I’m a millennial, and today I was thinking about how much more I hear the word “gratitude” now than I did when I was younger. As a society, I think we are more aware of gratitude, but many of us still wonder how to practice gratitude on a daily basis. If you’re like me, you want it to become a natural, daily part of your life, not just something you do and think about around Thanksgiving. So, today I’m sharing three gratitude exercises that are low time commitment but high impact.

How to Practice Gratitude

Gratitude Share Out at Dinner

If you are wondering how to practice gratitude as a family, consider starting a daily gratitude share out at dinner. This is my favorite gratitude exercise because it starts a positive conversation and develops a healthy family habit. Each night at dinner, my husband, daughter, and I share three things that went well that day. After a while, you’ll begin to note little things throughout the day that you want to share that evening.

Daily Gratitude List

My favorite personal gratitude exercise is a gratitude list—shoutout to Rachel Hollis for introducing me to this concept. I’ve adapted it to fit my needs. I keep a small journal beside my bed, and each night I list 10 things I’m thankful for from that day or week. Big, easy items don’t count. I don’t write, “I’m thankful for my husband.” Instead, I focus on specific things. For example, “I’m thankful my husband unloaded the dishwasher today.” (*Round of applause!*) This daily gratitude exercise lowers my anxiety, helps me focus on the positives, and reminds me of what is truly important in life.

Gratitude Letter or Card

Have you ever received an unexpected thank you note, letter or email? About once per year, I get an email or LinkedIn message from a student I have helped in the past thanking me for my time, a class I taught, or a mentorship I extended. These letters are like gold to me. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I truly understood the magnitude of such messages, though. I thought I was just a sappy teacher who liked these messages more than the average person. But then, I had a mentor share just how much my gratitude meant and how they had changed the course of what had been a trying month.

An excellent gratitude exercise is to write a letter or send a card to someone who has had a profound impact on your life lately in big or small ways. I did this exercise recently. I wrote a specific letter (one page) to my daughter’s daycare teachers. Last year was a challenging one for me as my husband was away. Without their love, care, and consistency in both my life and our daughter’s life, I would not have been able to maintain a healthy life professionally or personally. While I didn’t write this letter for a response, the messages I received in return were great blessings.

Gratitude Exercise Benefits

Gratitude exercises will bring so much positivity to your life. When you begin practicing gratitude, it might not come naturally; however, after a week or two, you’ll notice your entire outlook shift from one of scarcity to one of abundance. Suddenly, you’ll start to notice the good before the bad and recognize the positive parts of your day as they are happening. Enjoy these gratitude exercises and the benefits!

Confidence and Gratitude

Confidence and gratitude are closely linked to me. I find I have less anxiety and more confidence when I practice gratitude. For more on this topic, check out my blog post on confidence! Also, for another recent seasonal post – check out my recent post on Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Coworkers!

How to Practice Gratitude
Loren Kelly

If you have landed here, you have probably heard yourself say, “I don’t know what to do for a career!” I wish I had an immediate answer for you. While I can’t make it quite that easy and effortless, I can significantly reduce the anxiety, fear, and (let’s be honest) agony that comes with this big life decision. How do I do it? I begin by helping individuals build a list of criteria with which to measure career opportunities. From there, when students ask themselves, “Are these the best careers for me?” they can answer their own question by weighing the career opportunity against their personal criteria.

Resources to Help When You’re Thinking…
“I Don’t Know What to Do for a Career!”

That’s right; I’m sharing my secrets! Below are some of my favorite tools and exercises that help people evaluate their experiences and build a list of criteria with which to measure career options. Stop saying, “I don’t konw what to do for a career!” and start working through some of these exercises and building your career criteria!

Work Values

To experience lasting, career happiness, you need to be able to articulate what you value in your work and your work environment. I’m not talking job duties here, but characteristics of the work. Do you thrive on structure, or do you need variety? Are autonomy and freedom important to you, or do you want clear expectations and defined instructions? The website 123test.com has an excellent, free Work Values and Motivation resource to help you identify your top work values.

Strengths and Skills

This step is one of my favorites. Start by writing a list of your top skills and strengths (don’t skip this step!). Think about the jobs you’ve held, volunteer experiences, clubs, and organizations, etc. What skills and strengths did you develop or demonstrate in those situations?

