Chan with a Plan

Chan with a Plan

By Max ChanEducationSelf-Improvement
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Chan with a Plan episodes

  • How to effectively organize your workload at your job and achieve work life balance

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Max provides 2 tips on how you can manage your workload at your job effectively and manage your manager's expectations of you without falling out of favor or being overworked. Based on this past week's episode with Nichole Harrop on toxic workplace: overworked and underpaid, signs you are being taken advantage of.

    TIMESTAMPS

    • [1:46] Importance of creating your own project tracker and having weekly meetings with your manager
  • [3:02] Taking on urgent items and how to communicate and prioritize your workload with your manager effectively

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
    • 6 min
  • Toxic Workplace: Overworked and underpaid, signs you are being taken advantage of

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Nichole Harrop, a career coach helping women get promoted at work. Nichole talks about her own experience where she was being overworked and not being compensated fairly so you can see the signs you are being taken advantage of and can start planning your exit strategy to a better job. In addition, Nichole also discusses setting boundaries and expectations in your new job so being overworked doesn’t happen again.

    QUOTES

    • “The pay was one issue, and then the maternity leave was honestly, the last straw where I was like I can’t be a support to this company anymore if I can’t be supportive when I am having a baby.”  - Nichole Harrop [33:36]
  • “I was upset that I was being treated this way after being told that you were so great, so don’t let the lip service dictate how you’re doing, also make sure that it’s coming back to saying, hey you’re always saying how great I am, I love to see what that looks like in terms of a pay increase.”  - Nichole Harrop [52:02]
  • “Recognizing when people are saying things, but not following through on them and setting a boundary, at what point do you start looking for something else because I promise you there is so much more out there.”  - Nichole Harrop [56:47]

    • TIMESTAMPS

    • [1:24] Meet Nichole
  • [4:31] Being a smarter manager and using the skill of delegation
  • [7:35] Asking for help at work
  • [9:56] The start of Nichole’s story and how she got hired at the company that later began overworking her
  • [16:07] Why it is a red flag when your manager states that they will renegotiate your compensation later after you accepted new responsibilities
  • [18:02] Showing you are a team player and also being compensated fairly
  • [21:47] Initiating the difficult conversation of asking for a raise and balancing your workload
  • [28:50] Her reaction after taking on all these new responsibilities at the company to only get a menial raise and her next steps
  • [34:45] Discussing the option of equity in a compensation package and when is it the right move to forgo additional salary for more equity in a company
  • [37:35] Nichole’s exit strategy to move from her current company at that time to another opportunity
  • [42:16] Discussing the common issue of why internal employees don’t get fair raises compared to their external hire counterparts that tend to come in making more in the same position
  • [47:47] Her experience going back to work from her maternity leave, Nichole handing in her resignation and reaction from the company of her departure
  • [52:21] What Nichole is doing now in her career
  • [54:53] Nichole’s learning lessons she gained from the experience with that company and what signs does she look out for now so it doesn’t happen to her again
  • [57:15] Signs that the company is giving you empty promises and how many chances should you give a company when it comes to having your needs met before it’s time to move on 
  • [1:01:08] One big career lesson that Nichole learned that helped her grow to become the person she is today
  • [1:03:17] Contacting Nichole
  • [1:03:53] Outro

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Nichole Harrop Website
  • Nichole Harrop on Instagram
  • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan On LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan Facebook Group
    • 1 hr 6 min
  • 3 tips to grow your career as an introvert and live a more fulfilling life

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Max provides 3 career tips for introverts wanting to grow their career based on his own personal experiences as someone that leans more towards the introvert spectrum. Based on this past week's episode with Jacqueline Shaulis on how to embrace your introversion in order to accelerate your career.

