Choosing a career can feel like a monumental decision, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process less overwhelming and more fulfilling. It’s a journey of self-discovery, research, and planning that aligns your interests, skills, and values with professional opportunities. For those still in university, this can even impact your studies when it comes to choosing a major. About 25% of college students surveyed by BestColleges reported reconsidering their chosen field frequently. Choosing a career comes down to choosing what you want to do presumably for the rest of your life. It’s not unusual to feel a bit of pressure. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can narrow down your choices and learn how to choose a career. Reflect On Your Interests And Strengths Start by identifying what genuinely excites you. Consider activities or topics you enjoy in your personal life and at work or school. Are you drawn to creative tasks, analytical problem-solving, or helping...

Navigating the job application process and getting your career off the ground can be tricky, especially if you’re uncertain whether a position you’re interested in is still open. To make matters worse, the labor market is pretty tight right now, with unemployment remaining low at around 4.1% for the month of October. As for total job openings, they’ve actually declined slightly over the past year, down 1.9 million from last September and now sitting around 7.4 million total openings. In a tough market, any little things you can do to get an edge is worth considering. Asking about the status of a job shows initiative and keeps you informed about potential opportunities. Here’s how to inquire respectfully and professionally. Research First Before reaching out, check the company’s website and job posting platforms to confirm whether the position is still listed. Some organizations update their listings regularly, while others may leave old posts online. If the role has been removed or...

Since Donald Trump came out on top in the 2024 election, the news has been flooded with headlines about how the New York native plans to run the country during his second term. With another dramatic leadership shift from Democratic back to Republican, Americans are anticipating a lot of change to come. Despite the chaos that ensued during his first time in office, there seems to be one thing Trump had to offer that most everyone wants more of – stimulus checks. Per Fox 5 DC , there’s been a sudden increase in social media posts claiming American taxpayers in some states will receive $2,000 or more from the government. This isn’t the first time in 2024 these claims have circulated, and they only seem to be growing more popular in wake of Trump’s presidential campaign and victory. Internal Revenue Service Has No Apparent Stimulus Plans (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) As you might recall, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS offered three stimulus checks to support taxpayers and keep...

If you’ve been rejected or even ghosted by a job that seemed perfect for you, the question of whether you can reapply may cross your mind. The good news is that, in many cases, it’s absolutely okay to reapply for a job you were previously turned down for. Here’s what to consider if you’re thinking of giving it another shot. Understanding Why You Didn’t Get The Job Before reapplying, try to reflect on why you didn’t land the role the first time. Sometimes, it’s as simple as timing: the company may have had a strong internal candidate, or their hiring needs may have changed. In other cases, they might have been looking for someone with a slightly different skill set. If you’re unsure, review any feedback you received from the recruiter or hiring manager (if provided), as this can offer valuable insights into areas you may need to strengthen. Automatic Screening It’s entirely possible that the hiring team has processed your application through an applicant tracking system (ATS). ATS...

Becoming an investment banker is a sought-after career goal for those interested in finance, mergers, acquisitions, and high-stakes deal-making. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the financial sectors that include investment banking are going to grow by about 7% from 2022 to 2032, meaning it’s a field that will continue to hire on new talent as the 2020s roll onward. Investment bankers help companies, governments, and other entities raise capital, manage financial assets, and advise on major financial transactions. This field is known for offering lucrative pay and high levels of responsibility, making it competitive to enter. Here’s what investment bankers do, the steps to become one, the expected salary and a breakdown of the pros and cons. What Does An Investment Banker Do? Investment bankers are financial advisors who help their clients raise money through public or private markets, advise on mergers and acquisitions, and develop strategies to grow their...

Starting your day off meaningfully and productively can set you up for success. The “success” doesn’t need to have a traditional definition of achieving more sales or closing out more projects. Success is and always will be personal . Similarly, morning routines are specific to each person and determined by physical, mental and spiritual steps. Here’s the surprising truth about morning routines and what successful people do differently. The Truth About Morning Routines Establishing a morning routine may seem like a step out of your comfort zone, but it can provide organization and relief. It’s about prioritization of what steps would have the most impact on your day in a positive way. These steps can look different than those of folks around you, but ultimately it’s about what sets you up for success personally. This could look like preparing the night before or giving yourself enough time to slowly implement your morning routine rather than rushing into it. Celebs have spoken about...

The Covid-19 pandemic brought on a brief, but impactful job crisis. Following the height of the pandemic in 2021, more than 50 million people quit their jobs in what would become known as the Great Resignation . This mass quitting hit a fever pitch between November 2021 and April 2022, seeing almost 4.5 million people calling it quits every single month. That movement lost steam in 2023, though, and by the time the October 29th, 2024 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report rolled out, those numbers were around 3.1 million per month. If you’re thinking of breaking it to your boss that you want out, you’ll join their numbers. Quitting a job can be a pivotal moment in your career, and how you approach it can impact your professional reputation. Leaving respectfully ensures that you maintain valuable connections, demonstrate professionalism, and leave the door open for future opportunities. Don’t opt for the “ quiet quitting ” route. Instead, here’s how to exit a role...