Only after you have made your list, reach out to three people who know you well but are not family members or best friends. Ideally, these three people will have interacted with you in different capacities. A supervisor, former colleague, community member, mentor, or instructor are all great people to utilize for this exercise. Choose three people who will give you honest, detailed feedback. Then, ask them these two, simple questions:

What are my greatest strengths?

Describe a time you witnessed me at my best.

I suggest sending these in an email or text message to give the people time to think about them rather than just rattling off the first responses that come to mind. Once you have your answers, compare your list to the responses of the other people. Then, create a list of your most valuable skills and strengths that you want to see utilized in your work life. I promise this exercise will be a powerful one in helping you develop criteria to determine the best fit careers for you!

Personality and Career Fit

I am listing this resource last because we do not want the information from this step to influence the above two steps. Once you have identified your work values and your top skills and strengths, I want you to go online and take a personality assessment with a career component. Three popular tools you can use are My Next Move, Truity, or 16 Personalities. All three of these assessments will provide a “Best Careers for Me” section. While this list won’t be conclusive, the tool will give you additional criteria to consider based on your personality and then a list of best-fit careers you can consider.

Using Criteria to Determine Best Career Fit

Finally, after you have your criteria built out, you need to determine how well different career options fit your criteria. How present will your work values be in that career field? Will your best strengths and skills be utilized? How will your personality and natural abilities shine? Use online sources and professionals in your network to help give you perspective if you are unsure when trying to answer these questions. The biggest tip is, don’t rush the process. Look for answers, ponder the information, and allow time for reflection.

What’s next?

“I don’t know what to do for a career.” This statement is the number one cry for help I hear from students. Anxiety, uncertainty, and fear flood their minds when they think about the daunting life decision of choosing a career path for themselves. Thousands of dollars, hundreds of papers and college exams, and years of their lives depend on them making the right choice. Who wouldn’t feel pressure! The good news, I can help. While the exercises above are powerful, they are even more helpful when you have someone working through the process with you and helping you identify trends and opportunities. Learn more about me and my coaching style! Book a no-pressure consultation today to learn more about the career coaching process!

Want help finding your perfect career?

As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one and assist them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to gain career-relevant experience! I guide students through the internship search, application, and interview process, teaching them life-long skills for career success!

Book a free consultation today!

How to Find a Fulfilling Career: Download my FREE GUIDE!

Download my favorite tools and exercises that help you evaluate your experiences and build a list of criteria with which to measure career options.

I Don’t Know What to Do for a Career
Loren Kelly

I love the holidays, especially around the office. It is a time of cheer, fun, and laughter. But, what about gift ideas for coworkers? If you are like me, you want to give thoughtful gifts without spending a small fortune! Here are five inexpensive, but meaningful, gift ideas for coworkers.

Gift Ideas for Coworkers

As you read down through the list, you’ll notice a couple of things. First, all of these gifts are super practical. I LOVE PRACTICAL GIFTS. My husband teases me because I once asked for a steam mop for my birthday…what can I say, I wanted one and it does make my life so much easier! You’ll also notice that these are inexpensive gifts for coworkers. That’s right! They all come in at or under $10 each so they won’t break the bank. Finally, these gifts are personal. I didn’t list Starbucks gift cards because they don’t take any thought or effort. These are thoughtful, yet easy, gifts that will have a personal touch. So, let’s get started! Here are inexpensive gift ideas for coworkers!

1. Gratitude Notes

Never underestimate the power of a sincere gratitude note as gifts to coworkers. The holidays are a great time to reflect back on the year and identify a specific time a colleague helped you or a trait that you really admire and appreciate. 2020 was full of ups and downs and thoughtful words mean more now than ever. Write a sincere note to each coworker that includes a specific example that illustrates why you appreciate that person. It may sound sappy, but everyone enjoys receiving compliments and gratitude and it won’t cost you anything but time and a few bucks for stationary.

2. Healthy Snacks

The office is usually riddled with candy, cookies, and desserts this time of year. It can be a breath of fresh air to receive something that nourishes your body. If you enjoy cooking or baking, consider making healthy treats, and neatly packaging them as gifts. You’ll have to be mindful of allergies, but I really like this festive paleo mixed nut recipe by Real Simple Good. Consumable, healthy gifts are a nice, thoughtful touch during the holiday season.