    TIMESTAMPS

    • [1:04] How to balance getting out of your comfort zone but not feel overwhelmed when it comes to corporate social events as an introvert
  • [3:25] Why honing in on your strengths is a better play than working on your weaknesses
  • [4:20] Why you shouldn't focus on fitting in and embracing who you are is the key to long term self fulfillment and prosperity

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
    • 7 min
  • Career Advice for Introverts: How to embrace your introversion in order to accelerate your career

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Jacqueline Shaulis, motivational speaker and author that guides introverted women of color to get seen, heard, and respected by embracing their awesome. Jacqueline explains what introversion really is and the common misconceptions people have about introversion. She then dives into strategies on how to thrive in a corporate work environment as an introvert and how the winning formula is to embrace your introversion, not try to reject it and become something you’re not. 

    QUOTES

    • ”There’s nothing wrong with being an introvert, it's not something that needs to be fixed, it’s not something to overcome, it’s not something to put to the side, it’s just literally how the brain processes what’s going on around them.” - Jacqueline Shaulis [16:27]
  • “No matter what tips and techniques [I give you], if you don’t have the mindset of thinking, okay my introversion is a positive, as opposed to the negative that is perceived as, you won’t take action.”  - Jacqueline Shaulis [30:27]
  • “I’ve had conversations with dozens of women [of color] and it’s the same story, where within their workplace they are doing what their job entitles them to, they are doing it at a high level, however they are being told that they cannot advance or they’re not being told about opportunities because of their introversion.”  - Jacqueline Shaulis [43:33]

    • TIMESTAMPS

    • [0:46] Meet Jacqueline Shaulis
  • [3:26] Explaining what introversion is and common misconceptions of introversion
  • [14:02] Jacqueline’s obstacles during her career as an introvert, misconceptions that stem from that and the strengths she learned of being an introvert
  • [18:38] How to identify introverts and how to work with them
  • [20:08] Strategies for introverts to thrive in a corporate work environment
  • [24:41] The value of being an introvert
  • [27:14] Building relationships and growing your network as an introvert
  • [30:16] Changing your mindset and owning your introversion within 30 days to start elevating your career
  • [33:06] Transforming yourself in your current role to become a star player and owning your introversion
  • [36:56] Wanting to become a manager as an introvert
  • [40:55] Why introverted women of color have the biggest obstacles to overcome in the workplace compared to other demographics
  • [46:27] A major career roadblock that Jacqueline had faced and what she did to overcome it to move her career forward
  • [48:30] Contacting Jacqueline
  • [50:20] Outro

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Jacqueline Shaulis Website
  • Jacqueline Shaulis on Instagram
  • Jacqueline Shaulis on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan Facebook Community
    • 51 min
  • How to make the right choice for your next career move based on 3 important factors

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Max discusses 3 important factors that everyone talks about when it comes to evaluating your next opportunity and how they differ based on company size from his own personal career experience. Based on this past week's episode with Dani Hao on your job search, large vs small companies and which size company is right for you.

    TIMESTAMPS

    • [1:01] Salary expectations and growth at large companies vs smaller companies
  • [2:31] Work culture at large companies vs smaller companies
  • [3:29] Job security at large companies vs smaller companies

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
    • 7 min
  • Job search success, large vs small companies and which size company is right for you

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Dani Hao, a marketing communications leader who has worked in both the B2C and B2B space and is passionate about building brands, community, and real connections. Dani walks us through her career journey and her experience working at companies of various sizes and highlights the pros and cons of each to help you make the right decision when it comes to making your next career move. 

    QUOTES

    • ”When I first started off my career, I thought that joining a larger company would help me elevate my career because it would look better on my resume, but I was quickly proven wrong just because, as a new grad most likely you’re probably going to be, starting out in a junior position.” - Dani Hao [4:26]
  • “[When it comes to salary] I think it will depend on the industry that you’re in, and the role that you’re looking for right, I know a lot of my friends who are in like huge companies, like Fortune 100s and they’re being paid a lot less than, for example what I was making at my previous roles [at smaller companies]. ”  - Dani Hao [33:58]
  • “You’re doing your best work, you’re being very proactive, but you’re getting all these Nos and you are getting all these blockers, that’s a red flag, that’s a sign, that hey like this company may not have that culture of being able to promote people who want to be more proactive.”  - Dani Hao [45:06]

