SoFi Blog

Whether you’re embarking on (or knee-deep in) a job search, or you just want to be prepared for your next move, you likely know how to use LinkedIn, and how important it is to have a strong LinkedIn profile in order to achieve your career goals. But does your own profile actually reflect that?

Most companies today wouldn’t think of operating without a thoughtfully crafted mission statement. But when it comes to running our own careers, too many of us skip this crucial step.

A mission statement is a declaration of the organization’s core purpose, usually encompassing what the business does, how it does it and who it does it for. It’s brief, focused, and serves as a guiding principle for the company’s employees.

For example, Amazon’s mission statement is: “To be earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” Sounds about right, doesn’t it?

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’d be happy at work if only I got a promotion/made more money/did something I’m more passionate about”?

Or maybe you read stories about people who are getting paid to pursue their dreams and think, “Why can’t that be me?”

Well, if it’s any consolation, you’re certainly not alone. Total career happiness is hard to come by.

So what gives? Are some of us just doomed to be unhappy at work forever?

Last week we hosted a negotiation panel in NYC. The intent? To discuss raises, promotions, and new job approaches with experienced talent acquisition professionals—and share the information with our community of members. One of the panelists, Gladys Chen, answers the most common questions from the conversation, below.  

Your desk is your sanctuary. Well, it could be. We’re all about sprucing up your workspace so as to keep the ideas flowing and good thoughts rolling. After all, it is where you spend a good chunk of your week. Here are five tips to make your desk truly, yours.