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How To Write a Career Mission Statement For Yourself

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Terkel How to Write a career mission statement

What is your career mission statement? What tip would you offer to someone looking to craft a personal mission statement?
To help you craft your personal mission statement, we asked business leaders and HR experts this question for their own mission statements as examples to help you with yours. From establishing your values to never stop improving, there are several examples of mission statements that may help you craft your personal career mission statement.

Here are seven ideas to help you craft your personal mission statement:

  • Establish Your Values
  • Effectively Communicate It Through Video
  • Lead With Internal Drivers
  • Select Word Choice Carefully
  • Culture Of Empowerment
  • Never Stop Improving
  • Keep It Tangible And Short

Establish Your Values

The short version of my career mission statement is; To be a knowledgeable, trusted, and reliable person who can be counted on to solve problems for my client and do whatever it takes to do right by them. In order to achieve this, I will continue to read articles, listen to podcasts, attend webinars, frequent conferences, and seek out leaders in my field to further understand the field that I am in and become a lifelong learner. A great tip to crafting a personal mission statement is to establish your values, determine what your interests are, and set SMART goals.

Noah Downs, American Pipeline Solutions

Effectively Communicate It Through Video

Make sure that the personal mission statement can be effectively communicated via video. With video interviewing here to stay, it’s important that your mission statement be short, concise, and convincing in a video format. Many employers are automating recruiting tasks to better screen candidates, including initial video interviews. By practicing your career mission statement via video, you can ensure that you’ll be able to handle any interviewing format that lies ahead.

Josh Zywien, Paradox

Lead With Internal Drivers

I learned the hard way that the best career mission statements have to start with how I wanted to feel, contribute, grow, experience, and learn. My early statements often lead with external factors like titles, income, and financial rewards. This often led to feeling empty and unfulfilled in my work. Now, when I focus on what makes me internally satisfied, I find myself exactly in the right seat on the right bus.

Jenn Christie, Markitors

Select Word Choice Carefully

A career mission statement should feature your goals, personal values, and previous success. Most importantly though it should showcase your personality. This statement should serve as a differentiator that enables you to stand out from other professionals who work in the same area of expertise. Select language that evokes emotion or is synonymous with your own vernacular. Using linguistics that people assimilate to you will serve to enhance the connection made between you, your way of speaking and those you communicate with, and the career mission statement. Ideally, you’d like for this statement to easily identify you as the professional being described, without needing to be directly identified.

Tyler Butler, 11Eleven Consulting

Culture Of Empowerment

My personal career mission statement has been to, “Create an environment where everyone is empowered to do their best quality work.” My mission was born from my past experience with poor leadership. Find a passion from your past to craft your future. When I became a leader for the first time I was focused on creating a positive environment to work in. The increased sales and better customer experience were a byproduct of taking care of the team. So ask yourself, what is something you want to change, impact or make better?

Steven Brown, DP Electric Inc

Never Stop Improving

I believe there’s always an area for improvement, no matter what you do. Even if you think your outputs’ quality can’t get better, you can always do it faster, use fewer resources, or scale it. When setting career mission statements, it’s crucial not to anchor them around specific job market conditions. They should be universal, so you can still use them when the economic climate changes.

Michael Sena, Senacea

Keep It Tangible And Short

“To recruit, retain, train, and develop the most qualified individuals, for companies whose products/services align with my values.” This is my personal career mission statement. It is my “north star” that reminds me on a daily basis why I chose this career path and why it intrinsically refuels my motivation to continue. When crafting one for yourself, try to keep it as tangible and short as possible. Some of the most memorable mottos are the shortest ones for a reason. The legendary – “Just Do It”, “Think Differently” or “Open Happiness” just to reference a few. More than two sentences is a no-no in my book. At the same time, it shouldn’t be too vague and abstract. Make it personally relatable – to YOU. Ideally, it’s measurable too, so that your “career compass” has some solid footing to stand on.

Jagoda Wieczorek, ResumeLab

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.

