Expanding Career Horizons

Are you worried that building your personal brand might ruffle feathers at work? It's a common concern. I was just speaking with someone who felt stuck – she wanted to establish herself as a thought leader, but she knew her employer wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about it. Understandably, companies can feel hesitant about personal branding if you’re not in a top-tier role. Questions may arise: Why is this person in the spotlight? Will they represent us well, or are they simply building their brand to move on? But here’s the thing: you can build your brand strategically without creating friction: ✳ Collaborate, don’t clash Find ways to align your goals with the company’s. For example, if your organization wants visibility in your field, you can propose speaking engagements or articles in industry publications – activities that highlight both you and the company positively. Team up with the communications team to ensure everyone feels supported. ✳ Leverage your company’s brand power Take full advantage of your employer’s credibility. Networking becomes easier when people are excited to meet you because of where you work. This brand association can help expand your connections without stepping on any toes. ✳ Know when to dial back Building a public-facing brand inside a company sometimes means a slower pace. Keep your activities relevant and aligned with the organization’s goals, and consider pacing things until you’re at a level where it feels more natural. Personal branding isn’t just about personal gain; it’s a way to create lasting impact and build confidence in your professional identity, all while contributing value to your current role. 

I earned ₹35 Lakhs in over 12 months freelancing alongside my MBA. Here’s the exact breakdown of how I got clients, delivered work, and built systems. I didn’t have a personal brand. I didn’t post daily on LinkedIn. I didn’t pitch “content strategy” or growth hacks. What I did have - was clarity on the value I could offer. I worked with founders, funds, and early-stage ventures across the US, UAE, and India. Helping them with pitch decks, founder stories, research reports, ghostwriting, and financial models. I didn’t chase 10 skills - I picked 3-4 that solved real problems. Then I built strong, specific offerings around them. Most of my clients were in that messy middle - Post-ideation, pre-scale. Not ready to hire full-time, but needing fast, sharp support. I reached out after startup pitch days, fundraises, or founder podcasts. Tracked warm leads in a simple Excel sheet. Sent personalized cold DMs. No spam. No fluff. I learned fast that delivery matters more than outreach. So I built clear scope of work docs, streamlined SOPs, and onboarding templates. No back-and-forth confusion. Just clarity, timelines, and outcomes. By Month 3, I wasn’t selling. I was just sending links and letting the work speak. And yes - I charged what I knew I was worth. Because I had done the research, benchmarked my pricing, and stuck to my lane. This isn’t some overnight success story. But it’s proof that freelancing isn’t just “extra income” - it can be real work, if you treat it like one. Comment your email ID and I’ll send you: - My actual lead gen Excel tracker - Cold DM templates that worked - My service breakdown sheet (what I offered, how I priced it) If you’re in B-school or just figuring your way around freelancing, this will help you start smarter. No gas. Just real systems that worked. #FreelancingJourney #SPJIMR #SideHustle #MBAAndBeyond #Ghostwriting #StartupSupport #FounderOps #PitchDecks #FinanceFreelancer #WorkSmart #LinkedIn #LinkedInCreator

Feeling Stuck? How to Reboot Your Career Sometimes, things do not go as planned. You see a dead end, or you feel you are stuck doing the same thing all over again. Or you are unhappy at work. Or you simply see new opportunity you are missing. What do you do? 1. Do a root cause analysis of your situation. Why do you feel this way? Is it a problem with the industry? Your company? Your boss? The answer is often not obvious and you may need to ask “why” again and again maybe five times until you get your answer. The conclusion might be that you need to look for another employment opportunity. 2. Find a best friend, or at least close friends at work. Do you have lunch alone all the time? That is a symptom. Friends make the work environment a bit more fun or less boring. 3. Learn something new. Get yourself certified in a skill that is important to move forward. Examine the industry trends and compare what is required versus your current skills set. For example, being digital is the new minimum for bankers. Make yourself more valuable to your organization. If not, at least your resume becomes more attractive. 4. Don’t compare yourself with your best peers. There will always be someone doing better, for whatever reason, including getting the breaks. You might still be better than most of your cohort. 5. Find a mentor who can help you evaluate your options and navigate through the ambiguity. Everyone goes through a rough patch; your mentor will be able to sympathize with you. 6. Get a life. Go to the gym. Find something new to do outside of work. Learn to play the sax or some instrument (I did, but I have since forgotten). I rebooted my career six times, excluding the time I decided to switch from physics to management via a scholarship from Asian Institute of Management. First was to specialize in derivatives to make myself unique in treasury, second to come back home, be a local banker and extend my shelf life while obtaining multiple new skills. Third was to move to a new employer, which was more conducive to career development, fourth was an adventure in mass market finance which resulted to attending Harvard Business School and leading five acquisitions. Fifth was to go digital through ten certification programs and rapidly lead the transformation of a new employer, and sixth was to start writing regularly and redefine my role as a banking leader. Whatever it is, start thinking and get moving. #careeradvice #careerdevelopment #mentorship #worklifebalance #leadership #futureleader #nextgenceo

