Path Forward.ORG’s Post

We love this reminder from Ellen Lee to those balancing careers and parenthood. When the madness of summer vacation hits, but your workplace doesn't have a summer break — "give yourself grace," she says. "There's a lot going on!" In this week's URL Media Career Newsletter we share some practical advice from Ellen and from URL's own Melanie H. Figueiredo, plus check out the job searches our recruitment team is leading. How do you balance work and parenting when school's out for the summer? https://lnkd.in/gBUiE5Aa

We all know the deal: first impressions stick. So when a new joiner steps into our world, it's a golden opportunity for us to shine. But, let's face it, not everyone rolls out the welcome mat. Some seniors might flex their tenure like a badge of honor, creating an invisible barrier. It's not just off-putting; it's a creativity killer. Every eye roll, every sigh of impatience, it adds up to a culture of 'us vs. them.' Remember your first day? The nerves? The hope? That's where every newbie is at. A little empathy could bridge the gap between 'new' and 'part of the crew.' We're all on the same team, aiming for the same goals. When seniors lead by example, showing that collaboration trumps competition, the whole team levels up. Being the top dog is cool and all, but being the top mentor? That's legendary. Let's flip the script and turn the office into a place where everyone thrives, from day one to day done.

This post playfully pokes at the double-edged sword of longevity - extending our youth yet also prolonging workplace demands. However, simply scoffing at longer lives risks short-sightedness. What if we took a more visionary stance - envisioning work-life integration that sustains vigor at any age? Rather than dread exhausting office small talk into our 100s, I dream of workplaces that feel like families. Where every member, regardless of generation, feels valued for their wisdom. Where youthful minds meld with experienced hearts to push progress forward.  I envision flexibility that allows older employees to work at their pace, on their terms, while leveraging their expertise to mentor next generations. Simultaneously, ensure the young guard feels heard, not dismissed as naively idealistic. With mutual understanding as the cornerstone, work integrates seamlessly into lives instead of overshadowing them. Rather than require 65 years of experience, let’s nurture work cultures that respect curiosity and growth over outdated measures of competence. That way, employment empowers passions instead of merely financing survival.  If we redefined winning at work as uplifting people over corporate interests, no one would count down the days till retirement. The office could become an oasis for fulfillment at any age. Just a thought!

Here is today’s Positive Thought of The Day: "The difference in winning and losing is most often not quitting." – Walt Disney I love sharing Walt Disney quotes. This is one of my favorites. I know, I know…I have been expounding about persistence and such frequently. Get used to it. I will keep talking about it. In life, one of the most important attributes anyone can foster within themselves is persistence. The adage “Winners never quit, and quitters never win” is similar to this quote. But these bits of wisdom are very true. And very powerful. I recently hit my one-year layoff anniversary. There have been times I’ve had my doubts and been downtrodden. But I never once have allowed the thought of quitting ever enter my head. Not once. And I never will. I am going to win. And to do that, I can’t quit. And I hope that no matter what life throws in your way, you find the strength and persistence to refuse to quit, and to achieve that "win". There you have it. My Positive Thought of The Day! And you’re welcome! 😊 TTFN For those on the job seeking journey with me…keep your chin up and keep knocking on doors. We’ll all get the answer we want on the door that is meant for us! I know it! #PTOTD, #positiveattitude, #positivityevangelist, #nevernegative, #keepsmiling, #opentoconnect, #dreambig, #aspirations

Sharing a bit of wisdom from The Princess Diaries for anyone who may need to hear it today. _________________________________________________________________ My family I have taken many risks in life and career: -I moved to California to work for Disney knowing no one in the entire state! -Moved to Florida without a job to follow a job offer for my husband (and then subsequently we moved back and forth from the west to east coast 4 times to support each others careers!) -Left multiple years of Disney employment to join NBCUniversal as they rapidly grew -Took time for my health by going part time, in a time when everyone told me that would be a career mistake -Earlier this year, took a sabbatical abroad with no job to support an opportunity for my family (and it was the best decision of my life!) You know what, all of these were scary...I will be totally honest and I cried a lot! But they all worked out and I have led to bigger and better things, connections, learnings, and sooo much more fun in life! (I mean these opportunities led me to opening the Wizarding World and visiting the ABBA museum in Sweden!!) If you are someone looking at making a change in career or life, remember that it may be scary, but scary is often the path to the best outcome. #worklifebalance #disneycastlife #princessdiaries

One thing that's boosting my energy this mid-winter week? Welcoming the new members of our Take Ownership of Your Career program! One theme that came up in our first meeting yesterday was how to center *your* most important priorities (like flexibility, time with family, income, and more) while also making a bigger #impact through your work. ⚖️ Finding the balance that's right for them is one of the things our group members will be working on in the coming weeks, as they map out what they want next in their careers. If you're at a #career crossroads or ready to re-evaluate your work and life priorities, we'd love to have you join us for our next Take Ownership program this spring! ⏰ We'll be opening an *extra-early* prioritity registration window for that program in February, just for folks who are signed up on our interest list. Join right here to get all the details! --> https://buff.ly/2PoxQOh For now, I'm sending a big welcome to all our new members - congrats on making this investment in yourself and your career future! #careers #careerplanning #careerdevelopment #careercoaching

