In today’s competitive job market, it can feel like the best opportunities are only available to people with the right type of degree, pedigree, or connections. But what if you’re starting from the outside?

In this episode of Get Hired, LinkedIn Editor Andrew Seaman sits down with Laysha Ward, an accomplished C-suite executive who spent nearly 33 years in leadership roles at Target. Laysha shares her journey from making seven dollars an hour on the sales floor at Marshall Field’s to finding her way to the executive suite of corporate America. She also highlights the essential strategies she used to grow her career without a silver spoon.

• How to write a personal purpose statement and use it as a career guide
• The difference between mentors and sponsors, and why you need both
• Strategies for building meaningful relationships throughout your career
• Why asking for the toughest assignments fights off fear
• How to navigate uncertainty by upskilling, refreshing your personal brand, and telling a compelling story

Links & Resources:

• Follow Laysha Ward on LinkedIn here
• Join the Get Hired community on LinkedIn here
• Listen to more episodes of Get Hired with Andrew Seaman here