    • TIMESTAMPS

    • [1:26] Meet Dani Hao
  • [5:15] Common trap recent grads fall for when it comes to choosing their first employer and how to avoid it
  • [6:49] Dani’s experience working at a large company and learning lessons along the way 
  • [15:53] Dani’s experience working in agency and learning lessons along the way
  • [18:21] Difference between working in industry vs working in agency
  • [19:43] Dani’s journey into entrepreneurship and how it led to her role at a Saas company
  • [22:47] Being a part of a growing company and the changes that happen during the growth stage
  • [27:41] Discussing Dani’s current work experience at the small company she’s at now and what work was like during the transition/growth phase
  • [33:47] Salary expectations between large companies and smaller companies and discussing whether you will always make more at a large company compared to others
  • [34:56] Job security at large companies vs smaller companies
  • [37:37] Discussing middle management and how it affects you when you are starting out in your career
  • [38:31] Your level of C-Suite executive exposure at large companies compared to smaller companies
  • [39:48] Social atmosphere between large companies and smaller companies
  • [41:21] Interview process differences between large and smaller companies
  • [43:06] Summarizing the conversation and what you need to do to advance your career
  • [46:43] A major career roadblock that Dani had faced and what she did to overcome it to move her career forward
  • [49:44] Contacting Dani
  • [50:20] Outro

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Dani Hao on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan Facebook Group
    • 53 min
  • 3 ways to deal with a resume gap to make you more marketable in your job search

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Max provides 3 tips on tackling your current resume gap to make you more marketable in your job search, based on this past week's episode with Mimi Moss on how to overcome the dreaded resume gap and get back into the workforce with confidence. 

    TIMESTAMPS

    • [0:50] Addressing your resume gap correctly with recruiters and hiring managers
  • [2:31] Content you can add to your resume to bolster it, when you aren't currently working a full time job
  • [4:14] How networking is your equalizer when overcoming a work gap

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
    • 7 min
  • How to overcome the dreaded resume gap and get back into the workforce with confidence

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Mimi Moss, Director of Strategic Partnerships at reacHIRE, an organization that works with professionals to return to corporate America after being out of the workforce for an extended period of time. The discussion focuses on various resume gaps, how to address them and strategies you can utilize so you can stay positive, keep your eye on the prize and get back into the workforce as soon as possible. 

    QUOTES

    • ”Talking to people and talking to people who know you, who are friends of friends, the more people who know you’re looking the better, don’t be ashamed of [the work gap], just go right out there and talk to as many people as you can and any personal connection, can make a difference [in your job search].” - Mimi Moss [13:01]
  • “I think [recruiters] will continue to be less stringent [on work gaps], I think that they’re seeing that people can come back from a gap, be really productive and that is already happening, and now they’re realizing that this is ok, this can work.”  - Mimi Moss [18:21]
  • “Keep surrounding yourself with people that know you, that support you, that believe in you, so you don’t lose that confidence [when you are struggling to stay positive in your job search].”  - Mimi Moss [41:06]

    • TIMESTAMPS

    • [1:08] Meet Mimi Moss
  • [3:44] Explaining a resume gap properly if you got fired or laid off 
  • [4:59] Quitting a job before you have another one in hand 
  • [6:36] When should you put a work gap on your resume and when not to include it
  • [8:01] Chronological resumes vs functional resumes when you have a long career gap
  • [9:02] What recruiters really think of work gaps
  • [10:36] Addressing your work gap in your cover letter and LinkedIn profile
  • [12:28] Overcoming a work gap through networking
  • [14:14] Types of work gaps reacHIRE has dealt with when working with professionals
  • [15:30] Recruiter’s perception of entrepreneurs wanting to get back into a corporate role after they finished their venture
  • [16:40] Recruiter’s perception of professionals taking a sabbatical and wanting to get back into a corporate role once they are done their break
  • [18:08] Recruiters being less stringent on resume gaps as we move to a new normal of work
  • [20:45] The proper way to address your resume gap or what happened at your last job
  • [23:06] Overview of what a returnship is and how to get one
  • [29:29] If professionals get paid lower than market rate if they have a long work gap and should they negotiate for more money 
  • [30:09] Advice on how to make a good first impression in your first role back from a long work gap
  • [31:17] Discussing whether upskilling is necessary if you have a long work gap
  • [33:42] Thoughts on putting the work experience lower on your resume if you’ve been out of work for awhile
  • [34:40] Obstacles people have about their work gaps and how to own it and move their career forward
  • [36:05] Starting in a new field after a work gap or stick with what you know
  • [38:07] A major career roadblock that Mimi had faced and what she did to overcome it to move her career forward
  • [41:16] Contacting Mimi
  • [42:15] Outro