Over the last few years, I’ve switched jobs, given many interviews, and spent hundreds of hours optimizing my resume and profile. During this journey, I made plenty of mistakes that cost me time and opportunities. So today, I want to share these genuine mistakes—and more importantly, how you can avoid them: Applying Randomly & Everywhere: In the early stages, I thought applying to as many jobs as possible was the key. Big mistake! Quality always beats quantity. Lesson: Tailor each application to the job role. Research the company and make sure your resume aligns with their requirements. Ignoring LinkedIn & Online Presence: Initially, my LinkedIn profile was incomplete and poorly optimized. I underestimated the power of LinkedIn visibility. Lesson: Your online presence matters. A complete, active LinkedIn profile attracts opportunities you’d never find by traditional methods alone. Sending Generic Cold Messages: I used to send cold messages like "Hi, can you refer me?" which rarely received replies. Lesson: Craft a concise, clear message. Always include the specific role, job link/ID, your resume, and a short summary of your skills. Poor Resume Formatting: My resume had too many graphics, complicated formatting, and lacked the right keywords. This reduced my ATS compatibility. Lesson: Keep your resume simple, structured, and ATS-friendly. Use clear headings, bullet points, and keywords from the job description. Not Preparing for the "Tell Me About Yourself" Question: I used to treat this question lightly and gave long, vague answers. The interviewer would lose interest quickly. Lesson: Prepare a structured 1-minute summary focusing on your experience, skills, and how you match the job you're interviewing for. Underestimating the Job Description: I didn't closely analyze the job description and often missed key details required by employers. Lesson: Job descriptions are gold. Analyze them carefully and reflect their highlighted skills and requirements in your application and interviews. Overlooking Company Research: During interviews, I would have limited knowledge about the company's products or mission. This made my answers generic. Lesson: Always research the company’s recent activities, products, and news. It helps you answer questions meaningfully and shows genuine interest. Getting Demotivated by Rejections: Early rejections made me question my capabilities, negatively impacting future interviews. Lesson: Every rejection is a lesson. Ask for feedback, reflect, and improve. Rejection means redirection—not the end of the road. Negotiation Mistakes: I used to accept offers quickly without proper negotiation due to the fear of losing the offer. Lesson: Negotiate politely but confidently. Companies expect this. Always understand your market worth, and clearly communicate your value. Have you made similar mistakes or learned something valuable from your own job search? Share your experiences in the comments—let's help each other grow!

How can jobseekers in tech gain competitive advantage through upskilling to get hired? Let's explore the essential steps for tech jobseekers to gain a competitive advantage through upskilling: 1. Identifying High-Demand Skills: In the ever-evolving tech landscape, staying abreast of sought-after skills is paramount. Research industry trends, job postings, and emerging technologies. Skills related to cloud computing, data science, machine learning, cybersecurity, and full-stack development are consistently in demand. 2. Setting Clear Goals and Creating a Roadmap: Define your career objectives before delving into learning. Whether aspiring to be a front-end developer, data analyst, or DevOps engineer, create a roadmap. Break down goals into smaller milestones, allocating time for mastering specific skills and frameworks. 3. Choosing the Right Learning Resources: Leverage diverse online platforms such as Codecademy, offering a spectrum of courses from AI to game development. With a Codecademy Plus membership, access over 300 courses, specializing in a chosen area or creating a personalized learning path. Explore other platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udacity based on your learning preferences. 4. Embracing Hands-On Practice: Theory alone is insufficient; practical application is vital. Apply knowledge through projects, coding challenges, and real-world scenarios. Develop a portfolio showcasing practical skills, whether building web applications, analyzing datasets, or automating tasks. Collaboration on open-source projects enhances both skills and employability. 5. Networking and Collaboration: Engage with the tech community through attending meetups, conferences, and webinars. Networking provides opportunities to learn from experts, share insights, and build connections. Participate in collaborative projects with peers, and consider joining hackathons or coding competitions for additional experience. 6. Seeking Mentorship and Guidance: Tap into the wealth of experience from industry professionals through mentorship. Platforms like LinkedIn offer avenues to connect with mentors who can provide valuable insights, career advice, and help navigate challenges. Don't shy away from seeking feedback to accelerate your learning. 7. Staying Curious and Continuously Learning: Foster a curious mindset to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech industry. Explore new technologies, read industry blogs, and follow thought leaders. Subscribe to newsletters, join forums, and pursue certifications relevant to your goals. Continuous learning showcases your commitment to growth and adaptability. In essence, upskilling is an investment in your professional future. Embrace the joy of lifelong learning, and let your newly acquired skills propel you towards a successful and fulfilling tech career! Connect and Follow 👉 Dev Raj Saini #linkedinnewsindia #LIPostingChallengeIndia

