Mentor Academy
(NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR NEXT MENTOR ACADEMY) CLICK HERE TO FILL THE REGISTRATION FORM (CLICK IMAGE TO OPEN THE ACCELERATE BROCHURE) MY STORY: When I decided I was going to start my TV program, most of the people who knew me at the time said “What?!? You?!? I can’t really blame them though… After all, my friends knew me as this timid shy woman so the thought of me being a TV presenter – of all things – was hard to imagine. They thought I was being foolish, unrealistic, delusional and impractical and one or two of them went ahead to tell me so…(*ouch) It can be painful, knowing that some of the people closest to you don’t believe in you or think you don’t have what it takes. It is also incredibly lonely to be that person dreaming of something or trying to achieve something that people think is “too big for you”. It was not surprising that as I grew into myself and embraced my calling, I grew apart from some of those friends. Luckily there were a few people that surrounded me, supported me, encouraged me and cheered me on… And the rest, as they say, is history. (Season 3 airs very soon.) I am not saying this to brag. I just want to give you a reality check. This is real talk… When you are ready to move to the next level, it won’t be easy. Don’t let anyone deceive you or tell you differently. It is a period where you have to strengthen your foundations as well as stretch and grow. You are going to become better and that means you will seem different – and some people will not be comfortable with that. Many don’t prepare for these changes and so when things get hard or seem uncomfortable, 95% of people give up, go back and settle where they have always been. I don’t want that to be you. If I, Morenike, whole nickname is school was “Timi-dee” (dear Lord, I was so timid)… If I can do what I do today, there is no reason why you cannot also put yourself on track to career excellence and achievement -even if you are stuck in a rut today. The key is to surround yourself with the right people, information and systems. I am happy to say I have created just what you need. It is called The Accelerate Program: A mentoring, mastermind and accountability program. (CLICK IMAGE TO OPEN THE ACCELERATE BROCHURE) I took a group of people through this program in 2017 and the latests graduates were from 2019 and they got amazing results. Accelerate is a combination of coaching, nurturing, mentoring accountability and support where we work together to help you create specific targets and achieve tangible progression. Candidates will work closely with me and a cadre of 15 high level mentors from various industries. To get the best results, we are keeping this group small. We only have spots for 20 people – strictly first come, first served. The programme runs for 3 months and I guarantee you that if you plug in and participate, you will get results. It is time to surround yourself with a team that is committed to your success. These 15 spots are being offered to over 3000 people so if you know this is your time, you must get in touch immediately – don’t delay. Simply FILL THIS FORM to reserve your spot. Need to know more? Click here to download the brochure. This is not for everybody but if you know you need this, do not hesitate. You will not regret making this investment in yourself. I look forward to working with you. Morenike Ajayi
Make Yourself Visible
You were not meant to be hidden. Make yourself visible. This has been my battlecry. Make yourself known. Work with excellence but let yourself be seen also. Whether at work or even on the internet – always say who you are. Always put your best foot forward. Communicate your value. Say what you have to offer. If you have a skill, say it and show it. The events of the last few weeks made me realise this even more. It started when I got a phone call from Nigeria. The voice at the other end said something about representing a top government agency in Nigeria. What?!?? My first thought was that it was a scam or crank call. Ever since I lost my parents many years ago, I don’t have much family and absolutely no “connections” in Nigeria. None. So I can be forgiven for thinking it was a crank call. It made no sense that someone was calling me to ask me to run a leadership training for a group of female executives and top women government officials. When the organiser flew into the UK to meet me, I quickly realised this was no scam. We sprang into action and organised the trainers, the venue – University of Greenwich – materials, gifts and more (special thanks to Sarah my event planner). So that was the highlight of last month. We ran a leadership training for Women in business and Government and the event was a great success. I am still totally in awe of the fact that I had been sought out to provide this service. In the events that followed, I think the reality finally hit me when I saw the convoy of diplomatic cars pull up at the University of Greenwich. It was an extremely humbling experience. Was it God’s intervention? or was I found because I was visible? Both perhaps? I have my own thoughts but you be the judge. Being visible in my case is attending events, volunteering and serving in committees, speaking at events, keeping my LinkedIn profile updated, running the career nuggets blog, producing a career TV show, publishing a book, organising events, developing networks intentionally and so on. That’s me. For you it may be similar or completely different. It may be as simple at speaking up in a business meeting, serving in your community, updating your Linkedin Profile or attending a party. You never know who has their eye on you. You never know who will notice. You never know who is watching. It was an amazing experience and I learnt so much from it. I shared the rest of the lessons with my accountability group. However, here is the summary: – Trust God in every situation – Be consistent – Stay focussed – Believe in yourself – Dream big – Stay accountable – Work on your networks – Let excellence be your motto – Be visible – support others Attend the Career Nuggets Annual ball on 1 December, you’ll never know who you’ll meet.