What Career Is Right For Me? 12 Ways To Find The Right Career

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How can someone find what career is right for them?

To help you find what career is right for you, we asked business leaders and HR professionals this question for their best tips. From having a solid understanding of what makes you happy to analyzing your skills, there are several ideas that may help you to find your perfect career.

Here are ten tips to help you find what career is right for you: 

  • Experiment
  • Have a Solid Understanding of What Makes you Happy
  • Network
  • Look At Your Roots
  • Headline
  • Informational Interviews
  • Work Towards a Goal
  • What Did You Enjoy As a Kid?
  • Analyze Your Skills
  • Align Your Passion With a Market Need
  • Seek a Strong Workplace Culture
  • Think About the Impact You Want to Make

Experiment

Regardless of whether you are in college, in the early stages of your career, or you are a seasoned professional, you should always be open to trying something new. This can be through internships, part-time positions, or just freelancing in your spare time. You never know, you might happen upon your dream career!

Vanessa Molica, The Lash Professional

Have a Solid Understanding of What Makes you Happy

In order to find the right career for you, you need to have a solid understanding of what makes you truly happy. Too often, people are hyper-focused on salary or culture and end up working in a great job that isn’t the best fit for them. I would recommend identifying what makes you happy then find a way to make money doing what you love. Working in reverse rarely works!

Elliott Greenberg, Touchfree Concepts

Network

Your dream job could be something you don’t even know exists yet. Until you get out and network and talk to people about the careers they love, you might never find a career that is right for you. This also comes in handy if you are actively seeking a job and are open to any career, surveys show that about 85% of jobs are filled through networking! 

Henry Babichenko, DD,  Eurodenture

Look At Your Roots

I firmly believe in looking to your roots to determine how to move forward and when determining what might be best for you. As the oldest of seven children and growing up on a farm in Danville, Alabama, I learned the meaning of hard work at a young age. I grew up raising calves and feeding them by bottles twice a day. Doing this taught me that when something or someone relies on you, you can’t let them down. This led to me exploring careers where I could advocate for the little guys and serve people every day in my job. These roots and life lessons lead me to practice law and put me where I am today. 

Hunter Garnett, Warren & Simpson

Make a Career out of Your Passion

I have always loved sports but had drifted away from this love when I started my professional career at Procter and Gamble. I started a retail position at a local sporting goods store, to entertain my love for sports while waiting to start my MBA program. Before I knew it, I was moved up and promoted at the store and eventually started my own sports summer camp, Camp All-Star, which I ran with my wife for 16 successful years. 

People always say that you can’t make a career out of a passion, but why not? Identify something you love and research career paths relating to that topic. Doing something you love will ensure that you have found the career path that is right for you. Who knows what you will find! 

Craig Rosen, InterviewFocus

Informational Interviews

Do lots and lots of informational interviews! By sitting down with a variety of people who work in verticals you have an interest in, you can get a holistic understanding of what it really takes to occupy that position. Too often, we think we can find our dream job scrolling through LinkedIn or attending career fairs, but neither of those options gives you an insight into the true day-to-day activities.

Blake Murphey, American Pipeline Solutions

Work Towards a Goal

By working towards your goal you may find your real passion or dream career path along the way. I realized that coming out of college, the chances of starting my dream career as a 21-year old was slim. But if I kept working in the right direction to set myself up with valuable experience, I would get there in time. By setting up a plan or direction, you may find that different experiences will lead you down different paths – and you could find yourself doing something you love, that you never even expected. Set up your plan but allow yourself to follow leads and different directions if the opportunities present themselves, you may just end up in your perfect career.

Alexis Orth, Markitors 

What Did You Enjoy As a Kid?

Most people don’t grow up dreaming about repairing appliances. But for some people, being an appliance technician is the perfect career. For anyone looking to discover the right career path, look to your childhood. Did you grow up taking things apart and putting them back together? If so, maybe having a career in appliance repair really could be up your alley. Take a minute to think about what you enjoyed as a kid, and then think about how those early experiences and interests could apply to your future. 

