Work It Daily

Becoming a successful leader at work can be challenging. You want to be the one your team looks to for guidance and support, but you may not be in a leadership role yet. So, can you establish yourself as a leader at work and display the characteristics of a good leader daily?There are many ways, but listed below are some things to start doing today. By doing these things, you can position yourself as a leader at work without being too obvious about your ambitions. Taking initiative, practicing effective communication, and staying consistent with your values are just a few ways to gain respect and credibility among your peers.If you want to become a leader at work and develop your leadership skills, incorporate these actions into your daily routine. With time and persistence, you’ll start to build the kind of leadership presence that naturally inspires others and opens the door to future career growth.1. Take On More Responsibility At WorkTo become a leader at work, learn to take responsibility for anything that you’re interested in and own it. That also means that as long as you participate in that project, you influence whether it fails or succeeds. Learn to take responsibility for not just the good things, but also the bad things. Take ownership of your mistakes, and know it’s okay to be wrong. You cannot learn if you haven’t made any mistakes.By acknowledging where things went wrong and actively seeking solutions, you build trust with your team and demonstrate emotional intelligence, both key leadership qualities. Embracing accountability will set you apart as someone who’s not just involved but truly invested in becoming a successful leader at work.2. Believe In Win-Win In The WorkplaceA rising tide lifts all boats—always think win-win. It exists. Just because some may believe the business world is nasty, and that you need to be manipulative and maneuvering to win, you need not participate in it. In fact, make it your priority not to be a negative and manipulative leader.If you want to be a leader at work, believe in your positive leadership abilities. The positive influence you have on the people around you and the ability to inspire your team are right in front of you.3. Strive To Push The EnvelopeTry new things. Take some risks. Make yourself uncomfortable. Do the things that may make you look foolish. Seriously, what do you have to lose? Leaders take risks. They are not afraid of doing what they believe is right. What are you willing to take a risk for? To be a leader at work, you need to take small risks, like taking on a project no one wants. Step up when others step back.4. If You Have An Idea, Write It DownI often say this world is full of people who talk too much and don’t do enough. If you want to be a leader at work, act on something. Work on a plan. If you have ideas simmering in your mind, write them down. It doesn’t matter if your idea doesn’t have a plan yet—just write it down. If you don’t write it down, there is no record of the idea, and you won’t have anything tangible to present. How can it count? If you want to be a leader at work, you have to practice writing down everything.Strong leaders are proactive, not reactive. Writing down your thoughts helps clarify your vision and gives you a foundation to build on. It also shows initiative—something every successful leader needs to demonstrate consistently. Documenting your ideas is the first step in turning vision into action and action into leadership.5. See Opportunities EverywhereThere is no need to create leadership opportunities at work. The opportunities to lead are everywhere already. You need to be mindful of these opportunities. An example of an opportunity you can capitalize on is taking on a project no one wants. If you don’t see opportunities like this everywhere, you are missing the point.Successful leaders don’t wait for a promotion or a title. They step up when challenges arise. Whether it’s volunteering to lead a meeting, mentoring a new team member, or improving an outdated process, these are real-world chances to demonstrate leadership. If you’re serious about becoming a successful leader at work, you need to train your mind to recognize and embrace these moments daily.6. Be Open To Receiving FeedbackBe open to criticism. Otherwise, you are just living off your own opinions and ideas. What does being open to criticism mean? When you are open to feedback, you are getting ideas and suggestions from others that are free. Oftentimes, these ideas come from people smarter than you. They will give you tips on how to improve and how to be better. That’s what a leader needs—constant feedback. You need feedback to be a leader at work, otherwise you are “feed-own” (I just created that word to mean feeding yourself) and you will go hungry soon. With no new ideas, a leader dries up.7. Give Your Work Everything You’ve GotGiving is how you open up at work. Pour out all you got. Express your ideas, thoughts, and plans. Feel the vulnerability and learn to like it. When you pour all your ideas out, you will need new ones. Where do new ideas come from? They come from critics, from well-meaning supporters, and from the people you least expect. At the end of the day, more comes back to you. You have more to input. It enriches you.The workplace thrives on the free flow of ideas, and when you lead by giving, you encourage innovation and collaboration. Sharing builds trust, and trust builds influence. The more you give, the more you’re seen as someone people want to follow, which is key to becoming a successful leader at work.These are the seven actions you can do starting today to position yourself as a leader at work. Remember, if you want to be an influential leader, do not be afraid of taking risks. You have more to gain than to lose when you open up.Need more help with your career?Get access to our Free Resource Center today (no credit card required!).