How to Future-Proof your Career (Video)
Enjoy this recording of Morenike Ajayi speaking at the “Equipping People” service.
Employability skills
Employability skills are transferable skills which are needed by an individual to make him/her capable of being employed. Employers often have specific standards against which they measure if an applicant is employable or not. To compete effectively in the job market, you need to have what it takes i.e. knowledge, skill, training, right attitude and assets which a prospective employer would find attractive. Top Employability Skills 1. Effective communication: Communication is a two way thing; it involves both speaking and listening. Employers want to know that you are not just good at written and oral communication but you are also good at listening and understanding information. They want to know that you can express yourself and your opinions fluently. In addition, the ability to listen to others and act upon instructions correctly is an employability skill that is much sought after. 2. Working well under pressure: Employers want their employees to be capable of handling stressful situations that may show up in the workplace. From time to time things do not go according to plan in the work place; being able to handle such situations without breaking down is an admirable skill which employers desire in their employees. An employee, who is able to meet deadlines despite the pressures that might occur at work, is considered an asset. 3. Being a team player: A good employee is able to work confidently with other people on the team irrespective of their backgrounds. Everyone in a team has a different role to play based on their strengths therefore a good team player is vital for the completion of an organisation’s tasks. Having the best interest of your team at heart and working together to achieve it is a great employability skill. 4. Strong personal drive and motivation: The strong desire to succeed and do well at your job is something that employers appreciate in their work force. A good employee does not wait to be told to do things; this employee can use his /her initiative to decide when to take appropriate action. He/She is determined to get things done and to make things happen constantly looking for better ways of doing things in the interest of the organisation. This employee would have no difficulty meeting deadlines and is regarded as an asset by employers. This is a very useful employability skill. 5. Interpersonal skills: An employee who is able to work well with colleagues and who has soft job skills; someone who recognises & respects different perspectives is the kind employers want to have. The employee who has good interpersonal skills is open to ideas and the views of others; He/she is not rude and condescending but is confident in his/her own skin and fits well into the culture of that organisation. 6. Problems solving skills: The ability to get information adequately and use that information to systematically solve problems is another useful skill to have 7. Decision making & Taking initiative: Employers also want their employee to be able to identify opportunities within the work place, provide tangible ideas and solutions that will affect the organisation positively. Nuggets 1. To be regarded as employable, you must be seen as someone who will add value to the organisation. 2. The right knowledge, skill, training, and attitude will make a prospective employer find you employable. For more information on this topic please check out my books: Career Nuggets: Undeniable Secrets for Career Success Career Nuggets: Bitesize Tips for Your Career Progression You can also watch me on Career Nuggets my Flagship Career program on OHTV SKY 199 www.careernuggets.tv https://www.nuggetmarket.com
Standing Out on LinkedIn
Did you know that a recent study found 73% of all hires made through social networks were via LinkedIn? There are more than 347 million users on LinkedIn; to stand out among a crowd It is essential to have a professional profile that will catch the recruiter’s attention. To build an eye-catching LinkedIn profile: 1. Choose an appropriate profile picture – since a photo can say a thousand words, make sure your profile picture is a professional, high-quality head shot. LinkedIn Career Experts suggests you are 14 times more likely to be found if you have a professional profile picture. 2. Create a memorable headline – for people who are viewing your profile, your headline should be a short, unforgettable way to explain yourself in a professional context. It should be about what you do opposed to what you are. Speak directly to the audience you want to attract and be specific. Here are some interesting and creative headlines: 3. Complete your profile – make sure to list all your experience, institutions attended, honors and awards received. according to LinkedIn experts Your Profile Summary allows 2000 words but it is recommended to ensure you write more than 40 words to make you more searchable. The summary is the first thing that people see when they go to your page. Keep it interesting and more importantly, current. A stunning summary example: 4. Use key words to fill the “Skills” section – selecting appropriate words that summarize your experience, skills, and areas of expertise will increase the chance of people finding you. Ensure you select words you are prepared to explain and give practical examples when it comes to the interview process. Avoid using buzz words such as ‘motivated’; most people tend to use this word but fail to demonstrate how exactly they are ‘motivated’! 