient, & enjoy the fulfillment that comes from progress and achievement. Have a great week. Davidson 

“I don’t want people to micro-manage me” Defining our next role is often about what we 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 want 🙅♀️. But how can we figure out what we actually DO want? My coaching clients have found this approach effective: 🔍 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭 Reflect on your most and least satisfying jobs. Focus on your personal experience, not what ‘should’ make a job satisfying. 📋 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮 Identify what specifically made those roles satisfying or not. Make a list. 🔎 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯 Compare your list with the 7 factors that research supports as leading to job satisfaction (see below). 💡 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 “𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁” 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵. 📚 The 7 factors that tend to lead to higher job satisfaction: ✅ 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣-𝙅𝙤𝙗 𝙁𝙞𝙩: roles that match your strengths, values, and where you can be yourself. ✅ 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮: meaningful control over your work, like flexible scheduling or choice in projects. ✅ 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨: a team that shares your values and goals. ✅ 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨: growth opportunities aligned with your interests. ✅ 𝙏𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙑𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮: What keeps you engaged? Identify the level of variety that suits you. ✅ 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: both the physical workspace and the company's culture. Does it foster creativity, trust, etc.? ✅ 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙙: a balance – not overwhelming but enough to keep you engaged. 🤔 What qualities will you look out for in the next role? Reach out if you're looking for guidance on this path.

Feeling stuck in your career can be a frustrating and demotivating experience. It can appear that everyone around you is moving forward while you're stuck in the same place. But the truth is, it's more common than you might think. Many people experience a career plateau or feel unsure about their career path at some point in their professional journey. The daily grind of work can take a toll on your motivation and make it difficult to see the bigger picture. It's easy to get caught up in the routine of your job and lose sight of your long-term goals. But it's important to remember that it's never too late to make a change and start moving towards your dream job. You need to adopt the right mindset and take a few simple steps to break free from the rut. Here are some tips to help you get started: 1. Reflect on your values and priorities: To find job satisfaction, aligning your work with your personal values and priorities is important. Take some time to reflect on what's important to you and what motivates you. Are you passionate about helping others? Do you value work-life balance? Once you clearly understand your values and priorities, you can start exploring career paths that align with them. 2. Identify your strengths and skills: Understanding your strengths and skills is key to finding a career path that's a good fit for you. Make a list of your strengths and skills, and think about how you can apply them in a new role or industry. For example, if you're great at problem-solving, consider a career in project management or consulting. 3. Network and research: Talking to people in your desired industry or role can give you valuable insights into the job market and help you make informed decisions. Contact people in your network or attend industry events to learn more about your options. Research companies and job openings that align with your values and goals. 4. Take action: Once you've identified your values, priorities, strengths, and skills, it's time to take action. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile to highlight your relevant experience and skills. Apply for jobs that align with your goals and values. Take courses or certifications to develop new skills or improve existing ones. Remember, getting unstuck in your career takes time and effort. But with the right mindset and a few simple steps, you can start moving towards your dream job. #Career #Goals #Unstuck #Motivation #prioritize

Not sure of your career path? 8 science-backed ways to find one you’ll actually love. 1) Task > Title (Grace Lordan): Focus on daily tasks, not fancy job titles. What work and tasks energize you hour by hour? 2) Visualize Your “Me+” (Grace Lordan): Who do you want to become in 5–10 years? Imagine your ideal day, not just the job. Go deeper. 3) Run an Energy Check: Review your week. What drained you? What lit you up? Patterns emerge. 4) Invest 90 Minutes Weekly in yourself: Small steps beat massive overhauls. Commit weekly time to your growth. This investment will compound. 5) Develop Rare & Valuable Skills (Cal Newport): Mastery builds leverage. Passion often follows skill; not the other way around. 6) Grow useful skills: Online learning and focus can beat passive credentials. Invest in skills that are actually useful. 7) Normalize U-Turns and Detours (Dan Gilbert): You will change. That’s good. Your dream job at 25 might bore you at 35. 8) Explore 4 work types you enjoy. Complete Ali Abdaal's "grid search mindset" exercise. You can gain clarity through action. Let that feedback guide you. 🔄 Combine behavioral science, skill-building, and reflection. That’s the roadmap to real career alignment. Which of these 8 feels most relevant to you right now? 👇🏽 ______ Know someone who's feeling stuck in their career? ♻️ Repost to help them see that clarity comes from action.

𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬   As individuals complete their academic journey and enter the professional environment, they will encounter tasks involving goal setting and the creation of a development plan. Here are a few tips about how to get started and sustain the momentum.   𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠   Creating a goal plan involves a systematic approach to defining your objectives, outlining the steps needed to achieve them, and establishing a timeline for completion.   Identify your specific goals making sure that they are clear, specific, and measurable. Gain alignment with supervisors and teammates on how success will be defined for each goal.   Prioritize your goals by determining their relative importance, factoring in questions around urgency, alignment with your long-term objectives, and potential impact on your career growth. Break each goal into smaller, manageable tasks or milestones.   Assign realistic deadlines to each milestone or task.   Develop a detailed action plan for each goal, outlining the specific steps you need to take to accomplish it. Include resources you may require and any potential obstacles or challenges you might encounter. Consider strategies to overcome them.   Review your goal plan and track your progress on a regular basis as this approach will allow you to understand whether you are on track and additional actions may be required to achieve those objectives.   Finally, goals can and will change with additional information, new priorities, and new opportunities.   𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠   Creating a development plan involves assessing your current skills and competencies, identifying areas for improvement, and outlining a plan of action to enhance your professional capabilities.   Conduct a self-assessment of your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.   Reflect on your current skills, knowledge, and experiences, and consider the skills and competencies required to advance in your desired career path.   Set specific and measurable development goals. These goals should be aligned with your career aspirations and address the areas you want to improve.   Explore the various development opportunities available to you. This could include attending workshops, seminars, or conferences, enrolling in courses or certifications, seeking mentorship, participating in industry associations, or taking on challenging projects or assignments.   Develop a detailed plan of action outlining the steps you need to take to enhance your skills and competencies.   Determine the resources you will need to support your development plan. Start implementing your development plan by engaging in the identified activities.   Track your progress over time against these goals.   Actively seek feedback from mentors, supervisors, or colleagues who can provide guidance and support with different perspectives and suggestions for improvement. #development #career  

Traditional employment paths are becoming tougher to navigate. Here's how to cut through the clutter. 👉 The context? Roles often go to internal candidates or referrals. Over 40% of positions filled internally and networking outweighs direct applications 7:1 in final hiring choices. As an applicant, you'll get lost in robotic Applicant Tracking Systems. As a hiring manager, it's tough to manage the noise. A better approach would involve using contextual data to match candidates' skills/past successes with real corporate needs, focusing on job context and performance-based requirements. Until then, if you're looking for work, navigate the hidden job market with these steps: 1. Clarify Your Brand: Your resume and LinkedIn act as gatekeepers. Keep your resume is concise, achievement-focused, and tailored. LinkedIn should represent your professional identity, highlighting skills, experiences, knowledge. 2. Find Your Voice: Amplify your presence on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or even TikTok. Share industry insights and original thoughts to boost visibility and establishing expertise. 3. Network: Engage in local events, professional groups, and discussions. Networking is about genuine connections, not just adding contacts. 4. Direct Outreach: Use tools like LinkedIn SalesNavigator, OctopusCRM, Apollo for targeted outreach within your industry or desired companies, expressing interest. 5. Networking Calls: Use them to uncover 'business pain' and align your past achievements to solving these challenges. 6. The Art of Follow-up: Persistently follow up with those who engage, expressing thanks and interest, to maintain momentum. 7. Master the Interview: Learn techniques like STAR and behavioural interviewing to align your experiences with job requirements. 8. Resilience is Key: Expect rejection, including ghosting and offer withdrawals. Stay positive and learn from each setback. Adopting these strategies isn't just about finding a job; it's useful in building a career. Reach out if you need guidance. I will help. What's worked in your job search? Share your strategies.

When it comes to choosing your career path, it's important to consider more than just the financial aspect. While the money you make will naturally be a consideration, it shouldn't be the sole factor influencing your decision. Looking beyond money is crucial for making informed career choices, for example: - Development Opportunities: Seek out career paths that offer growth and learning opportunities. Look for organizations that invest in their employees' professional development, providing training programs and real room for advancement. Are employees actively growing from within or are most being recruited from external sources within your targeted function? - Support Infrastructure: A supportive work environment can make a significant difference in your career journey. Look for companies that prioritize collaboration, open communication, and teamwork and have evidence of it in their work. Is cross-functional collaboration encouraged and normalized? - Professional Goals: Define your professional aspirations and find a career path that aligns with them. Consider your passions, strengths, and long-term objectives. Look for roles that allow you to utilize your skills and make a meaningful impact. Sometimes the next best role is a lateral move to gain functional expertise. Don’t be afraid to consider a side step that will enable you to move two steps forward later. - Work-Life Balance: Strive for a healthy work-life balance. Prioritize organizations that value work-life harmony and understand the importance of personal well-being. You can find work-life balance in many roles that seem unachievable by setting clear expectations, establishing guardrails, and maximizing processes and technology. What tools and resources does your desired organization invest in to achieve this? - What Matters Most to You: Reflect on your values and priorities. Consider factors like company culture, social impact, and alignment with your passions. Find a career that resonates with what truly matters to you not what your title is on LinkedIn. I’m willing to wager none of the people who care about you the most care what your work title is… While money has its role in the conversation, it shouldn't be the sole focus when making career decisions. By considering development opportunities, support infrastructure, professional goals, work-life balance, and your personal values, you can create a fulfilling and meaningful career path. How have you prioritized other factors in your career besides the bottom line?