Alex Belladorsi, Appliance Technician

Analyze Your Skills

Finding the right career path is not an easy task and it takes time and effort. In order to make sure that you’re choosing the right job for you, it is important to start by analyzing your skills. Analyze what you like to do, what you are good at, and what jobs these may translate to. The next step is to consult with friends, respected professionals, and career counselors that can help you evaluate your skills and knowledge and give advice on exploring different career paths. Additionally, a career development professional can show you how to make the process of finding a job easier by giving you professional advice. Internships and volunteer opportunities can then serve to reinforce (or not) your career path and can lead you into a life-long career journey.

Ronald Kubitz, Forms+Surfaces

Align Your Passion With a Market Need

The ideal career is found when a person’s skills and passions align with a market need. To balance this equation, consider how you spend your free time and then look for ways to apply elements of that activity to the work world. Sometimes, it’s an easy match – a creative writer who leverages that skill in corporate communications. Other times, it’s not so clear. 

Tim Toterhi, Plotline Leadership

Seek a Strong Workplace Culture

Sometimes it’s not so much about the actual work you are doing, it’s the company who you are working for. And that comes down to workplace culture – a top priority for today’s job seekers. Forward-thinking organizations are able to communicate their workplace culture in words and deeds. This includes setting clear behavior expectations for all employees and providing the leadership, support, policies and training to foster respect, diversity and inclusion. A strong workplace culture provides the foundation for building a career and successfully navigating the opportunities and challenges along the way.

Andrew Rawson, Traliant

Think About the Impact You Want to Make

Cadence Education has more than 200 private preschools and elementary schools across the United States that are full of people who are passionate about inspiring and educating young children. While many children may grow up aspiring to be a teacher, other career options like preschool director, assistant teacher, or even cook can be options to be involved and make an impact in early education. We’ve found that many people working in the Cadence Education Family of Schools found a nice career fit by thinking about the impact they want to make on the world, and finding an outlet to make that dream a reality. 

Jeanne Kolpek, Cadence Education

Is It OK To Connect With a Potential Employer on LinkedIn? 9 Things To Consider

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Is It OK To Connect With a Potential Employer on LinkedIn? 9 Things To Consider

Is it OK to connect with a potential employer on LinkedIn? Why or why not?

Here are nine things to consider when connecting with a potential employer on LinkedIn:

  • Worst case scenario, you get ignored
  • Create a connection strategy
  • Is your LinkedIn profile up to date?
  • Always add a message 
  • Connecting is one of LinkedIn’s main purpose
  • Consider a thank you note
  • Know who you’re talking to
  • Explain your value and how you’re beneficial
  • Have you spent time cultivating your LinkedIn?

Worst case scenario, you get ignored

The worst-case scenario is the potential employer ignores your connection request. I don’t see a problem with making the connection request. Just know that when you press “Connect” and send the request, there’s a chance the request may be ignored. Try to avoid getting offended if that’s the case, as employers have hundreds of candidates applying to positions who may be doing the same thing. 

Carey Wilbur, Charter Capital

Create a connection strategy

It shows a keen interest in the company’s goals and puts you in a good position to stay in touch with them. It’s a good idea to carefully draft a connection strategy (beyond merely letting them know you’ve applied to an open job). You could engage with their posts, offer new ideas aligned with your career expertise, or like their updates. You can also follow companies on LinkedIn that interest you, which will be apparent to their hiring team if you apply to one of their posted openings on LinkedIn.

Laura Smith-Proulx, An Expert Resume

Is your LinkedIn profile up to date?

Extending a connection request on LinkedIn is like extending the job interview. Just like a candidate should be cognizant of their physical appearance in a job interview, candidates should accurately represent themselves through information on their profile. Before connecting, make sure that your profile contains a “summary” about yourself that reads like an objective statement on a resume. Make sure your headshot is professional, as you’ll be representing the company you’re applying to online. By taking the time to ensure your LinkedIn profile best represents you and your abilities, you’ll be able to continue to make a positive impression on your potential employer. 

