Alexis Grant’s Post

“Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years” is such a stressful question. I understand this question would help recruiter identify if job seeker is a good match for the company, however, it could be the question that scares you off.  I often receive the same question out of blue. Not only from recruiters, but also from my family, friends, colleagues or even strangers. They might think this could be a good icebreaking question. I am not sure about others, but for me, whenever I face with the similar questions, I feel so nervous. My unconscious mind quickly becomes defensive, or, self-doubt will sneak in in a second. “OMG do I look bad if I don’t know how I would become in the near future?”, “Are they judging me because I don’t see myself anywhere in the next 5 years?”, I am devastated. Anxious friends, hear me out, you are not alone. In my 20s, I even didn’t know what I would like to get for lunch or dinner at the same day – 5 years planning ahead seemed so unrealistic for me. I’m 30s now and it’s totally fine not to know the answer for that kind of question. Instead of planning for the next 5 – 10 years, I only pick up one keyword of the year and live up to it. And I only have few purpose-driven goals in my life. One of my current goals is living, working, developing relationships in the most meaningful way. That means when it comes to the decision I have to make, I’ll choose the one could give my life a beautiful meaning to live. Stranger: Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years, Ngân? Ngân Sâu: - I definitely see myself in the company that creates meaningful products or services to the community. - I see myself surrounding with family, friends, beloved ones, and meaningful relationships who support better me. - I see myself achieve financial goals alongside with equal society contribution. Hope this small tip could help you make peace with yourself and your mind. You can totally use those responses to steer curious questions away if you find them uncomfortable for you. Have a great weekend ahead as always! #mentalhealthatwork #jomo

“Can you say no to work and still make a living?” Absolutely, I tried this once. I said “no” to work and waited for the money to roll in. Strangely, my mailbox stayed empty and my couch offered no financial advice. Things really changed when I started saying 'yes' to what made sense to me and 'no' to what didn’t. I used to believe that I couldn't afford to lose my financial stability and the "quality of life" it brought. However, my job was draining me to the extent that I couldn't even imagine doing anything else, let alone turning it into something profitable. This led me to a state of languishing for longer than I'd like to admit. Over time, I realized I didn't need as much as I thought. I had accumulated considerable financial resources, which compensated for the job that no longer held meaning for me. Drawing up a financial plan was crucial. But once I took control of my direction and actions, I saw that my basic needs were quite simple, and I felt more alive overall. It all started with figuring out what I really wanted for myself and identifying the problems around me. From there, I focused on which ones were worth solving and took action. The "quality of life" you see today might be limiting the quality of life you could actually have. And regarding the initial question I posed: Start by saying yes to things that bring you meaning. This will lead to saying no to things you don’t cherish. Financial freedom is about doing fewer things you dislike. It's a journey towards better self-understanding and taking intentional action. I am Manuel Carreira, founder of Manuel Carreira. My mission? Transforming career journeys with my Career Spark 30-day program. #CareerChange #FinancialFreedom #LifeGoals #PersonalGrowth #JobSatisfaction #WorkLifeBalance #FindYourPassion #TakeControl #LiveYourBestLife #SayYesToLife

Most people will work for 90,000 hours in their lifetime. But that’s not the shocking part... Check out these stats: * 70% of people don’t do what they really want in their jobs (Gallup). * 75% aren’t in their dream job (LinkedIn). * 80% are unhappy at work (Deloitte). * 40% have major career regrets (Research Now). * One of the biggest regrets at life's end is not following one’s dreams. * 65% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement (Northwestern Mutual). * 60% feel overworked or burned out (Gallup). * 66% feel stressed at work (American Psychological Association). * Depression and anxiety cost the world $1 trillion annually (World Health Organization). And if you think it's just you, Mind Share Partners found that: * 50% of Millennials * 75% of Gen Z have left jobs due to mental health issues. The underlying theme? People just settle because they don’t know what to do. Been there, done that. What sucks is not knowing what you can do or how to go about it. So, you feel helpless and isolated, as I did. It feels defeating because you can’t see a finish line. That’s why I gave up on myself. Well, I found my finish line.  My chapter 2 far exceeds my chapter 1, because I created it by design. It took me a long time, but I rediscovered that feeling of waking up excited about my career again. If you can relate, I am here to help Our careers are such a big part of our lives, that we can’t just settle. On July 29th, at 12:30 pm, I’m hosting a free webinar on how to successfully leave an unhappy career and find one that excites you. There’s something great waiting for you, even if you can’t see it yet. I’ll help you find it. Sign up in the link in the comments