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • reacHIRE
  • Mimi Moss on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan Facebook Community
    • 44 min
  • Why I quit my 1st job in order to grow my career

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Max shares his story on why he quit the only company he's ever worked for in order to grow his career to where it is today based on this past week's episode with Jennifer Hocutt on how to quit your unsatisfying job and do something you'll love. 

    TIMESTAMPS

    • [0:59] Why Max left his 1st job at the only company he's ever worked for
  • [2:39] Thoughts on counter offers and why Max knew not to take their counter offer if they offered him one
  • [3:34] Overview of Max's exit strategy and successfully pivoting from agency to big corporate 

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
    • 8 min
  • How to quit your unsatisfying job and do something you‘ll love

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Jennifer Hocutt, founder of J. Hocutt Group LLC, focusing on helping professionals become the CEOs in their career. We discuss the common reasons why professionals leave their job, and help you craft an exit strategy to not only leave your unsatisfying job, but to find a new opportunity that gives you fulfillment and satisfaction, as we all should be able to find happiness in the work we do. 

    QUOTES

    • ”No matter where you are in your career, whether you love your company or not you should always be open to opportunities, at least hearing them out because opportunities don't come knocking very often, you don’t want to miss out just because you’re in a good space at that time. ” - Jennifer Hocutt [14:15]
  • “When you clearly define what your non-negotiables are [in a job offer] and you stick to those, then you’re not compromising, you’re not trying to make the job fit for you.”  - Jennifer Hocutt [23:28]
  • “Your ultimate goal in life, it really should be happiness, nothing else matters and happiness is an inside job that you have complete control over.”  - Jennifer Hocutt [49:20]

    • TIMESTAMPS

    • [1:16] Meet Jennifer 
  • [3:24] The influx of employee attrition never seen before in recent memory
  • [5:47] Common reasons why people want to leave their jobs
  • [10:20] Why moving up the corporate ladder is not always the path to happiness
  • [13:37] Crafting your exit strategy to successfully leave your current job 
  • [21:03] Thoughts on job hopping and the wrong way to job hop
  • [23:12] Evaluating a job offer properly
  • [24:53] If you should try to repair your current working relationship before trying to leave the company 
  • [30:27] Thoughts on counter offers and if you should consider taking it
  • [34:53] How to balance looking for a new job, while still giving enough effort at your current job to not make it obvious you checked out
  • [39:19] Scheduling interviews effectively without raising red flags at your current company
  • [43:56] Quitting a job without another one lined up 
  • [47:47] Additional job search tips
  • [51:02] A major career roadblock that Jennifer had faced and what she did to overcome it to move her career forward
  • [55:38] Contacting Jennifer
  • [54:42] Outro

    • RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

    • J. Hocutt Group
  • The Career Clarity Exercise
  • J. Hocutt on Facebook
  • J. Hocutt on Instagram
  • Jennifer Hocutt on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan
  • Max Chan on LinkedIn
  • Chan With A Plan Facebook Group
    • 58 min

About Chan with a Plan

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Providing career advice in easy actionable steps, for frustrated professionals, helping you overcome career challenges so you can stop feeling confused and defeated and start feeling focused and…