Brett Farmiloe, Markitors

Always add a message 

Yes, you should connect with a future employer on LinkedIn! There are, however, a few caveats with that statement such as who you are connecting with, what you are saying, and the position. Only connect with someone who will be looking at your resume such as a recruiter or hiring manager. Additionally, when connecting always add a note. This can be as simple as, “Hi Katia, I have applied to your open recruitment role, and wanted to express my utmost interest and excitement. I would love to connect!”. Additional best practices for outreach includes reserving this only for roles you are truly excited about and that align with your career interests.

Katia Dillon, TechnologyAdvice

Connecting is one of LinkedIn’s main purposes

By all means yes! Remember, one of the main purposes of LinkedIn is to make new business connections. If you have targeted a company for hire and see that a Hiring Manager at that target company is advertising a role that you’re interested in then yes send a request to connect. If you do it in a professional (do not beg) manner then you could earn yourself a close look and possible interview. Certainly, make sure you use LinkedIn to its full potential in the job search!

Ronald Kubitz, Forms+Surfaces

Consider a thank you note

Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes for a second. She is interviewing not only you but many others, trying to determine who will be the best person for the job and the company. Connecting over LinkedIn before a decision has been made can come off as both pushy and over-confident—like you’re certain that you’ll be the one who’s working closely with the interviewer over all those other candidates. What should you do instead? Write the perfect thank you note. It’s still the best way to follow up and let the interviewer know how much you want the job. If you really want to grow your network on LinkedIn, it’s okay to request a connection with your interviewer, just wait until after a decision has been made.

Mark Christensen, People & Partnerships

Know who you’re talking to

It’s more than OK, that’s definitely a way to stand out from the crowd of resumes. I’m speaking here from the employer’s perspective and I hired many people that showed me the courage to approach me and talk to me. The most important thing is to show interest, know who and why you are speaking to. Personalize your message, show that you understand what the company does and how they can benefit from hiring you.

Tom Winter, Eye One

Explain your value and how you’re beneficial

Don’t connect with a potential employer on LinkedIn unless you have an irresistible offer to help the company. Otherwise, employers might get annoyed with you, which can lessen your chances of getting hired. Before connecting with a potential employer, create a proposal that is beneficial for the company. Doing so establishes your value right off the bat. If you connect with them without any concrete idea, you will be wasting your efforts since employers won’t even waste their limited time conversing with you.

Stephen Light, Nolah Mattress

Have you spent time cultivating your LinkedIn?

It is appropriate to connect with a potential employer on LinkedIn if you’ve spent time cultivating your LinkedIn content and brand and it gives insight to a potential future employer about your professional experience and approach to the position. It will give them access to your recommendations, digital resume, and your interactions and posts. If you’ve made it decently far into the recruiting process, I think it’s appropriate to connect. Also, even if you don’t receive the position, there’s value in keeping the dialogue going, because you never know what the connection will yield.

Eric Mochnacz, Red Clover

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published. 

How To Connect With People on LinkedIn: 10 LinkedIn Connection Tips

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How to connect with people on LinkedIn
There’s a gray area between the “right” and “wrong” way to connect on LinkedIn. 


It’s safe to say that leading with a sales-based connection message won’t get you many accepted requests. Especially if your personalized message points out that the person has “areas to improve.”

It’s also a given that a personalized message should be included in connection requests to give them a reason for why they should accept a request. Random connections don’t necessarily lead to impactful relationships. 

How should you connect with people on LinkedIn? We asked business professionals for their best LinkedIn connection tips to help you build your network. 