3. Scratchpad Wine

This gift idea is one of my favorites because you can combine a thoughtful note (from idea number one) and a consumable gift (from idea number two)! If you haven’t heard of Scratchpad Wine, it is a brilliant marketing concept! Choose from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Noir. Then, use pencils, markers, or pens to write a personalized note, draw a funny sketch, etc. on the blank wine label. For more ideas and inspiration, check out Please the Palate’s article, “Design Your Own Wine Label with Scratchpad Wines.” These wines are excellent gift ideas for coworkers year around coming in at about $10 per bottle!

4. Knock Knock Notepads

So, what if your office environment is less sentimental and more sarcastic? Perhaps you’ll enjoy the Knock Knock Notepads. With loads of different options, you’re sure to find the perfect notepad for each of your coworkers! From “Office Citations” to “WTF” notepads, this is the gift that will keep giving laughs throughout the year!

5. Individual Ornaments

Are you looking for something more personal yet? How about perusing the ornament isles and bins at Target in search of the PERFECT $3 ornament for each colleague on your team? You’ll be shocked at what you can find. Did something funny or memorable happen in the office this year? Look for an ornament to commemorate it. Putting that ornament on the tree each year will remind your coworkers of those great moments and bring a good laugh.

Honorable Mention: Inexpensive Gifts for Coworkers

I had to choose my top five favorites; however, there are still a few more that could easily make this list!

• Humourous Daily Calendars – Want a daily joke or good laugh in the office? Calendars.com has an entire section of funny calendars that would make fabulous and inexpensive gifts for coworkers!
• Trader Joe’s Holiday Snacks – I love Trader Joe’s and I bought a smattering of holiday treats last weekend for gift boxes and they were all under $10 each! Chocolates, cookies, nut mixes, you name it, they have it and these treats are great gift ideas for coworkers!
• Pez Dispensers – I’m taking us all back to childhood with this one! Who doesn’t love a funny PEZ Dispenser though? Thoughtfully choose one that is a coworker’s favorite character, reminds you of a funny memory with him or her, etc. Coming it at about $1.99 each, you can through in a few PEZ packets and be under $5 with this fun gift!

I absolutely love the holidays and writing this article brought me joy just because creative gift-giving is fun for me! Don’t miss a single article, sign up for my email newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Helping Students & Young Professionals with their Career Journeys

My name is Loren Kelly and I am an experienced educator and career coach. While I am passionate about all things career development and career success, my favorite aspect of my job is sitting down with students and young professionals one-on-one and assisting them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to achieve them! The path to success is not straightforward. My mission is to help you experience true career fulfillment through proactive coaching and career planning.

Book a free consultation today!

Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Coworkers
Loren Kelly

How to Write a Student Athlete Resume

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for college and student athletes. Having been one myself, and having many student athlete friends, I understand the challenges one faces when it comes to career planning or writing a student athlete resume.

All of a student athlete’s time outside of class is devoted to his or her sport leaving little time to think about or plan for the future. Then, before they know it, the college days are over. Many are left wondering how to write a student athlete resume that will appeal to an employer in the job search. If you are wondering, “Do you put college athlete on resume?” I’ll answer this question and more!

Gaps that Often Exist on a College Athlete Resume

It can be a bit harder to help assist in the writing process with a student athlete resume. Why? Because these individuals’ schedules are so consumed by their sports that they typically have little time for other activities. As a result, many athletes struggle to think of relevant content for a resume.

Here are some common issues athletes face when writing a resume.

1. Lack of Experience – An athlete’s schedule is so consumed with class, practice, weights, and games that little time usually remains for career planning and/or part-time work. It is not uncommon for an athlete to reach graduation without much work experience because their sport has been like a job for so many years.
2. Uncertainty about a Career Path – Being a successful student athlete requires a tremendous amount of dedication and focus. While other students have the time and space to engage in career exploration, an athlete often does not. I have worked with a number of student athletes in my career who are nearing graduation and have uncertainty about their career path. Their focus has been required elsewhere. If this is something you can relate with, I would love to chat with you about career planning!
3. Emphasis on Achievements – Many student athletes begin by listing a plethora of athletic achievements on their resume. Is this wrong? Not necessarily; however, many employers will not understand what that achievement means or be able to directly relate it to their organization, business, or available role.

Now that the common gaps have been identified, let’s look at what we can do to fill them on a student athlete resume.

Skills & Attributes to Highlight on a Student Athlete Resume

I have some great tips for content on a student athlete resume. By implementing the items below, you can take your resume from generic and athletic-focused to industry-relevant.