As a small-business owner, no one will care more about your business than you do. I often felt alone, as I never really had the chance to 'clock out' like my friends. I may be old-school in my view, but I think that an issue with the younger generations is a lack, not an excess, of ambition and grit. Hard work is a gift. Yes, there's a balance needed for those that are prone to overwork to ensure holistic (mental, physical, and emotional) health and thus longevity. But I see younger employees who fall in this camp as the minority. As a small-business owner, what has been your experience? Does our culture value the hustle, or over-prioritize rest/coasting? How has this impacted your hiring strategies and work culture? https://lnkd.in/exBTTSY2

Slowly, then all of a sudden The saying goes, usually in relation to how companies (or individuals come to that), go bankrupt. But it’s a framing that could easily apply to much more. The way a deadline approaches. How clients fade from view (or is it you fading from favour?) Careers closing. What made me think of it was the sudden all-change moment in a certain political landscape as well. Handled there with some aplomb. Rather than hanging on by the fingernails until the bitter, to close-out in almost a moment. An all-of-a-sudden certainly has an impact. It’s also an object-lesson in how to create a longing legacy. As in cutting it short so there’s no time to pick over the possibilities or bones - here yesterday, gone today - so all the fallback is on the good things, all the reminders of the things achieved. Wistfully forgetting the no-so-good bits. A sort-of ‘quick-quick-go’ dancing exit. The line, or nearly, is from Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises (“gradually and then suddenly” as he rendered it.) I guess it’s also fitting as a frame for ‘a sun also setting’. Maybe take a moment to remember someone who did something great for you, and then you or they disappeared and you never really thanked them. Just because they’re gone needn’t mean forgetting them. Which reminds me, thank you Mike Sharman. And also sometimes just to keep things cut short and #legacy #reminder #remember #recollect #reputation

"SAME ACTIONS, DIFFERENT STORIES: UNDERSTANDING THE DEPTHS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE" Sleepless nights are a universal experience, but the reasons behind them vary widely. For some, it's the exhilaration of an upcoming party that keeps them tossing and turning. For others, it's the worry of an empty pantry and the question of the next meal. Imagine two plates of untouched food. One individual might push it away because it doesn’t tantalize their taste buds, while another might set it aside as a gesture of sacrifice, ensuring another family member gets a meal tonight. Jobs are a lifeline for many. There’s the professional who clocks out one last time, eager to embrace the freedom of a well-deserved vacation. In contrast, another might leave their job with apprehension, quickly calculating the dwindling funds in their bank account, ready to jump into the job market - not for personal ambition, but out of sheer necessity for their family's well-being. In today’s digitized world, the absence of a physical wallet can signal two vastly different realities. One individual goes purse-free, comfortably relying on digital payments, while another does so because they have nothing to put into it, living on the harsh edges of economic disparity. In the midst of urban landscapes, a mansion might house one, while another, a mason, builds homes for others, perhaps dreaming of his own. Before making a judgment, take a moment to think. The same scenario can have different stories. Our actions might seem similar on the surface, but the stories, emotions, and reasons behind them are as varied as the people who live them. Everyone's journey is unique. Think twice. Understand more. Judge less. #ProfessionalEmpathy #BusinessWithAHeart #LeadershipUnderstanding #CorporateCompassion #WorkplaceDiversity #EmployeeStoriesMatter #BeyondTheDesk #DiverseLifePaths #ThinkBeforeYouJudge #ProfessionalPerspectives

🌟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬? 🌟 I've been reflecting on a challenge many of us face: working in a job that we don't enjoy, a job that feels like a constant uphill battle. It's a situation that forces us to push ourselves every day, just for the sake of earning a paycheck. 💭 𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭? On the one hand, financial stability is crucial. We have responsibilities, bills to pay, and families to support. The reality of life often necessitates taking jobs that might not align with our passions or interests. But on the other hand, our work constitutes a significant portion of our lives. Spending this time feeling unfulfilled and unhappy can take a toll on our mental and physical health. It can drain our energy, stifle our creativity, and ultimately, impact our overall well-being. 🤷♀️ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲? 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲. 𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭? ⛳ What are your thoughts? Have you been in a similar situation? How did you navigate it? 🗣 #CareerGrowth #JobSatisfaction #WorkLifeBalance #PersonalDevelopment #CareerTransition #Sidehustle #Jobseekers #Mentalhealth #Mentalwellbeing #Money #Paycheck #Financialstability #MeaningfulCareers #CareerFulfillment