Just starting your career? Many programs look similar at first, but they have important differences that can shape your future. Knowing which one is right for you can help you boost your skills and get a jumpstart in your dream job. In this article, we’ll break down internships versus externships, point out how they differ and give you some handy tips for picking the program that matches your career goals. Internships ogichobanov This program lets career newbies take on roles within a company to gain experience in that field, potentially as a future career. While the tasks given to interns are meant to train them, they may end up with less work or share tasks with others. More time in a specific role may be spent on getting feedback or reviewing how things are done. Interns may either report to a specific supervisor or help out different team members, depending on what the role requires. Sometimes, interns might end up doing administrative tasks that don’t directly relate to the...

Crafting a strong cover letter is essential when applying for an internship , as it’s often your first opportunity to make a good impression on potential employers. A well-written cover letter highlights your skills, enthusiasm, and fit for the role, setting you apart from other candidates. Here’s how to write a compelling cover letter for an internship that demonstrates your potential and passion. Are Cover Letters Still Relevant In 2024? Absolutely. Currently, cover letters still play an important role in the overall hiring process. Don’t think they’re just being swallowed up and ignored, either: 87% of hiring managers do read cover letters that find their inboxes. Even for an internship, your cover letter is a great chance to distinguish yourself from the other applicants, and possibly land a career-shaping opportunity. Start With A Professional Introduction Begin your cover letter by addressing the hiring manager by name if possible – check places like LinkedIn to see if you can...

There is no right or wrong pathway to fulfilling your dreams. With so many options, from traditional education to finding resources on apps like YouTube and TikTok, people have several ways they can tap into how they begin or pivot into the working path of their dreams. Within this ecosystem are also groups providing traditional education alternatives like accelerators and development programs that allow people from diverse backgrounds to have a leg up in industries. NPower exists within this ecosystem and is doing its part to ensure those who want access to tech have it. According to the company website, NPower’s mission is to “create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities.” However, there are nuanced hurdles that women experience, leading the company to launch Command Shift. The goal is to increase the number of women entering the tech industry by focusing on three key areas: attract and...

The tech industry continues to offer some of the most lucrative careers , with roles that drive innovation and transformation across every sector. As demand for digital skills rises, technology jobs are not only high-paying but also essential to business success, data security, AI development, and more. Here’s a look at some of the best-paying tech jobs in 2024, featuring roles across development, security, and management. Artificial Intelligence Engineer Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) Engineers specialize in creating algorithms, designing machine learning models, and developing neural networks that allow machines to make decisions and predictions. With AI applications expanding rapidly in sectors like finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, demand for AI engineers is high. Salaries in this field average around $130,000 to $200,000 annually, with senior AI engineers earning even more, particularly if they have advanced machine learning and deep learning expertise. Data Scientist Data...

By the time that the end of the year comes, you’ve probably already made some progress on achieving your yearly goals. And it’s still possible that a few of them slipped your mind. So, if you find yourself wanting to clear your list before the end of the year , you have some work to do. 2025 will be here before we know it so you’ll need to make a game plan for achieving your yearly goals within the next 10 weeks. Have you met your yearly goals? Here’s how to make progress in three months. Determine If They’re Still Goals You Want Revisit those goals. Determine if they’re goals that can allow you to pivot or get focused. Changing your mind or adjusting in a way that’s best for you is your prerogative. And it’s not failure if you’re learning from your mistakes. Maybe your life is moving in a different direction and now your goals need to reflect that. Maybe you want to remove goals from the list because they no longer align with your priorities. In either case, revisit them and...

The Amazon STAR interview method is a structured technique used to assess candidates during interviews. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It’s designed to help interviewers evaluate how candidates have handled real-life challenges, and can be helpful for any number of career paths . If you’re preparing for an interview at a company that uses behavioral questions, understanding the STAR method can significantly improve your responses. What Is The STAR Interview Method? The STAR method is a way of answering behavioral interview questions by providing a clear and concise story that details your experience. It ensures that your answer is structured and covers all aspects of the situation. This approach is especially useful for questions like “Tell me about a time when…” or “How did you handle…?” Situation: Start by describing the context or background of the scenario. Be specific about what was happening, but keep it concise. Task: Explain what you were tasked with...

Scrum masters are an essential part of agile teams, often with tech companies , guiding the process and ensuring that everyone stays on track to meet project goals. If you’re interested in entering the world of agile project management, this post will explain what a scrum master does and how you can become one. What Is A Scrum Master? A scrum master is a facilitator who helps a team use scrum, a ‘lightweight’ framework for Agile project management. While they are called “masters,” their role is more about guiding and serving the team than leading in the traditional sense. Scrum masters work with development teams, product owners, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth collaboration and project delivery. When one is endeavoring to become a scrum master, forming a commitment to the foundational elements of the agile framework while still managing to be flexible and adaptable in an ever-changing workplace is important. Key Responsibilities Of A Scrum Master One of the chief...

Crafting the perfect resume is a bit like cooking the perfect meal. You want just the right amount of ingredients, cooked to perfection and presented beautifully. One of the most common questions job seekers face is how many pages their resume should be. It’s a balancing act between providing enough information to showcase your skills and keeping it concise enough to hold the reader’s attention. Let’s dig into the nitty-gritty of resume length and find out what works best for you. Understanding The One-Page Resume Rule AndreyPopov For years, the one-page resume has been touted as the gold standard, especially for recent graduates and early-career professionals. The idea is simple: keep it short and sweet. Hiring managers often have stacks of resumes to sift through, and a concise, well-organized one-pager can make a strong impression. However, the one-page rule isn’t set in stone. It’s more of a guideline than a hard-and-fast rule. If you can fit all your relevant experience and...