1. Emphasize your education – if you can relate with the lack of job and internship experience noted above, simply spend more time and space emphasizing your education on your resume. You can do this by including a list of relevant coursework that would be appealing to the job for which you are applying or emphasizing large projects (such as a capstone project).
2. Highlight your soft skills – when employers hire new grads, they seek the right fit in terms of work ethic, personality, and innate characteristics. Rather than listing out your athletic achievements, translate those to skills you demonstrated so it is relevant for the employer. For example, instead of listing “Team Captain” on your resume, elaborate and emphasize a skill set. “Developed leadership skills and demonstrated the ability to calmly make decisions under pressure as Team Captain.”
3. Include strong references – If you still feel like your student athlete resume is lacking an industry focus or has white space remaining, consider adding three, strong references at the bottom. References should only be used if extra space remains (don’t exclude other content just to provide reference information). Strong references, especially professors, people you know in the industry, etc. can help increase your credibility and provide connections that can help you acquire the interview.

College Athlete Resume Help

Implementing the three items above on your resume can definitely help student athletes stand out in a sea of other applicants! If you want professional help writing a student athlete resume, you can book a free consultation to learn more about my resume writing and revision services. I also offer assistance to student athletes throughout their job search!

Don’t let starting your career intimidate you! As a student athlete, you have so much to offer a company. Let’s work together to get your career started and continue your success! Are you interested in professional help? Send your resume to me and I’ll provide a list of revisions and examples to help you strengthen your professional resume! Get expert eyes on your resume to ensure you get the interview!

More Helpful Guides for Student Athletes

• How to Write a LinkedIn Profile for Student Athletes
• Writing a Standout Cover Letter as a Student Athlete
• Case Study Examples of Student-Athlete Resumes
• The Key to Communicating Athletic Experience in a Job Interview

Want help with your resume or job search?

I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one with their career endeavors! Whether you want tailored resume help or assistance finding and landing your dream job, I can help!

Book a free consultation today!

Winning Strategies for Writing a Student Athlete Resume
Loren Kelly

There has been a recurring theme in conversations with my college-aged coaching clients lately. “College advising isn’t helping me plan my future.” Ouch. As a higher-ed professional, it stings when I hear multiple remarks like this from different students. I have worked in college and university settings for 10 years, two of which I spent in a college advising related role. I have witnessed first-hand the struggles students and higher-ed professionals face. There is a disconnect between what students expect and what they experience with regard to planning for the future. Let me explain.

What Students Expect from College Advising & Career Planning

Most students go to college advising appointments expecting clarity and help to figure out their future. After all, these people are called “Advisors,” shouldn’t they be good at giving advice to students? Three of my recent clients have come to me and said, “I tried to talk to my college advisor, but he/she wasn’t helpful. I’m stuck. I have no idea what I want to do with my life, but I need to make a decision about my major.” Students walk in with high expectations for clarity and reassurance and typically walk out with an updated list of classes they need to take and maybe a link to a career interest survey to help them choose a career. Why does this happen?

What is Expected of College Advising Professionals

The role of advisors looks slightly different from college to college and state to state; however, generally speaking, these individuals are highly knowledgeable concerning college degrees, courses, and programs. Their job is to meet with students and help them be successful in forming an academic plan for their time at that educational institution. Most college advisors see the students in their caseload once a semester for about 30 minutes. They are absolute experts in helping students navigate which classes to take and when to earn their degree successfully at that institution.

The Big Disconnect

Have you identified the issues yet? First, most advisors see the students in their caseload twice a year for 30 minutes. How in-depth can a conversation about the future get in 30 minutes? Not very, especially when you need to figure out what classes the student must take to graduate on time.

Another issue is the area of expertise. College advising is just that, advising for college. These professionals are highly trained and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to academics and degree plans. Very few are also trained in the realm of career advising and career planning.

Finally, the last issue lies with the root word of “advice.” Students expect advice. They are unsure of themselves (which is why they are there), and they want advice, a career diagnosis so-to-speak, and for someone to tell them, “this is the path for you!” The issue with this expectation is no one can make that decision for a student. If students rely on someone else to determine their path, they are like to end up unhappy, unfulfilled, and lacking the confidence they so deeply desire.

So, what’s the alternative or addition to college advising?

If a student is struggling to find a career she is passionate about, a 30-minute advising meeting is not going to get her the confidence a clarity she needs. The career planning process takes weeks and hours to be done correctly. This is a quantity of time that many higher-ed institutions will struggle to devote to individual students. Most colleges and universities simply don’t have enough human resources to provide that individualized attention to as many students that need it.