If you’re a recent college graduate and you’re unemployed, you might have an idea of what we’re about to talk about. You’ve spent four years of your life hitting the books, getting good grades, participating in relevant extracurricular activities, and maybe even juggling a part-time job in between. You’ve worked really hard for your degree, and you’ve been told time and time again that a degree is essential to finding employment in today’s competitive job market. So, why are you not getting hired?First of all, you’re not alone. Though the unemployment rate has slowly declined for bachelor’s degree holders, it’s still lagging. For that reason, the competition is fiercer than ever. This means you really have to re-evaluate your job search strategy.The job market for new grads is constantly shifting, and what worked even a few years ago might not cut it today. Employers are looking for more than just a diploma; they want real-world experience, problem-solving skills, and a personal brand that stands out. If you’re sending out dozens of resumes and hearing crickets, it’s time to dig deeper and identify what might be holding you back.Here are some reasons why you might not be getting hired as a recent college graduate.Your Resume Isn’t Job-SpecificWhile it’s good to have a strong resume with all of your professional skill sets, your resume can become generic when all you do is send the same resume to every open position you find.Take the time to rewrite your resume on multiple occasions and use specific keywords that are in the job description.According to an article on the Job Center of Wisconsin website, gathering information specific to the job you are applying for and matching it with your experience on your resume is what makes a good resume. You have to “think like an employer,” the article states, and “do not give unrelated or negative information.”Tailoring your resume shows hiring managers that you’re serious about the role and have taken the time to align your qualifications with their needs. This not only helps you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS), which filter resumes based on keyword matches, but also increases your chances of standing out in a competitive job market. If you’re young and unemployed, this extra effort could be the difference between getting overlooked and getting called in for an interview.You’re Not Applying For Jobs That Are Specific To Your SkillsYou have every reason to apply for every job in sight. However, it doesn’t do you any favors when you apply for every single job you see and send the same resume to each one. Apply for the jobs you want and are qualified for. After all, it’s what you studied for.Focus on quality over quantity when it comes to your job search. Hiring managers can tell when a resume has been recycled, and that lack of personalization can cost you an interview. Again, you need to tailor your resume for each position by highlighting the skills and experience that match the job description. Employers are looking for candidates who show genuine interest and a clear understanding of the role, not someone who’s just mass applying. Try to make a list of potential places you’d like to work for (your interview bucket list) and target those companies in any way you can. Use social media sites like LinkedIn to find people you can network with (backchanneling is so important in this competitive job market), and keep an eye out for any open positions. You have a better chance of getting hired at a job where your skills are relevant than at a job you’re 100% unqualified for.You Don’t Take Your Social Media Profiles SeriouslyAccording to an article on the Undercover Recruiter, a survey of 300 professionals by Reppler found that “hirers are using social networks to screen job applicants.” This means you should clean up your Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok profiles to present a more positive and, more importantly, professional image of yourself. It might be in your best interest not to post that picture of you doing a keg stand, or post about how you hate looking for jobs. Hiring managers are paying close attention to your digital footprint, and even one inappropriate photo or negative comment can raise red flags. Think of your social media as an extension of your resume, a reflection of your personal brand. It should highlight your interests, communication skills, and overall professionalism.If you’re young and unemployed, curating a clean, job-seeker-friendly online presence could be the difference between getting ghosted and getting a callback.We understand how difficult it is for recent college grads and young professionals to find a job right now. By following these tips, you’ll shorten your job search and get hired quicker than your peers. Need more help with your job search?Get access to our Free Resource Center today (no credit card required!).