Everyone’s saying “the job market is dead.” But that’s only half the story. [Read this if you're actively looking] Here’s the full picture: The job market isn’t dead - it’s just shifting. Context: According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are over 8.8 million open roles in America right now. But we only have 6.3 million unemployed workers to fill them. That’s a gap of 2.5 million+ roles. Some sectors are slowing. But others are quietly booming - and desperate for talent. Here are 5 sectors starved for workers right now (with links to startups hiring): 1. Healthcare → Arcadia: Healthtech and analytics platform (https://lnkd.in/gubDTqtG) → Benchling: Life sciences R&D cloud (https://lnkd.in/g6XHY9xY) → Color Health: Population-scale healthcare platform (https://lnkd.in/gqy3gjQN) 2. Cybersecurity → Immuta: Data access & security (https://lnkd.in/gD_5iKAf) → Castle.io: Account takeover protection (https://castle.io/about/) → Snyk: Developer-first security tooling (https://snyk.io/careers/) 3. Construction & InfraTech → Fieldwire: Construction management (https://lnkd.in/gjfCFVTc) → HOVER: 3D property data from photos (https://hover.to/careers) → BuildOps: Software for commercial contractors (https://lnkd.in/gE5dcjeQ) 4. Transportation & Logistics → Motive: Fleet management (https://lnkd.in/gU6JsxAB) → Zipline: Drone-based delivery (https://lnkd.in/gBPAxuYh) → Flexport: Global logistics platform (https://lnkd.in/gSkYPY4B) 5. Agriculture & FoodTech → Apeel Sciences: Extends produce shelf life (https://lnkd.in/gxXz6VJh) → FarmWise: Autonomous weeding robots (https://lnkd.in/gpME5Vhu) → Plenty: Vertical farming at scale (https://lnkd.in/g-RzWARj) They’re high-growth, high-demand, and hiring fast. If you’re currently job hunting, consider pivoting to one of these sectors. If you’re building skills, align with where the market is going. 🌿 Know someone struggling with their job search? Share this with them. 🟢 Access a list of 100+ startups actively hiring in these sectors here: https://lnkd.in/gX6G364e :)

The hard truth to swallow: If you're a great professional in your specialty, that might not be enough. 👇 There are 5 types of skill sets depending on the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills: 1) I-shaped: Deep expertise in one area but may lack versatility. 2) T-shaped: Expertise in one area with broad skills across disciplines. 3) M-shaped: Expertise across multiple specialties for versatile adaptability. 4) V-shaped: Excel in two complementary fields, bridging gaps between disciplines. 5) X-shaped: Deep expertise with leadership skills for diverse team management. When I was at the beginning of my career path, I believed that being I-shaped was sufficient. But before starting my own business and becoming a leader, I transitioned from being I-shaped to X-shaped. 📌 Here's how to progress from I to X: ↳ From I-shaped to T-shaped: Broaden your skill set horizontally by gaining proficiency in related areas. ↳ From T-shaped to M-shaped: Diversify your expertise across multiple disciplines. ↳ From M-shaped to V-shaped: Excel in complementary fields, leveraging your diverse skills to innovate and bridge gaps. ↳ From V-shaped to X-shaped: Develop leadership and collaboration abilities while retaining deep expertise in your area. Success isn't reserved for those who master just one thing. It's achieved by those who embrace their full potential. Skills open the doors to opportunities. Nothing else is that powerful.☝️ On the spectrum from I to X, where do you think you fall? Have you ever hired someone using this framework?