The answer is individualized career coaching. It is a series of highly tailored, specific steps that will help a confused and overwhelmed student sort through his/her options and find clarity and confidence in a direction for the future. Then, when that career path is established, each college advising appointment is going to be extremely helpful. An academic goal will be set, a career plan will be laid out, and the student will be on his way to success.

How to Start Career Planning

If you or your child can relate to the frustrations outlined above, download my free Academic and Career Planning Roadmap. In this guide, I provide the sequential steps to help students find career clarity BEFORE investing thousands of dollars in higher education. Through spending time on the proper career planning steps, you will save time, money, and frustration!

Want help finding your perfect career?

As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one and assist them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to gain career-relevant experience! I guide students through the internship search, application, and interview process, teaching them life-long skills for career success!

Book a free consultation today!

Why College Advising Isn’t Enough
Loren Kelly

If you are looking for a talented and motivated junior web developer, you need to meet Brock Lubbers! Brock has a passion for programming and coding and has already developed some impressive web content and apps. I’m excited to share more about this promising junior web developer this week!

Meet Brock, Junior Web Developer

Meet, Brock. He is a Junior Web Developer in Wichita, KS! He is self-motivated, driven, and loves improving himself and his skill set. When I first started working with Brock in August 2019, he was unsure of his direction and was anxious about choosing the wrong career path. However, as we began to uncover his passion for programming and coding, he jumped in and began learning all he could and has never looked back!

Brock possesses the unique ability for someone his age to take an idea and build an entire website (front and back-end). Not only is he dedicated and able to work autonomously, but he can also build a website from scratch to deployment, and continues to update and improve the software and content.

Web Development and Programming Projects

I encourage you to take a moment and check out Brock’s website at www.developerbrock.com to see his work in action! He also has an outstanding Projects page where he highlights some of the apps he has developed!

One of Brock’s favorite projects is a repertoire management web app! Another passion of Brock’s is music. He has developed the app to track and organize his repertoire and the songs he wants to learn as a musician. In addition, the app has a tempo tracker, chat page, and more! See it in action below!

As an independent junior web developer, Brock has also designed his own website, which features a pomodoro timer app, a drum beat maker, and a data structure repository in C++. He says he has multiple other projects in the works.

Programming Languages

Brock’s favorite programming language is Python. He likes its simple syntax and how quickly he can get started with a project using its wide array of libraries. Brock enjoys the Python library Flask, as it is great for streamlining his web-development projects. He likes that it generally requires less code than other languages and, as a result, allows for faster development.

Brock’s Ideal Work as a Junior Web Developer or Intern

When thinking about ideal opportunities, Brock described a position in software development with an emphasis on web development. He finds web development fun and relevant because everyone uses the web. It is a really important element for every company, every consumer, and everyday life. He finds it satisfying to watch his webpages progress from a blank slate to polished user interfaces by using front-end languages to implement his vision.

Finding the Right Career Path

When I met Brock, he was struggling to determine the best career path for him. He was unsure what would bring him fulfillment long-term and desperately wanted confidence and clarity before investing loads of time and money into education and training. If you can relate to Brock’s former situation, I understand. And, just like I helped Brock, I can help you as well!

Want help finding your perfect career?

As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one and assist them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to gain career-relevant experience! I guide students through the internship search, application, and interview process, teaching them life-long skills for career success!

Book a free consultation today!

Meet Brock, Junior Web Developer
Loren Kelly

I’ve talked a lot about the value of experience on my blog. Due to the limited internship opportunities with companies this summer, I wanted to offer some valuable experience to a student. So, today, I want you to meet Rebecca! She will be helping me this summer with my blog and social media content as well as some other fun projects! I’m very excited to have a student’s voice and perspective on my blog. So, without further ado, meet Rebecca!

Meet Rebecca

A Little About Her

One of the wonderful aspects of conducting business virtually is I rarely have geographic boundaries. The summer internship for Rebecca is no different! She has lived most of her life in Wichita, KS (a place near and dear to my heart as well). Rebecca attended Bishop Carroll Catholic High School where she played tennis and sang in the choir. A fun fact and awesome accomplishment, her high school choir sang at Carnegie Hall by invitation! Rebecca is now a rising junior at Wichita State University (Go Shockers!).

