Finding Learning Resources for Professional Growth

“How can I get work experience without work experience?” This is a catch-22 that some students and recent graduates often encounter as they navigate their early career journeys. ⭐ Here are a few ways I got around it and some things I recommend: 1️⃣ Take free certifications, courses, fellowships, and boot camps There are so many online certifications and courses for technical and nontechnical industries—a few are free, too! When I lacked experience, I took a few of these to sharpen my skills, and I included them on my resume and LinkedIn. Some platforms I recommend include Acadium (marketing courses), LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Skillshare, Grow with Google, Verizon Skill Forward (technical courses), and of course, YouTube University. Bonus: Free fellowships and boot camp programs are great too! A few I recommend are COOP, Colorwave, CodePath, Kode With Klossy, Springboard and CareerFoundry - ProFellow is a great website for finding fellowships. 2️⃣ Apply for professional development programs These programs are usually for those who don’t have much work experience and partner with Fortune 500 companies for program support and to hire program alumni. In addition to internships, they provide mentorship, career development workshops, and a robust alumni network. Some programs I recommend include MLT Career Prep, INROADS, The LAGRANT Foundation, and SHPEP (pre med/health). 🎯 You can find a list of programs here: https://lnkd.in/gzrai8Bn 3️⃣ Complete micro-internships or externships These programs are usually less than 4 weeks, project based, sometimes paid, and a great way to beef up your resume by doing projects with cool brands. You can find opportunities like these on platforms such as Parker Dewey, Extern, and Forage 4️⃣ Do freelance work When I started my marketing career, I created my own agency where I worked with small-owned businesses. This helped me stand out in my interviews and further grow my portfolio. Create the work experiences you need to get the job you want. 5️⃣ Hyped up my extracurriculars and passion projects In college, I was heavily involved in my sorority and did a lot of work in recruitment and managing our digital branding. Throughout my resume, I emphasized my wins using Google’s XYZ format to highlight my leadership efforts and show that I was a well-rounded candidate. I also ran a college & lifestyle blog which helped me grow in my marketing, graphic design, and communications skill set. By having it listed in my resume as work experience, it was always a hot topic in my interviews Don’t be afraid to share on your resume who you are outside of work because the lessons you learn in those experiences can translate into transferable skills for the workplace. 💌 and while you're at it, check out my YouTube video to help you find some of these opportunities: https://lnkd.in/gm3PB-ae #earlycareer #internships #jobhunting #entryleveljobs

Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of my days talking with leaders about growing their careers and helping organizations think through their career development philosophy. Inevitably, people will always ask about “what books to read” or who to follow. I was very bad at keeping track at this but this spring after many years I (finally!) spent the time collecting and organizing all of my favorite books, resources and authors who have written and researched ideas related to career development and put them in one place. The result is this article, which chronicles those people and their work, as well as what I think their specific resource is most helpful depending on the topic. In that time, I’ve also had the privilege of meeting and interviewing many of these people, so you’ll also see some links to my interviews with these leaders. Consider this a resource that you can save and refer back to depending on the career development question you have. I hope this is helpful, and would love to hear your thoughts! #careerdevelopment #futureofwork #leadership

We all hear: "Soft skills drive career growth" But it's not clear where to actually learn them. I've curated a list of resources to help you take action towards learning these essential soft skills Here are 12 soft skills for career growth (and a book and TED talk to master each): 1. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) ↳ Book: "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman ↳ TED talk: "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown 2. Communication Skills ↳ Book: "Crucial Conversations" by Kerry Patterson ↳ TED talk: "How to Speak So That People Want to Listen" by Julian Treasure 3. Adaptability ↳ Book: "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck ↳ TED talk: "The Power of Believing That You Can Improve" by Carol Dweck 4. Problem-Solving ↳ Book: "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman ↳ TED talk: "The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers" by Adam Grant 5. Time Management ↳ Book: "Getting Things Done" by David Allen ↳ TED talk: "Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator" by Tim Urban 6. Leadership and Influence ↳ Book: "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek ↳ TED talk: "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" by Simon Sinek 7. Decision-Making ↳ Book: "Thinking in Bets" by Annie Duke ↳ TED talk: "How to Make Hard Choices" by Ruth Chang 8. Self-Motivation and Initiative ↳ Book: "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth ↳ TED talk: "The Puzzle of Motivation" by Daniel Pink 9. Consistency / Work Ethic ↳ Book: "Deep Work" by Cal Newport ↳ TED talk: "Why Some People Find Exercise Harder Than Others" by Emily Balcetis 10. Networking ↳ Book: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie ↳ TED talk: "The Secret to Great Opportunities? The Person You Haven't Met Yet" by Tanya Menon 11. Creativity and Innovation ↳ Book: "Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon ↳ TED talk: "Your Elusive Creative Genius" by Elizabeth Gilbert 12. Discipline and Habits ↳ Book: "Atomic Habits" by James Clear ↳ TED talk: "Forget Big Change, Start with a Tiny Habit" by BJ Fogg Remember, just one short TED Talk can be the start you need. Comment below with your favorite recommendations or let me know if I missed any (so others can benefit too!) _______ ♻️ Repost to help others get resources to master soft skills. 📌 For more actionable insights, follow Jorge Luis Pando

Having worked 1:1 with 2,000+ professionals over the past 14 years (so crazy when you add it all up!), I've realized that many people don’t know that LinkedIn Learning courses are included with a LinkedIn Premium membership—and are also often available for free through many employers, universities, and libraries. LinkedIn Learning an incredible resource (16,000+ self-paced courses) if you're looking to land a job, level up your career, or achieve personal growth. In this edition of Steer Your Career, I highlight how you can use LinkedIn Learning to: ✅ Upgrade your resume & cover letter ✅ Master job search strategies ✅ Ace interviews (both in-person and video) ✅ Build thought leadership ✅ Develop crucial soft skills It features some of my own career-related courses plus a few of my current favorites by Dorie Clark, Vinh Giang, and Jason Weeman. It's a great day to learn something new! #alwaysbelearning #careerdevelopment #jobsearch