“I don’t know what lies ahead, but I am going.” Too often we find ourselves in jobs, schools, and relationships where we are genuinely unhappy. We fail to walk away from these situations due to either fear of failure or fear of disappointment. We are afraid of what lies ahead and so we would rather stay stagnant and live in comfort. Or we choose the “comfortable road” so as to not disappoint our family and friends who have been cheering us along. Perpetuating this cycle of un

Countless employers have labeled millennial workers as unengaged and unmotivated. The broad perception of the youngest members of the work force is that they don’t know what they want and expect something for nothing. While it’s true that millenials are indeed demanding, it’s not the case that they are not willing to work for what they want. The issue that many millenials face is the feeling that they are investing a significant deal of their time and energy into their work a

What we speak, think and do all have the power to manifest. Hence, make an effort to always speak positively in all areas of your life.  As young professionals, many of us struggle with self-doubt and that can hinder us from achieving the goals that we’ve set for ourselves. Self-doubt can cost us relationships, careers and cause fear and anxiety. It can stop us from progressing and tapping into our potential. Thus, in this article, we would like to share ways to eliminate sel

While getting your work done in a timely manner may make you a reliable employee, it won’t make you stand out with senior leadership. Employees that stand out are those that take the extra initiative to excel, even when their work is challenging. I recently had a fruitful conversation with C-Suite executives, and here is that they identified as key attributes of successful employees. Effective communication Being a good communicator is an important skill that comes as a bit o

At Fireside Insights, we believe the best way to learn about potential career opportunities is through exposure. In this Career Perspectives article, we took a deep dive into the technical world with Ryan Bacastow, who told his story of what life is like as a Full-Stack Programmer. Bacastow graduated with a BA in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin Madison, and has an MS in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University. His current role is that

Starting a new job is exciting. Many times, it’s a milestone marking the next stage of professional and financial success. In order to make the best impression when you begin, it’s imperative that you mentally prepare yourself for what is to come. While you will definitely undergo some degree of onboarding when you start, knowing as much as possible before your first day will put you ahead of the game. Here’s how you can prepare: Read company press releases. Reading company n

As you navigate through your career, it can be tough to break away from the routine of your work life and evaluate your career’s future. This can sometimes lead to stagnation, as many people stay in roles that aren’t a good fit or do not advance them towards their career goals. It may be difficult to discern whether or not this applies to you, so we have compiled six clear-cut signs that it may be time for you to leave your job. You constantly feel disconnected from your work

Being an entrepreneur is hard work. The long nights and endless list of priorities can be daunting, especially in the beginning. Many entrepreneurs in this predicament overlook one obvious resource that can help lead them to success: other entrepreneurs. It’s instinctual to feel the need to compete with others, after all, you want to be the biggest and the best. However, once you push past this urge and focus your energy on developing yourself and your brand, you will find th

When you are interviewing for any role, regardless of the position, you can expect to be asked behavioral or situational interview questions. These questions give the employer a lens as to how you would handle different situations that may arise in the workplace. Some examples of these types of questions include: “Give me an example of an analytical challenge you have had to overcome.” “Describe a time you had to juggle competing priorities.” “Talk about a time you had to per

The phone rings. You receive a call notifying you that you landed the job of your dreams. While your first instinct may be to scream an immediate “yes”, there are several factors to consider and possibly negotiate to ensure that you will be happy in your new role. • Salary. This one is pretty obvious. Be certain that you are being paid commensurate with your knowledge and experience. Also calculate any living expenses you may have prior to accepting an offer. • Signing bonus

Amara Omoregie is an entrepreneur and marketing professional-turned-guru. In 2009, after spending years catering to the marketing needs of various companies, she decided to venture off on her own to found amaraREPS. As Chief Marketing Officer to this boutique marketing firm, Omoregie leads initiatives such as business development, strategic planning, and branding for small businesses. In this Fireside Chat, we learned about what inspired her to make the leap into entrepreneur

As a young professional, you are fairly new to the workplace and are eager to learn the tricks of the trade in your industry. Take this time in your career to act as a sponge, soaking up all of the knowledge you can and exploring your interests. During this time, your mind is malleable and lots of more seasoned professionals will be around to offer you words of wisdom. Listening is only half the battle, however. In order gain the most out of any interaction, whether it be a s

At Fireside Insights, we believe the best way to learn about potential career opportunities is through exposure. In this new recurring series, Career Perspectives, we share our peers’ accounts of their jobs to give you a glimpse into different professions. Our feature this week is Rebecca Klug who received her Master of Public Health from Boston University and B.S. in Nursing from St. John Fisher College. As a registered nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, Rebecca gives

Returning to work after a vacation can be mentally challenging. You’ve just spent a tremendous amount of time relaxing and now it’s time to get back into the swing of things. While some people are able to make this transition easily, others of us may find this more difficult to do. In order to help you make it through the week, we’ve compiled a list of 10 tips to help you get back on track at work. Start slowly. Don’t overwhelm your brain by jumping into things too quickly. R

Criticism can be tough, and let’s face it, no one really likes to be told they’re not perfect. You have worked long and hard on a project for work or school, and turned it in perfectly. All of your I’s are dotted and all of your T’s are crossed. However, rather than receiving praise for your work, you are met with a load of comments and revisions. This may not be the response you were looking for, but it may be the response you need to make you better at what you do. Rather t

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is a tool commonly used to implement and measure changes made within healthcare organizations. Developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the cycle enables practitioners to set actionable goals, evaluate their success, and change their approach as needed through multiple rounds of the PDSA cycle. The tool has been applied successfully to generate change in many healthcare systems, however, it can also be applied to your life and

Joe Reaves is the D Wilbur Wright College in Chicago where he helps students realize and actualize their potential and find meaningful careers. As a part of his role, Joe organizes the college’s annual career fair. In this fireside chat, we speak with Joe about how to stand out in the crowd and navigate a career fair successfully. Can you tell me about your experience as a career counselor? My first job out of college was with Caremark Orthopedic Services where I was a patien

Everyday, sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter are flooded with hundreds of applicants pursuing the same job. With such stiff competition, it can be hard to make your resume and credentials stand out from the crowd. While submitting an official application through a job board is a formal requirement for most jobs, relying solely on your online application is not a very effective means of searching for and landing the perfect career opportunity. Making the most of

It’s understandable that you want for your vacation days to be spent, well…vacationing. However, there are a lot of ways to be productive during your time off work that aren’t mentally taxing. To help you along, we have compiled a list of five ways you can use your time away from the office to your benefit. Go for coffee. Use the time to grab coffee with a someone in your network- even a former colleague. This will allow you to make and strengthen relationships in a valuable

Getting a job isn’t easy, but losing a job certainly can be. Avoid these ten mistakes in the workplace. Tardiness. Repeat tardiness is a red flag and may send off the signal that your job is not a top priority. Slacking. Not keeping up with your work is a dangerous predicament, and can call your motivation into question. If you are feeling too bogged down to keep up, make sure to speak up to your manager; that’s a far better alternative than falling behind. Improper use of te