I got 90 interviews in 90 days, and it all started with one thing: Looking at my LinkedIn data. When I was starting out, I didn’t fully understand the differences between Data Analyst, Data Engineer, Data Scientist, and Machine Learning Engineer roles. My LinkedIn wasn’t clear either, so I kept getting interviews for all of them.  -> Data Analyst: The role I’d land when I was desperate to just get something. -> Data Engineer: Cool-sounding, but not aligned with my stats degree or career goals. -> Data Scientist/Machine Learning Engineer: These are the dream roles, but my profile wasn’t speaking to them. My LinkedIn wasn’t targeted, so I got mismatched opportunities. That’s when I realized the power of LinkedIn analytics. Here’s what I did:  1, Checked Search Appearances: I looked at which roles and keywords were finding me. 2, Adjusted My Profile: Added terms like “Machine Learning” and “Predictive Analytics” and removed irrelevant mentions of “Data Analyst.” 3, Updated Skills: Added keywords aligned with the roles I wanted, even for skills I was actively learning. 4, Iterated: Made tweaks based on what the data showed me. The result: My profile started attracting the exact roles I wanted. You can do this too!  -> Go to LinkedIn Analytics > Search Appearances. -> Check which roles and keywords are leading people to your profile. -> Align your profile with your target roles — no fluff, no guessing. Your LinkedIn should work for you. If it’s not, it’s time to adjust. If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want.

My career journey has been anything but a straight line. From part-time jobs tutoring uni students, learning high-end diamond sales, my first ever change analyst gig to my life now as a #multihyphenate #ChangeManagement guru, each twist and turn taught me valuable lessons about pushing through plateaus. In today’s fast-paced world, changing careers or navigating uncertainty isn’t just common—it’s necessary. Here are 3 actionable tips that helped me thrive through each transition: 📍 Embrace Lifelong Learning The skills that got you here will NOT be the ones that get you there. I make it a habit to learn from someone new each month. Continuous exposure to different perspectives expands my world view. 📍 Leverage Your Unique Story Your non-linear journey is your superpower. Use it to your advantage. Highlight your diverse experiences that showcase resilience and problem-solving. This sets you apart in any industry. 📍 Build a Strong Network Transitions become easier when you have the right support system. I’ve found immense value in connecting with people from various fields—sustainability, hospitality, retail, media. These global connections not only provide guidance but open doors to unexpected opportunities. Non-linear doesn’t mean uncertain. It means adaptable, versatile, and ready for whatever the future holds. What strategies have helped you navigate career changes? Let’s learn from each other. #CareerChange #GrowthMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #NonLinearCareer #LinkedInNewsAustralia

Of non-linear career trajectories and paths...... I started my career as a full-time clinician (Paediatrician) and moved to become a clinician who worked in research. These days I see myself as a researcher who works as a clinician... 😊 I think non-linear career paths are a double-edged sword, they can be exciting, engaging, and many times fulfilling. They also can be froth with fear and anxiety because the pathways are usually nebulous and there are no manuals for progression or pre-defined steps to take for a successful career. Over the years, I have applied a few principles to my path and I thought to share- 👉 Learning from others Never underestimate the power of learning from those who are a few steps ahead of you. A 30-minute conversation with someone ahead of you can provide insights that can take you the next few years to learn on your own. I think knowledge is power and knowing how things work is always an advantage and brings clarity. There is a popular saying - "There is no favorable wind for a sailor who does not know where they are heading". I think clarity comes from knowing. Many times, you do not need to ask to know, at times just observing tells you a lot. People are also willing to help others who can show they have made an effort for themselves. 👉 Avoid building career silos Silos by nature are isolated from each other. I think when there is no linkage between career decisions, progress is minimal and career decisions can feel like we are starting all over (In some instances, this might be necessary). I think this can bring with it negative feelings of sadness, doubt, or feeling insufficient. I think one guiding principle for me has been to build on past experience and link the next experience to a previous one. At times it feels like weaving tapestry but it gives you a sense of fulfilment and a feeling of progress. 👉 Make career decisions that resonate with your values. I think one side effect of a non-linear career path is the multitude of possible career pathways that open up to you. Someone once said it brings with it the problem of many choices. The more I go down this part, the more I recognise it is important to mute the 'noise' around. Listen to yourself. What do you value, and what gives you fulfillment? 👉 Have a growth mindset I think I have always been guided by opportunities that make me grow and develop in a multitude of ways and those that drive me to bring more value to myself and my chosen field. I think growth brings a sense of fulfillment and calm when you navigate a non-linear career path If you see yourself as someone who has navigated the non-linear career pathway, please comment below on strategies you have used successfully throughout your career and join the conversation. Perhaps someone might find value in this 😊 #phdjourney #careerdevelopment #careertalk #career