Here are 10 LinkedIn connection tips:

  • Don’t Pitch
  • Connect Prior to Meeting
  • Reply to Interesting Connection Requests
  • Leverage Student Status and Alumni Community
  • Mention Common Grounds
  • Never Imply a Nonexistent Past Relationship 
  • Address “Why?”
  • Similar Industry
  • Value Alignment

Don’t Pitch Quite Yet

Make it all about them and do not use this first outreach as a sales effort. When you approach a new contact on LinkedIn, reference their background, research, expertise, etc. Let them know your interest in the subject matter and that you would like to connect to keep current on the topics they care about. Introduce yourself in the context of their interests.

Marti Konstant, Workplace Futurist

Connect Prior to Meeting

While it might be considered “creepy” to immediately request someone on Facebook right after you meet them, it is not the same with LinkedIn. The rule I have when connecting with professional contacts I meet or are referred to by others is to add those people right away! As a recruiting and staffing professional, I meet so many people from so many industries. When I meet someone at an event, no matter how many times I remind myself not to forget their name, I always do. I make LinkedIn connections right away so I don’t forget their information or miss out on opportunities with that contact.

Ryan Nouis, TruPath

Reply to Interesting Connection Requests

It seems like too many people request or accept a connection request without an exchange. One rule that seems to go far in developing relationships is to reply with a simple, “Thank you for the connection!” to select inbound requests. By initiating the conversation, you can learn more about the person behind the profile. 

Vicky Franko, Insura 

Endorse Skills

You should endorse them for their skills—people love this! If you are connecting with like-minded professionals, go for the skills in your field. If you are connecting with a recruiter, go for something that they specialize in, so on and so forth. The same goes if you are a sales professional and are prospecting, go with the reason why you’re reaching out. Most times, they’d have had a few highly endorsed skills already, you just have to click the big “+” button. Doing this sends them notifications and increases your chance of getting recognized and getting a reply—regardless of your reasoning for sending that connection request.

Hung Nguyen, Smallpdf

Leverage Student Status and Alumni Community

If you are currently a student, use it to your advantage! The great thing about being a student is that professionals in your industry are more than willing to help out, especially if they are alumni. Start by going to your university or college’s LinkedIn page and navigating to the alumni page. Type in keywords related to your interests or studies and start reaching out to professionals that you’d like to connect with! In my connection request, my one rule is to include my student status and explain why I am passionate about my field. If I am connecting with an alumni, I always include a P.S. and nod to Arizona State (ex: P.S. Forks Up!). 

Thylan Le, Markitors

Mention Common Ground

Make your messages personalized to each connection. If you are connecting with someone new make sure to mention something you have in common or be specific about why you are reaching out. The person is more likely to respond if you personalize the message instead of just sending the connection request without a note.

Dana Felix, HR Analyst

Never Imply a Nonexistent Past Relationship 

The number one rule that I have when asking for a connection in LinkedIn is to never imply a preexisting relationship that does not exist. There is a natural progression that relationships take that must be respected. The most valuable resource a person can give you is access to their network and that should be treated as sacred. If you cannot make that request without a clear value proposition to that person, go back to the drawing board.

Lukas Ruebbelke, Briebug

Why?

What is the “why” for connecting with me? I am more likely to engage with someone that helps me understand what made them select me in the first place. It also makes that first inMail seem less cold.

Steven Brown, DP Electric Inc

Similar Industry

If a person is in a similar industry, I will typically approve the connection. You never know when you may be able to network with someone, or collaborate on a project. Many accept all invitations just to boost their connections. However, if you\’ve been on LinkedIn for a week, you should easily be able to spot a sales or marketing pitch, disguised as a connection invite.

Andrea Loubier, Mailbird

Value Alignment

While it’s not a hard and fast rule, I do try to assess based on a person’s profile if there is a value alignment either by perusing their activity or reviewing what they highlight in their profile. If it does not seem like a values match, typically, I will decline a connection request. I also suggest trying to follow someone first before connecting. It may be that the connection at first glance seems favorable, but over time, questionable. Following the person first provides an appropriate distance so you can assess further before fully engaging this person in your professional circle, particularly if you have only met online.

Nadine Mullings, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published. 