Rebecca has a heart for animals! She’s rescued a cat named Hazel and adopted a once homeless dog named Ollie. When she isn’t hanging out with her pets, family, or boyfriend, Rebecca enjoys expressing herself artistically through drawing, painting, and home design!

Rebecca’s First Job & Current Role

I always love to hear about everyone’s first job. As I shared a few weeks ago, my first job was a role as a summer janitor. Rebecca, however, got her start in the working world as a receptionist at a hair salon! Her sister is a hairdresser and connected Rebecca with an opportunity to gain some valuable experience.

Through this experience as a receptionist, Rebecca learned a lot about customer service. Handling angry or upset customers is a highly sought-after transferrable skill and it comes naturally to her now! In fact, she uses several skills she developed at this first job in her current role as an administrative assistant.

When she isn’t helping me with content creation, Rebecca works part-time at the Knights of Columbus Insurance office! Her duties include filing, email communication, answering phones, ordering medical exams, and communicating to keep insurance claims moving through the process. She enjoys her current job, especially learning from her supervisors.

Rebecca’s Sorority Involvement

Rebecca is a creative at heart. When she isn’t creating, she enjoys being active in her sorority. Rebecca is a member of Gamma Phi Beta. She says there are many benefits to greek life. She loves the friends she has made! Her sorority sisters always brighten her day. They laugh together and study together. Above all, she loves the sense of community and the common mission they share.

Rebecca’s sorority has two projects she is particularly proud of. Each year, they help raise money for Girls on the Run, a confidence-building opportunity for middle school girls, through an event called Moon Ball. In addition, her sorority also helps organize and execute a fundraising event to raise money for Heartspring, an organization that helps children with special needs.

The Future – Rebecca’s Career Plans

Rebecca is majoring in communications with an emphasis in marketing. In addition, she is minoring in graphic design. Variety, creativity, and job security are important to Rebecca. The field of marketing and communication is constantly changing and creativity and innovation are essential for marketing and communication professionals. Rebecca is very excited to continue learning and gain experience that will benefit her in her future career.

Because Rebecca is passionate about communications, she’ll be writing several awesome articles for you this summer! We are both very excited to share perspectives, tips, and inspiration to help parents and students with college and career planning!

How did I meet Rebecca?

You might be wondering how I met Rebecca. Great question! Rebecca came to me in 2019 wondering what career path would bring her long-term fulfillment. We worked together to find a career path that she is truly excited to pursue! I absolutely love helping a student find the best-fit career path! Learn more about my career coaching services for students?

Book a free career coaching consultation with Loren!

Meet Rebecca
Loren Kelly

If you’re anything like me, you are blowing through books right now on the quarantine and isolation order. So, I’m sharing my recommendations for the best books to read for personal growth! I’m really into good, quick reads that are easy to implement. If I don’t see relevance early, I move on. If you can relate, this list of best books to read for personal growth is going to be your favorite reference for the next several months!

The Best Books to Read for Personal Growth

Please note that this list of the best books to read for personal growth is in no particular order! I love them ALL! To learn more about each book, click the image and you will be redirected to Amazon.com. If you make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

1. Mindset by Carol Dweck

Calling all parents, students, teachers, managers, and young adults…well, calling EVERYONE! This is a book you can’t miss. We all know that our mind is a powerful thing. Dr. Dweck has spent decades researching how our mindset impacts our approach to challenges and learning. My favorite part of this book is the steps Dweck provides to help shift your mindset from fixed to growth thinking. Mindset is definitely on the list of best books to read for personal growth!

2. Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden

This book is a quick and easy read that will light the fire of motivation deep inside! It teaches us how to approach the future and the journey to success. My favorite quote from this book is, “Success is not earned, it is rented—and the rent is due every day.” My copy of Take the Stairs is full of highlights and sticky notes. I read it cover to cover in about five hours I spent on a train. Don’t miss this one!

3. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

If you aren’t familiar with Brene Brown’s work, it is time to dig in and get started! I love her books, TED Talks, Netflix special, and now her podcast. The Gifts of Imperfection outlines the keys to wholehearted living. It helped me learn to embrace the mess of imperfection and find the beauty that results during and after our imperfect moments.

4. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

After you’ve finished The Gifts of Imperfection, go ahead and jump into another book by Brene Brown, Daring Greatly. I just finished this book, and, ya’ll, if I had to just choose one book from this list of best books to read for personal growth, this would be the one. Again, it is a quick and easy ready but it will speak to you and summon courage. As a new mom, I especially appreciated the chapter on parenting.