A prepared job seeker will have thought about the questions that will be asked in their job interview. One of them may be: “Why are you leaving your job?” As you think about a response to this question, also consider how the interviewer may interpret that response. It’s important to take caution with how you answer questions in a job interview because when they’re not framed properly, they can be interpreted negatively and cost you the job opportunity.There can be many reasons why you want to leave your job. For example:You hate your boss You’re bored at work You want more money You want more challenges You don’t want to work in this particular field or industry Or an assortment of other reasons Whatever your reason is, it’s not always appropriate to tell it like it is to the potential employer. Think of a response that will impress the employer, that still comes off as an honest reason.The way you answer “Why are you leaving your job?” should show professionalism, self-awareness, and a desire to grow in your career. It’s one of the most common job interview questions, and how you handle it can set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Hiring managers are looking for red flags, but they’re also listening for signs that you’re motivated, goal-oriented, and looking for the right fit. Here are some tips to help you answer “Why are you leaving your job?” effectively. Give A Positive Response To The QuestionCommunication in a job interview should always come off as positive. To start, you may talk about the great opportunities you’ve been given and how much you’ve learned through your current employer before giving your reason for leaving your job. Employers like to hear things like this because you come off as professional and respectful of your existing employer, even though you have made the decision to move on.Regardless of your true feelings about the situation at work, never badmouth the company or your co-workers. Focus on your desire for career growth, new challenges, or better alignment with your long-term goals instead.Don’t Dwell On What Your Current Employer Isn’t Offering YouThere may be multiple reasons why you want to leave your current job, but you don’t need to include information about what you’re not being offered. The reason for this is that potential employers can interpret it as an action you may take against them if hired. For example, instead of saying, “I don’t feel challenged at work anymore,” reframe the message to say, “I’m looking for new challenges in the area of X, Y, and Z, which I can see this job offers,” and then go into the experience and skills you have to offer to further impress the interviewer. Reframing your response this way makes it less likely that the employer will take the information and interpret it negatively.Focus On The FutureTalk about what you’re heading towards—what you want to experience and achieve to continue growing professionally. It works best when you can also tie in how the potential employer could offer that to you. When you answer in this manner, it informs the employer that you are an individual who seeks self-improvement and that you have a real interest in the company because of what they specifically offer. It tells the employer you are someone with great potential for hire who will be dedicated to employment with them for a reasonable amount of time. “Why are you leaving your job?” is only one of many questions you will be asked in a job interview. Knowing how to respond positively and framing it in a way that informs the employer why you’re a great fit ensures you stay in the running for the job and helps move you on to the next stage of the interview process.Need more help with your job search?Get access to our Free Resource Center today (no credit card required!).

We all have times on the job when the work piles up. However, we don’t all react in the same way. Some of us handle that stress better than others.A potential employer naturally wants to know how you will react when that situation happens in this new job. So they say something like, “Describe a time when your workload was particularly heavy and what steps you took to handle it.”This is a common behavioral interview question, and how you answer says a lot about your time management skills, ability to prioritize, and overall approach to handling pressure. Hiring managers are looking for specific examples that demonstrate you can stay organized, meet deadlines, and maintain quality—even when things get hectic. With the right preparation, you can craft a strong response that showcases your problem-solving abilities and your value as a dependable team member.How Would You Describe A Heavy Workload?A heavy workload is a workload that requires you to use your time management skills to juggle multiple tasks, responsibilities, and projects in order to successfully complete them on time—without sacrificing the quality of your work.How Should You Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle A Heavy Workload?In order to effectively answer interview questions about how you handle a heavy workload, you need to know how to answer behavioral interview questions using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” format or STAR technique. You also should understand what employers want to know (what are they really asking?).Employers are looking for signs of time management, prioritization, and stress management skills. Your response should show that you can stay organized, meet deadlines, and remain calm under pressure. By preparing examples that highlight your ability to handle competing priorities and maintain productivity, you’ll stand out as a strong, dependable candidate who can add value even when dealing with a heavy workload.Behavioral Interview Questions”How do you handle a heavy workload?” is a type of