Interview Series - Career Experts - Cali Williams Yost from Flex+Strategy Group CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Cali Williams Yost from Flex+Strategy Groupâ€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up with Cali Williams Yost from Flex Strategy Groupwho shares her expertise and insights about job search, career change, etc. in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your companyevalWe prepare people and business to succeed in the flexible future of work.How did you get started in this path?In the early 1990’s I saw that flexibility in the way work is done would ultimately transform the workplace.It would change the way businesses operated and how individuals would have to take control of their work+life fit day-to-day and at major life transitions.Is this something you decided early on in your career?In my early 30’s after being a banker for 7 years.What is the Best Career Advice You’ve ever received?Trust yourself.evalWhat is the most exciting part of working in thisindustry?Giving people information, guidance and tools that allows them to perform their best, on and off the job.How do to stay abreast of the industry as an exper t?If I’m not in the trenches helping shift corporate cultures and helping people master the skills of high performance flexibility and work+life fit, I am voracious reader and student.What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle with the most?Defining what it is they want in a corporate culture and for their flexible work+life fit.What are the common mistakes that you see them do?Expecting and wanting a degree of flexibility in the way they can work, not clarifying the cultural norms related to flexibility and then being disappointed and frustrated.How should job seekers approach job search today?Flexibility in the way you work is often a top priority for job seekers.If you are able to be discerning about the job you take, be upfront and ask how, when and where people with similar jobs are able to work so that your expectations match the reality of that particular culture.What is the biggest trend(s) you see that job seekers will face in the next 2-3 years?Technol ogy will continue to advance.You must be open to adopting the latest applications in your field.What is one advice you would give someone just out of college today?Do the work.Even the grunt work because it’s where you learn the nuts and bolts of the business. Go the extra mile. Be on time. Take the initiative.Ask questions. Be coachable.Respect the knowledge and experience of more senior colleagues and listen. You’ll begin to see the path.What is one advice you would give someone who is switching careers?When you switch, do it because you see a path, have a passion and love it. That will get you through the inevitable early-stage learning curve.How should job seekers get the most out of LinkedIn?Take the time to look at what the people you are networking with or interviewing with are “liking” and posting.It will give you a sense of the trends they are following and the issue they think are important.Unemployment is at the lowest levels, why do you think that is?I think ther e’s untapped talent sitting on the sidelines not working that would get back in the game if there was greater flexibility and support that would allow them to handle personal responsibilities (eg. child care, eldercare) or to allow for semi-retirement.What is the biggest trend(s) you see that hiring managers will face in the next 2-3 years?Being open to hiring non-traditional flexible talent to fill flexible roles â€" e.g. seasonal, on demand talent either as consultants or as employees, retaining and redeploying pre-retirees.Cali, what are you currently working on?Scaling the reach of the high performance flexibility culture shift process and work+life fit skill-set.What are the best resources you recommend to job seekers?If there is a skill, especially tech-related, you need to strengthen YouTube, LinkedIn are invaluable resources.What is the best way for our audience to reach you?Email â€" [emailprotected]Connect with or Follow Cali Williams Yost on Social Media:LinkedInTwitter FacebookCali Williams Yost and Flex Strategy Group have also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€" Top Career Advice Websites.