5. The ONE Thing by Gary Keller

I deliver training for student support professionals in the California Community College system and I give every participant a copy of this book. It is that good. Time management, priority, and goal setting are the key topics addressed. You’ll learn a strategy that will revolutionize your work and your productivity. Keller also provides a number of excellent online resources and free guides to accompany the book.

6. Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help by Edgar Schein

Have you ever tried to help someone, and it just didn’t turn out the way you had envisioned? It happens to all of us. This book will revolutionize the way you think about giving and accepting help. I highly recommend Dr. Schein’s book if part of your professional role revolves around helping others. I found the principles and tips in the final chapter to be extremely relevant and I use them to guide my work today.

7. The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It by Valerie Young

The title of this book implies it is for women; however, it really should be The Secret Thoughts of Successful People because, as Dr. Young points out early on, over 70 percent of the population struggle with imposter syndrome. What is imposter syndrome? It is the self-belief that you are inadequate and incompetent despite a track record of successes and competence. This book explores the different ways imposter syndrome rears its ugly head in our lives and how to battle it.

8. The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell

As the title implies, this book is all about growth and must go on my list of best books for personal growth. Maxwell is a brilliant author and has published a number of books; however, this one is my favorite so far as it jumps right into each of the fifteen laws and provides easy steps to follow. It is a longer read and implementation is a bit more involved that some of the other books; however, I found so much value in it. I took many of his ideas and have them as reminders in my office space.

9. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stainier

This is going to be one of the less heard of books, but it’s a great one! I read this book on a round-trip airplane ride and some airport sitting time. We are a culture that listens to respond. If you are a parent, manager, or work in a human-services-related role, this book is for you. It is a quick read and it really will change the way you lead and interact with others.

10. Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

I have to round out my list of the 10 best books for personal growth with Rachel Hollis. Her raw honesty is refreshing and challenging in the best ways. Yes, this one is addressed to women and, unlike Dr. Young’s book, it really is for the female audience. So, ladies reading this, grab a copy if you haven’t already and dig in. It also is a quick read and is nicely divided into three parts. Part one addresses common excuses that hold us back (get ready to build some more self-awareness and accountability here!) while parts two and three have a forward focus on behaviors to adopt and skills to acquire.

Welcome to a world of career opportunities! I’m Loren.

If you or a student in your life could benefit from some thoughtful planning or help to navigate the future, oftentimes an unbiased third-party can be a powerful tool! As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students one-on-one, meet them where they are, and assist them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to achieve them!

Book a free consultation today!

Best Books to Read for Personal Growth
Loren Kelly

I get it. You’re stuck at home bored and wondering what things to do during quarantine. You are likely to fill your time by sleeping in, scrolling social media, and playing video games. What if I listed some things to do during quarantine that can get you ahead? Here are seven ideas to ditch the boredom and propel your future!

Seven Things to Do During Quarantine

1. Write Your Resume (or update it)

As a general rule, I recommend updating your resume every six months whether you are looking for a job or not. Why? Because you will have engaged in activities, professional development, and completed coursework that you might otherwise forget about if you only update it when you are searching for a job.

Writing or updating your resume is one of several things to do during quarantine that will equal success in the long run! I have several resources to help you with this task:

• Writing a resume for the first time and have no work experience? Use this guide.
• Writing a resume for the first time with work experience? Use this guide.
• Already have a resume and want to update and polish it? Use this guide.
• Want help with your resume so you stand out in a pool of applicants? Go here.

Once you’ve written a killer resume, consider writing a cover letter.

2. Write a Cover Letter

One of the most grossly underestimated actions a job seeker (or future job seeker can take) is writing a cover letter. Even if the job application doesn’t require it, write one anyway. Writing a cover letter is an excellent way to stand out and showcase your written communication skills. Are you not sure where to start? No problem, I’ve got a guide to writing cover letters, too.

3. Look for Summer Jobs and Internships

Times are a bit tough right now; however, many organizations will still be hiring temporary or summer help once the coronavirus has gone. Use the resume and cover letter you have written to apply to jobs and internships. Many companies are still conducting interviews via video conferencing software such as Zoom. Don’t miss out on awesome opportunities later this year simply because the virus is keeping us indoors right now. Learn where to find the best internships here!