behavioral interview question. These types of questions ask you to describe your past actions or predict how you’ll react in future situations. Employers ask these questions because they’re a great way to get insight into your personality and how you approach difficult situations.An easy way to answer behavioral interview questions is by using the STAR format (situation or task, action you took, and results you achieved). Using this technique ensures you say what you need to say to give a complete answer to the question. (Some people forget to talk about the results they got from the actions they took, but this is the most important part.)At Work It DAILY, we specifically teach our members the “Experience + Learn = Grow” format instead of the STAR format because it is more effective at answering behavioral interview questions. Plus, employers can spot the STAR format a mile away. What Do Employers Want To Know?Basically, employers want to know how you approach problems and stress. Can you adapt? Can you prioritize? Can you stay calm? A lot of people will just say, “I stay until the work is done.” Persistence is good, but letting them know that you approach problems analytically and strategically is better.Show them that you can think critically and make good decisions. Walk them through how you have dealt with this issue before or how you would deal with it. For example, talk about how you break down large tasks into manageable steps, delegate when appropriate, and use tools like calendars or project management software to stay organized. Highlight your ability to evaluate what’s urgent versus what’s important, and discuss how you communicate with your team or manager when priorities shift. Good Sample AnswersHere are two examples of good answers to this question:1. “We all have times when the workload gets a little heavier than normal. I’ve found that the best way to handle it is to step back, take a look at everything on my task list, and prioritize. Most of the time, not everything needs to get done immediately. Some things are more critical to team goals than others, so sometimes it’s necessary to prioritize.”Then, tell a short story about a time when you did that, and tell what the results of it were: you got X task done, which was beneficial because of Y.2. “In that kind of situation, prioritizing and teamwork both become critical. I speak to my supervisor to see if I can help him or her and get some input on which tasks to tackle first.”Then, talk about the time you assisted your boss on a mission-critical task and what happened as a result of that teamwork.Answering interview questions about handling a heavy workload can be tricky, but it’s a chance to highlight your time management and problem-solving skills. Show how you stay organized, prioritize tasks, and remain calm under pressure to stand out as a strong, reliable candidate.Need more help with your job search?Get access to our Free Resource Center today (no credit card required!).

In 2008, I read Bloomberg Businessweek’s article entitled “Management by the Numbers,” in which they review how IBM has been building mathematical models of its own employees with an aim to improve productivity and automate management. I’ll let you read it and draw your own conclusions, but I realized that this article still rings true today.After reading this article so many years ago, I learned a new workplace term that they’re using over at IBM. “Fungible” is a word used to describe workers who are “virtually indistinguishable from others” in terms of the value of their contributions in the workplace.You see, IBM’s study is enabling them to identify top performers from average ones, with the latter being fungible—and I would assume that translates into expendable as well. In a time where layoffs continue to make the headlines, I guarantee that management teams all over the country are getting in rooms and saying, “Who’s fungible on the payroll right now?”Okay, so they are most likely not using the term—but they are having that discussion, I assure you.So, what does this mean for you and your career? It means now, more than ever, you need to stand out. If you blend in, you’re at risk. But if you make yourself indispensable—consistently delivering results, building key relationships, and owning your professional development—you become the person they can’t afford to lose.The goal in today’s job market isn’t just to stay employed. It’s to be seen as irreplaceable. And that requires intentionality, strategy, and a deep understanding of the value you bring to the table.How To Be Indispensable (Not Fungible)Employees must get on the ball and start doing two things if they want to keep their jobs:Produce quantifiable results that tie to the financial success of the companyMarket their success to those who determine if they are fungibleSo, if you’ve been on autopilot when it comes to assessing your professional strengths, building your career identity, and marketing your personal brand (if you are unfamiliar with the career development terms I just used, suffice to say you’ve been on autopilot), then I encourage you to get started. Start by identifying the specific skills and accomplishments that differentiate you from your peers. Then, find ways to align those strengths with your company’s current goals—especially the ones that impact revenue, customer retention, and operational efficiency. Remember, in today’s competitive job market, being indispensable means being visible, valuable, and vocal about your contributions.It takes a lot more to get and keep a good job these days, and there’s a whole new way to manage your career. If you need help learning how to be indispensable in your career so you don’t end up fungible, check out our Free Resource Center today. Getting the career help you need has never been easier.