5. Join groups and become active – find target groups, start or join discussions, and write thoughtful comments. Don’t build and abandon your Linkedin page, remember, you must be active on LinkedIn and periodically update your information in order to stay on recruiters’ radar! Have any of these tips worked for your LinkedIn? We would love to hear your success story! Tweet us @CareerNuggets or email us info@careernuggets.co.uk ——————————————————————– Attend the first Career Nuggets Master class – click here Sign up to our newsletter here
The Power of Networking on 3 Fingers
Have you ever wondered why some people just get along with everyone? They just seem to know everybody and all the right people while whenever you open up your contact list only the names of some family members and a few close friends pop up. Trust me, I have been there. Realizing how pathetic my situation was, I decided that it was time to do some research on how I could bail myself out of this rut. What I stumbled upon was quite remarkable! Networking is a skill and once mastered it can open up endless possibilities in your personal and professional life. Networking is a powerful skill and if you want to reap benefits, here is what you can do: Talk to everyone. A few things that may hold you back are: what if I don’t like everyone I meet? Or what if I’m shy? Well my simple response to this is it will be worth it. If you decide to ignore that part of your brain that’s screaming “you’re not a people-person” and just go out and talk to people then you would be surprised at how many opportunities can start flowing your way. Whether you are just out of high-school, currently out of a job or anywhere on the ladder of success, know that by establishing a relationship with the right people can give you a boost to that pinnacle you are trying to reach. Once I went to a networking event around 7:30am in the morning (I love to sleep so this was a big sacrifice!) It was for an IT company I was interning. My job was to give out the company business cards but for the majority of the event I found myself talking to a really lovely lady who said she is a project manager and has many temporary projects she needed assisting, so we exchanged email addresses. I sent her a warm email saying ‘it was lovely to meet you’ but I didn’t hear back from her immediately, it took 2 months for her to reply, but her first email was a job offer! The lesson learnt is most people don’t forget a nice smile and a kind gesture. Leaving a lasting impression is vital, sending a follow up message is even more important (I address this a bit further down …) this job led me to work for my local council, and later secure a management job in a top accountancy firm. “But how do I meet the right people?” This is another excellent question you might ask. The answer is in my next point. Attend events. Whether it be a workshop, forum, or just a general professional meetup/gathering, it’s important to know that these events are laced with individuals who could help you; either now or in the long run. What would be better is if you do a little research on events that have something to do with your interests. Invest the time. There are many agencies that host forums, seminars, expos and even create networking opportunities; there are events that will happen wherein thousands of people attend. The concept is this, rather than stay at home complaining about not having a job or various opportunities it is better to throw yourself in the deep-end of networking. There will be people there who may be in the same situation as you who could give a few useful tips and advice. Networking done correctly, can take you from being stuck to where you never thought you would be. Visit these sites to know what events you could attend in a city near you: Eventbrite.com MeetUp.com Type in the search what industry event you are looking for, e.g. Fashion show, Business Networking, Meetups for Tech geeks in London. Create and maintain contacts. Don’t let all that hard work of attending and shaking a million and one hands go to waste. Call, email or text your recently recruited contacts, express pleasure making their acquaintance, but it should not stop there. Later on, follow up. Not pestering them for a job, but simply checking how their work/business is going, recalling one key interest they expressed when you first met ‘Did you watch the Chelsea match yesterday?’, and ‘How is your new project?’ Ask to meet up for coffee or lunch. You could also go as far as offering working for them on a voluntary basis. “Are there any projects you are currently working on and how might I volunteer my services?” questions like these will show an employer a job is worth more than money, and you are genuinely interested in working for that company. Overtime, if you have done a good job you will have built up so much trust and favour that when you make a request of these persons, they will be fifty times more willing to offer you a permanent job. Expand your horizons. Network Network ….and Network! Dorothy – Career Nuggets