The Confident Career

Are Traditional Jobs Being Outpaced by Gig Economy Opportunities?

California recently made headlines as it passed a bill, AB 5, to reclassify freelancers or independent contractors, also known as “gig workers”, as employees. The intent of the bill is to provide more benefits and protection for freelancers, but many employers and freelancers are at odds with the new law, set for January 2020. For employers, the law may cause a 30% increase in costs as the newly classified employees would require minimum wages, health benefits, holidays, and more. For freelancers, being classified as employees will restrict their freedom and flexibility to set their own hours and other work terms, which, for many freelancers, is the huge draw away from traditional jobs and towards contract work, with 51% saying that no amount of money will draw them back into traditional work. 

But what exactly is the Gig Economy and how relevant is it in the bigger picture of the American workforce?

Why Failure Helps Your Career

When you listen to celebrities being interviewed about their success, they often end up talking about their failures. They reflect on how many times they were rejected and how, if you want to achieve your goals in life, falling flat on your face is a prerequisite.

Fear of failure is so common because it puts a magnifying glass up to our insecurities. Failing makes us feel uncomfortable, like we have nothing worthwhile to offer. So, it becomes easier to avoid trying anything new because then we don’t have to broadcast our shortcomings and confirm our hidden self-doubt.

Career Moves to Make If You’re Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck

Many Americans now, unfortunately, know the feeling of living paycheck to paycheck, due to rising costs of living, high barriers to entry in the job market, and stagnating wages. This is leaving many with the feeling that there is little hope that they will be able to save money or have enough to cover emergency expenses. 

It seems financial stress is everywhere these days, and it makes sense, as living paycheck to paycheck can also leave many wondering what they would do in a situation where they lose their job. However, in spite of the many financial difficulties facing Americans, there are still people who are finding success when it comes to managing their personal finances and growing their careers. 

While it is easy to get discouraged, taking steps forward in your career can help mitigate financial stress. There are many things that you can start doing today that will boost your career and hopefully set you on track to boosting your income and increase your job security.

Why Being A Perfectionist Is Holding You Back in Your Career

It is the age of perfectionism.

This generation of workers has been developmentally bombarded with ideas of perfection, from being rewarded with gold stars for every achievement to images of photoshopped bodies on every street corner.  In this world, you need to be a hustler, a self-starter, a go-getter (and the best one) to be valued. 

It would make sense that perfectionism is increasing.  Society has become hyper-focused on being the best and then parading it around.

Perfectionism is subjective.  But, generally, it’s setting excessively high standards for yourself.

Perfectionism has shown to have some positive attributes.  People who consider themselves perfectionists are highly motivated, can work in fast-paced environments and are more engaged in their work. 

But, there’s a dark side to setting unrealistic expectations.  People who self-identify as perfectionists also experience feelings of inadequacy, poor work-life balance, stress and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Perfectionism is holding you back in your career.

3 Things You’re Doing That Are Holding Back Your Earning Potential

Let’s take a minute to think about your last paycheck. Picture it in your mind. Do you feel satisfied? Okay about it, but it could be better? Complete disappointment? No matter what you think about how much you make, I bet you have the potential to earn more. Even if you feel good about what you’re making, that doesn’t mean you are earning as much as you could be.

You are worth a lot more than you think you are, and you need to be maximizing that earning potential. You might even be the one getting in the way of your earning potential. Here are three things you’re doing that are holding you back:

10 Questions to Ask in the Job Interview When You’re Asked, “Do you have any questions?”

What is something that high school students and job interviewees have in common? When asked, “Do you have any questions?” they both stay silent. Don’t be a blank-faced high school student who definitely has questions—say something!

But don’t just say anything. Say something meaningful and concise. Something that screams, “I’m a qualified person who deserves this job.” Something like this:

How the Art of Small Talk Will Improve Your Career

The art of small talk, no matter how scary it may seem, could be your most useful skill when it comes to advancing in your career.

The Most In-Demand Skill of the Future

Every day technology is increasingly taking over every aspect of our lives. There almost isn’t a single instance in which technology has not made its presence known. Artificial Intelligence has allowed technology to take over even the most mundane of tasks, such as switching off the lights, as well as some of the most complicated ones, such as predicting what you might buy six months from now. Therefore, we may assume that the most in-demand skills of the future may be technology related. While technology is a must, in this day and age, it has now become a given. Second-nature.

What will really be in demand in the future are emotional and social skills, or what are often collectively called, soft skills. These skills make up what is left that make us human. According to many, we have entered the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in which technology is taking over simple and complex tasks, to the point that many existing jobs will soon become obsolete because robots and machines will be able to do the same tasks that we currently do, with more speed and precision. However, some skills of the human experience that technology has not been able to imitate and overtake are creativity, complex problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and empathy and emotional intelligence. Because these skills cannot (just yet), be done better and faster by machines, these are the skills that will be in demand in coming years.

Interesting Perks: Helping Employees Pay Off Student Debt

You’ve worked super hard throughout college so that you could do your job well, so why aren’t more employers rewarding you for it by helping with your student loans? College educated workers possess the knowledge and skills that employers seek, so shouldn’t the employers be offering incentive for higher education with loan assistance?

3 Important Factors to Consider When Deciding If You Should Go Back to School

As fall quickly approaches, parents throughout the country work feverishly to get their kids ready for the new school year. This leads many parents and other adults to reflect on their own education and consider whether or not they should return to school.

There are many reasons why adults return to school later in life. They may be seeking a new career, a promotion, higher pay, or even to expand career options within their current field. Regardless of the reasons, each potential student must consider three important factors when deciding if they should go back to school now.