Soft Skills of the Week: March 3, 2023
Your secret weapon to stand out from the rest.
In this issue
How top developers start their day
Advocate for yourself
Interview tips from a pro
Efficiency tip of the week: shortcut to pasting your zoom link
How top developers start their day
Inspired by this post from Paris Law @parislaw
I hear this time and time again, “I’d like to get my day started with more intention and energy.”
Starting the day sluggish, tired, unfocused and disconnected, can take HOURS to finally get into the “flow”.
Here’s how our top developers start their day:
Identify the 1-3 tasks that are non-negotiable and most important to accomplish.
Move the body. Can be a walk, run, yoga, weight-lifting or stretching.
Gratitude or journaling practice. Write down three things you are thankful for.
Get sunlight/fresh air. Even just 5 minutes in the sun makes a difference.
Identify the task/meeting/situation you are most dreading that day and ask yourself: “How would my best self show up for this?”
Advocate for yourself
Inspired by this post from Lesleigh Gennace @GennaceLesleigh
How do you know if you are in over your head, or you just need time to adjust?
We all feel overwhelmed when starting something new. A good rule of thumb, if you're still feeling like a fraud three months in, it might be time to take a closer look. Are receiving the support and recognition you need to feel confident in your role? Do you have the resources you need to succeed? If not, it could be time to have a conversation about this with your team lead.
Remember, you are responsible to advocate for yourself and problem solve, double down, access resources, and put in 110% to figure it out.
Knowing the difference between self-doubt and the need to advocate for more support and resources is a key step to being responsible for your own growth and thriving in your position.
Not sure how to get that conversation started? Here are a few ways to open the conversation and advocate for yourself:
“Do you have 20 minutes to clarify some things for me? I want to make sure I am exceeding expectations.”
“There are some additional resources that would allow me to be even more efficient and valuable to the team, could we talk about it?”
“I want to make sure I am supporting the team as best I can, can we meet briefly to talk more about this?”
“I need (more time, additional team members, access to certain technology, etc) to accomplish our teams’ objectives, would this be available?”
Interviews tips from a pro
Inspired by this post from Victoria Pereira
Interviews are NOT just about impressing the interviewer.
They are not a one-sided space to be judged. It's a conversation between professionals to determine if we're the right fit for each other.
As a recruiter here at Clevertech: I'm not pro-company or pro-candidate; I'm pro-people. I sit down to listen and understand your experience, and potential. And yes, I'm also there to answer your questions and help you decide if we'll be the best option for you. THAT IS IT.
Here are a few things I look for and are important to me:
🗣 English mastery - accents allowed
English is a tool we use to communicate and understand each other. That's the ONE thing I care about. Having an accent when speaking English, no problem.
🤐 Confidence in your journey
Have you been laid off or have a short work experience? Why should you feel it's something to hide or be embarrassed about? Having a human approach means we are or have been employees as well, we also went through the same things. What is most important is that you own your journey and learn lessons along the way.
🎉 Results speak for themselves
Have you worked with a certain technology, implemented a complicated feature, worked with a demanding client? I want to hear about your results. Here at CleverTech we are doers, and results are what we care about most - lead with that!
🤔 You know what’s important to you
This isn’t a one-sided conversation, I love when I’m interviewing someone and they know what THEY want. Location freedom? Working with highly skilled professionals? Company culture that supports growth and development? Know what is most important to you and make sure that the company you join is aligned with those values.
Let's break down the misconceptions about interviews and make them more about connecting and less about impressing! Click here to explore what job opportunities we have at CleverTech.
Efficiency Tip: Shortcut to pasting your Zoom link
Inspired by this post from Natalie Ta @nnatalietaa
I used to waste time finding, copying, and pasting my Zoom link daily. Those minutes add up.
I figured out a hack that has made my life 10x better! It takes 15 minutes to set up, is painless, AND can be applied to many different areas of work, not just finding your zoom link.
Here's what I did...
I programmed my zoom link into my keyboard shortcuts. Mine is 'zm'
I downloaded the zoom Google chrome extension. It provides a 'create zoom link' button each time you make an event.
Viola, what used to take minutes, now takes SECONDS.
Anytime I find myself repeating an action I think: "there's gotta be a better way."
How can you simplify some of your redundant tasks?
At Clevertech we believe the difference maker in the tech world (and beyond) is the intentional development of soft skills. We pride ourselves on supporting our consultants through coaching and trainings. If you are looking for remote work at a company that is committed to your growth and development, click here to explore what job openings we have.