4. Conduct an Informational Interview

An excellent quarantine activity is conducting an informational interview! You can never learn too much about your future career field. And, now is an excellent time to have conversations with professionals as many are working from home and have lighter workloads (unless you are considering the healthcare field). I have an excellent free guide that can help you set-up a great informational interview. It includes the best questions to ask while you are on the call or video chat!

5. Learn a new professional skill or take a short course

Quarantine is an excellent time to learn a new skill or complete a short-course or credential. Coursera is offering a number of free, online courses. You’re sure to find one that interests you!

6. Read a professional or personal development book

This is one of my absolutely favorite things to do during quarantine. In fact, I sat in the back yard this afternoon soaking up the sun and reading Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly. Need a list of ideas? Check out my list of favorite books here.

7. Find industry-relevant organizations to join

Add finding an industry-relevant professional organization to join to your list of things to do during quarantine. Professional organizations offer excellent networking opportunities, professional development, and also look great on a resume. Many offer free or reduced membership rates to student members making it very affordable. A quick Google search should uncover several options for you. For example, “Professional Organizations for Teachers” or “Professional Organizations for Engineers” is all you need to search for!

Want more ideas for things to do during quarantine?

Here is a list of more great ideas:

• Schedule a virtual college visit
• Begin learning a new language
• Attend virtual networking events
• Fill out scholarship applications
• Complete a mock interview
• Connect with an old friend or supervisor
• Listen to podcasts

Welcome to a world of career opportunities! I’m Loren.

If you or a student in your life could benefit from some thoughtful planning or help to navigate the future, oftentimes an unbiased third-party can be a powerful tool! As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students one-on-one, meet them where they are, and assist them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to achieve them!

Book a free consultation today!

Things to do During Quarantine
Loren Kelly

Writing a follow up email for a job interview is a great way to stand out as a candidate, especially if the hiring manager stated they would be making a decision soon! If a hiring manager has two equal candidates and one sends a follow up thank you message, it could be the deciding factor! What should you say in a follow up email for a job interview? Here are a few tips.

Things to Include in a Follow Up Email for Job Interview

1. Gratitude and Excitement for the Opportunity

It may seem obvious but expressing gratitude in a follow up email for a job interview is very important. It takes a lot of time out of a month/day/week of the hiring manager to complete a hiring process. Being sincere with your thanks is important! Always begin your follow up email with a sincere thanks.

Also, if you left the interview even more excited about the potential of the job opportunity, say that! Hiring managers want employees who are excited and passionate. In your follow up email for a job interview, tell the hiring manager one to two things that specifically excites you about the position.

2. A reminder of your biggest selling point

What do you feel is the one biggest selling point of hiring you for the open position? Whatever that experience, skill or trait might be, remind them in your follow-up email. It is important to provide that reminder and continue to sell yourself in a non-pushy, but confident, way.

3. Mention of a high point in the conversation

Finally, if there was a specific topic or part of the interview conversation where you really seemed to connect with the hiring manager, mention that. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy, replay of the conversation; however, making mention can help remind the hiring manager of who you are (they could have interviewed several candidates) and a common ground you shared.

4. Brevity

Don’t forget to be brief. The follow up email for a job interview should not be too long. If you write a book, it could come across as desperate or over-the-top. Plus, hiring managers are busy. A long email isn’t likely to be read entirely. Keep it brief and concise.

Example of a Follow Up Email for a Job Interview

Are you curious about what a follow up email for a job interview should look like? I’ve implemented the components mentioned above in the following follow up email example.

Dear Ms. Kline,

Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the Marketing Associate position at XYZ Company. After our conversation, I am even more excited about the potential to join your team!

Due to my internship experience at Brand Boost Marketing, you can be assured I possess the knowledge and skills to uniquely position XYZ Company in the minds of consumers.

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the position and XYZ’s marketing strategy and vision! I’ll be awaiting our next conversation with great anticipation!

Sincerely,

Loren Kelly

Yes, it is that simple! Short and sweet with good content is the best approach with follow up emails. If you don’t hear back in a week, consider another follow up to check the status of the position. Continuing to show interest and excitement could be the final nudge that gets you the job offer!

How can I help?

Job searches and interviewing skills are my specialties! You’re not in this alone, I can help you find the right job for you and assist you from applying to negotiating the offer.

As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one and assist them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to achieve them! The path to success is not straightforward. My mission is to help you experience true career fulfillment through proactive coaching and career planning.

Book a free consultation today!

Writing a Follow Up Email for a Job Interview
Loren Kelly