9 Reasons To Connect With a Hiring Manager on LinkedIn

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LinkedIn Thought Leaders

You’re applying for a job, or maybe you just completed an interview. Now, you’re wondering whether to take that next step and send a connection request to the hiring manager on LinkedIn.

Should you press that “Connect” button? If so, at what point in the interview process does connecting with a hiring manager become appropriate?

To help provide some insights, we asked nine hiring managers what they thought about candidates connecting with them on LinkedIn. Here’s the reasons why connecting with a hiring manager on LinkedIn may be a good idea.

It Increases the Odds of Getting an Interview

In my experience, taking the time to connect with a hiring manager significantly increases the odds of getting an interview. Introducing yourself, explaining why you have an interest in their company, and asking how to learn more shows a great deal of proactivity and professionalism. The key is to make very small requests, like a 15 minute phone call, offering to buy them coffee, etc. The point is to learn more about the company, and not to try and brown nose your way into a job.

Zack McCarty, Qwick

It Gives you an Opportunity to Stand Out

In most instances, connecting with a hiring manager on LinkedIn may give you an opportunity to stand out among other candidates. The best way to manage this connection without overstepping boundaries is simply to introduce yourself. Think of a message to the hiring manager as a preview to your cover letter and resume. Give them a reason to keep an eye out for your name.

Megan Chiamos, 365 Cannabis

It Shows You’re Willing to Go Beyond

Connecting with a hiring manager on Linkedin shows that you are willing to go beyond the normal bounds of the hiring process. Requesting a connection shows that you took the time to research them and are highly interested in their company and them as a professional. Connecting with them right after you apply it’s a great way to elevate your application status and make your name stand out. 

Ryan Nouis, TruPath 

Use Linkedin to Research Similarities

I’ve always been told that it is interview etiquette not to connect prior to getting the job offer but I would suggest, however, that you review the LinkedIn profile of each person you will interview with, and you can see if there are any common connections (same college attended, similar sports interests, hobbies, etc) to discuss during the interview. In lieu of connecting on LinkedIn with the hiring manager, I would strongly recommend writing (not emailing) a thank-you letter to all the people that interviewed you immediately after the interview.

Craig Rosen, InterviewFocus

Consider Connecting if You Don’t Get the Job

Once a decision has been made, and you are hired at the company, connect away! Something to consider if you don’t get the job, you can still add that person on LinkedIn to ask what you could’ve done better and ask them to reach out if there’s an opportunity that comes around in the future. 

Michael Staton, Lyon Shield Security

View Their Profile, But Don’t Connect

Although I would not connect with a hiring manager right after an interview, you should consider reviewing their LinkedIn profile before and after the interview. This way, a hiring manager will get notified that you viewed their profile on LinkedIn. This shows that you dedicated time to review their profile and show interest in their company, but respect the interview process to resist from connecting with the hiring manager too early on.

Thylan Le, Markitors

Ask for a 15 Minute Call

If there is interest in a particular role or a particular company, why not connect? I would recommend asking for a 15 minute call to learn more about what the hiring manager loves about working for the company, and to talk about how you may be able to bring value to the position that you are interested in. Following this up with a LinkedIn connection will make you a memorable candidate. 

Deborah Bubis, Recruiter and Sourcer

Do It for the Long Run and Future Opportunities

I am a fan of the long game. Some of the best hires we’ve had have come from a conversation that spans several months. If there is a company you like and would consider working for, connect with your possible future hiring manager. Now focus on content. What are you generating on your LinkedIn page? This is a great way of communicating what you are about. LinkedIn is powerful as it is a one-stop shop in which to establish your professional brand.

Steven Brown, DP Electric Inc

Connect as Part of Your Wider Application Strategy

You can connect, but don’t be pushy on LinkedIn. Connect as part of your wider application strategy. This will make it easier for them to look you up on LinkedIn after reading your CV. Indicated to the hiring manager that you are targeting their company personally.

Justin Barlow, Nigel Wright

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.