Two words for this week: Survival mode 🆘 Since Sunday evening, my daughter has had a rotten cold and so I’ve kept her home from school. My husband, also an entrepreneur, is in the USA all week. Our part-time nanny (the glue that keeps our family running) has norovirus and is down for the count. This means, despite kicking off 3 new searches this week, my week so far has consisted of: 🦒 a 4-year-old in a giraffe onesie randomly popping into my teams meetings 👋 re-scheduling several calls and having to leave midway through others 🙃 managing expectations constantly 🤹♀️ feeling like I’m juggling a hundred balls simultaneously, dropping lots at any given time 🙇♀️ feeling guilty for not giving work my full attention 🙇♀️ feeling guilty for not giving my poorly daughter my full attention 📵 not responding very quickly to my team on slack 😾 feeling grouchy for not having time to exercise  😵 exhausted from catching up on work after my kids are in bed But since I’m now officially a recovering perfectionist I’m doing my best not to pretend that *everything is fine* Because it’s not! I’m having a nightmare! 😰 So, instead, I am serving realness 🍝 Being vulnerable and honest about my circumstances 🤷♀️ And it has not resulted in catastrophe. No one has had a go at me In fact, my clients and my team have been overwhelmingly understanding and supportive And many have shared stories of similarly stressful times 💟 Imperfection = connection 🤗 How about that? #mumpreneur #worklifeintegration #recruitmentstories Higher - AI recruitment

3 years ago, I had a massive medical scare. I had developed an unexpected cyst. It was scary; I spent days waiting for results. When the results finally came in, I was at work. The doctor wanted to meet me in person. I asked my boss for permission to leave. They declined and wanted me to wait until EOD. I was crushed; how could they? Stories like this aren’t isolated. It’s the reality of 99% of women in America. ⪜ Clock in early; work like a dog. ⪜ Commute or be isolated at home. ⪜ Kids sick? Too bad, 9am meeting. ⪜ Tired or on your period? Caffeinate. After spending years in environments like these, I decided to say, “It ends here.” And took control over my life. I stopped saying, “Yes!” to companies. Even if they looked good on paper. I stopped playing someone else’s game. I became the MVP. Please know this - You can do this, too. You ARE incredibly talented. Stop going with companies that soul-suck. Don’t try to convince yourself That it will be “Ok.” Trust me, it’s not. ⪜ Align yourself to companies that care. ⪜ Ask the right questions in interviews. ⪜ Truly understand their company culture. ⪜ Talk to current employees at the company. If the company starts to not check out, exit. There are opportunities out there. Do not settle. Do not waste your life away. Nothing is worth sacrificing your life for. Not even a dream job. PS: Have you been in a similar situation?

At 4:46 AM this morning I received the text I was hoping for. The text was from a friend to cancel our 5:15 AM outdoor workout (it was a little rainy this morning). If you know me, you know that I love working out.   But this morning was different. I wasn’t feeling it and was relieved when I got the cancellation text. After, I went back to sleep. The experience got me thinking: If I wasn’t excited today about doing something I love (working out), imagine what it is like for someone to wake up every day forced to do something they don’t love…. like a job that doesn’t bring them happiness.   I became curious: do you know what percent of people aren’t happy at their jobs? It turns out, according to a recent Gallup study, 70% of workers are not engaged or actively disengaged. Yikes! What if someone went 40 years (the average number of work years in the US before retiring) feeling disengaged at work? That equates to approximately 10,000 work mornings of waking up uninspired, unhappy, and wanting to sleep in.         This is no way to go through life. Yet, data suggests some people are living this way. If you are one of these people, I wish I had the magical solution for you, but unfortunately, I don't. I can, however, share the following inspiring stories from individuals in my network who have recently made efforts to break out of the cycle and find happiness in their work lives: A new entrepreneur, fueled by a sense of purpose, is launching a startup to assist underserved individuals in her community. A 25-year-old lawyer left his high-paying law firm job to pursue his passion: teaching. A VP-level engineer, nearing retirement, departed from his firm and comfortable role of nearly 20 years to embrace a new position at a different firm. He's full of energy and enthusiasm! (yes, all these thoughts triggered by a single text! 😊)