Professionals facing rapid changes in their fields can pivot careers without starting over by recognizing signs of stagnation, auditing current skills and closing skill gaps through upskilling, writes Devashish Chakravarty, founder of SalaryNext.com. These professionals should also begin reaching out to old colleagues or mentors to build out their network, along with creating a compelling narrative showcasing how their skills will transfer to a new industry.
Expressing gratitude through thank-you notes is a valuable career skill, writes Katie Homar, assistant director of the Office of Academic Career Development at the University of Pittsburgh. Homar offers tips for writing professional notes, such as choosing the right medium, being specific and keeping the message concise and genuine.
Self-reflection is an important step during a job search as reflecting on one's values, skills and interests can reveal whether a potential job truly aligns with personal and professional goals, writes Lauren Easterling, an assistant professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. Easterling shares a personal experience where self-reflection led to the decision to decline a job offer that, despite aligning on the surface, did not resonate with her deeper interests and strengths.
Managing disagreements across power structures requires a strategic approach to foster understanding and collaboration, writes consultant Marlene Chism, who emphasizes the importance of challenging ideas without invalidating others. By asking thoughtful questions like "Would you be willing to be challenged?" or "Would you be willing to hear another point of view?", you can navigate tensions constructively and avoid conflict.
Discussing the possibility of quitting with your boss can be risky but beneficial if approached strategically by framing the conversation around how you can add value and explore new opportunities within the company rather than explicitly mentioning quitting, experts suggest. "If your boss sees you as competent, capable and trustworthy, they're more likely to be willing to do what's needed to retain you," says Ravi Gajendran of Florida International University.
Bad habits such as prioritizing others' needs over your own, maintaining an always-on mentality and struggling with boundary setting contribute to stress and burnout, especially during the holiday season, says Cara Houser, author of "Burned Out to Lit Up: Ditch the Grind and Reclaim Your Life." "The only person you're 100% responsible for making happy is yourself. If you don't do that, it's how you get burned out," Houser notes.
TikTok said it would implement age restrictions on certain beauty filters to address mental health concerns among teens. The changes, announced at TikTok's European Safety Forum, will prevent users under 18 from accessing appearance-altering effects that are not obvious and humorous. This move follows a report by Internet Matters highlighting the negative impact of beautifying filters on teens' perception of reality.