I love this idea: Internal internships to cover parents out on leave. Some companies are offering more parental leave to all parents, and they're using those parents' time OOO to give others a chance to grow skills. These kinds of internships can: - Help with business continuity while the parent is out - Give parents peace of mind that they've got someone good holding down the fort (especially if they're involved in selecting and training the intern) - (My favorite) offer concrete, hands-on learning opportunities to interns, helping them build new skills and also test the waters in a new role/function/area of the business This article gives a couple of examples of companies (Schneider Electric, Indeed, Urban Sitter) with specifics about how they train interns and how they cover the interns' workloads while they're doing the internship. But these companies seem very much the exception, not the rule. How many companies even offer parental leave in the U.S.? How many people don't have access to any parental leave? (More than there should be, I think.) I'm curious: Do you think internships like these are a good idea? Do you think many companies will implement them? #parentalleave #maternityleave #benefits #employeedevelopment

Last week, I returned from maternity leave. During my leave I had the opportunity to step back, reflect, and let creativity flow. What did that opportunity bring me, apart from seeing a fantastic little boy grow and prosper? Here are my three main takeaways: ✓ As most of you know, I work in the field of (medical and military) robotics, specifically on making robots smarter. A hip and happening specialty, especially when you throw the AI aspect of it in the mix. I would like to start spending more time sharing the knowledge I have in these areas, and I'm wondering who would be interested in that and what they would like to learn about? Comments and DMs welcome! ✓ Enabling better lives (see Milrem Robotics ' purpose) is something I stand for. Especially when thinking about the young lives of my children. However, I think I can do more to help people, more to create a better world and more to fulfill this purpose. I want to use this purpose to weigh my actions and decisions more often, but I am searching here. Anyone who can help with this search is more than welcome to reach out! ✓ With the risk of stepping into cliche's, I want to say something about work/life balance; I'm sharing this because it may help some of you. The expression alone already suggests that work is not part of your life, a thing which I disagree with. Work (also if you're doing unpaid work) is a huge part of your life. I found over the past few years how important it is to make choices that suit you, that fit your life. In my case, that means: having a paid job next to the unpaid work at home, working with people I respect, I like and I can learn from, and ensuring that there's enough time spent on other things than work. Although it is doable to make these choices, it's undoable to have a 'balance' 100% of the time. Especially if you have (young) kids or others to care for. I try to focus on keeping the dynamic system that is my life balanced overall, but that does not mean imbalances don't occur (often)... Accepting and embracing this fact saves me a lot of energy. With this uncharacteristic post, I'm looking forward to continue my journey in the autonomy and robotics world! Hope to see you along the way 🙃

🔍 Are you a new grad about to transition to a new dental office? Feeling anxious about finding the right fit after a challenging experience? 😟 It's natural to feel apprehensive about your next career move, especially if you've faced difficulties in your current workplace. But fear not! Here are some essential questions to ask during the interview process to help you assess if a potential workplace is the right fit for you: 1️⃣ Company Culture and Work Environment: - Ask about the office culture, team dynamics, and opportunities for professional development. 2️⃣ Job Expectations and Responsibilities: - Inquire about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role and how patient care is prioritized. 3️⃣ Support and Resources: - Learn about the resources and support available to help employees succeed, as well as how conflicts are handled within the team. 4️⃣ Career Growth and Advancement: - Explore opportunities for career growth and advancement within the organization. 5️⃣ Work-Life Balance: - Ask about the office's approach to promoting work-life balance and flexibility in scheduling. 🚩 When evaluating potential workplaces, be on the lookout for red flags such as high turnover rates, lack of transparency from leadership, and poor patient reviews. 💡 Remember to trust your instincts and take your time to assess each opportunity thoroughly. You deserve to work in an environment where you feel valued, supported, and respected. 💬 What questions do you have about navigating the job search as a new grad? Share your thoughts and experiences below! We're here to support each other on this journey.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯? If you are lucky enough to be aware of (and consulted about) your kids’ employment activities and performance, consider handling any “feedback conversations” in the same way a learning and development specialist would. When discussing a particular performance, good or bad: 1. Demonstrate unconditional positive regard for the person (make a point to accept without judgement) 2. Show empathy and care for the individual (forge trust and preserve rapport at all costs) 3. Recognize autonomy and that every adult (young or old) is an expert on themself and has an idea of what they need to do (ask open ended questions and gently ask permission before sharing your valuable information and parental advice) ——————————— ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤… Like many of us, kids are not immune to employment struggles, stressors, or disappointments. The job market is weird right now and workplace dynamics can be confusing. Not all experiences will be positive… Be kindly and go easy if things don’t go as well as your child expected. Kids (just like adults) may need a safe place to recoup and rebuild their self confidence and their concept of “self efficacy”. ❤️🩹 😘