#CareerAdvice : #Networking – How to Build (and maintain) an Effective #LinkedIn Network… Wondering whether to accept an invitation? Ask yourself this simple question: Would you feel comfortable making an introduction to this new connection?

/in /by
Growing your Network

It’s no secret that the right connections can make a huge difference in landing your next job or making a career move. Having a strong LinkedIn network and engaging your connections can be an invaluable resource throughout your career.

Think of your network as a garden–it’s important to plant your garden with intention, tend to your plants regularly, and at some point you’ll likely need to do some pruning.

Here are some tips to help your LinkedIn network flourish:

GROW YOUR NETWORK THOUGHTFULLY FROM THE START

Start by connecting with people you know or trust–including people you know outside of your current field of work. If your network is filled with connections you know personally, it is real and usable, so that each and every connection has the potential to be helpful to your professional life, whether that’s a job recommendation, an introduction, or career advice. Focus on connecting with people from communities such as your company, school, industry, or who share your professional interests.

Once you connect on LinkedIn, you can typically see your connections’ connections, which can open the door to meeting new people who may be able to help your career. Asking your connections to introduce you to someone is a great way to expand your digital network. A warm introduction can be very helpful.

Like this Article ?  ShareIt !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply goto our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership, #life) in BlogSearch:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of article:

CHOOSE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY–DON’T OVER-PLANT!

Your LinkedIn network isn’t a numbers game, but unless you’re a professional recruiter, having a large number of connections doesn’t necessarily give you the edge. All of your connections should add value to your network–and vice versa. If you are considering connecting to someone you don’t actually know, you might actually consider following them instead. When you follow someone, you will still see any posts they share.

Getting invites from people you don’t know or don’t want to connect with? No problem. You can simply hit ignore, and the person won’t be notified. If you aren’t sure if you want to accept or ignore, you can also message the sender for more information on why they might want to connect by clicking Message below their invitation on the Manage invitations page.

NURTURE YOUR NETWORK

Remember that connections go both ways. Being a helpful, available connection is the best way to make sure your network is strong and to drive a shared sense of professional enrichment.

• Make yourself available to others and keep up regular conversations with colleagues and mentors. There are several ways to do that on LinkedIn, whether it’s indicating that you’re open to giving or receiving through our Career Advice feature, or participating in conversations in your feed.
• Post your own content (video, article, or text) or comment on other people’s posts. This is another great way to start conversations with people who have similar interests while sharing your personal expertise. You can also use posts to ask your network for help–like if you are looking for recommendations for a design freelancer to hire or even asking a tactical question about a software tool you are having trouble with.
• Reach out to schedule a coffee with someone in your field. You never know where a conversation might go.

KEEP YOUR NETWORK RELEVANT–TIME TO PRUNE?

So you’ve made a few career moves and the folks you connected with when you first joined LinkedIn aren’t adding value to your network today. Or, you were eager to build your network and accepted a few too many connection requests that you don’t know or don’t remember meeting. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to go through your network and disconnect with the people who are no longer professionally relevant.

To remove a connection: From the manage connections page, you can scroll through all your connections. Click the More icon (or “. . .” on mobile) next to the connection you’d like to remove and click Remove connection. Click Remove from the Remove Connection pop-up window.

If you do disconnect from someone, know that although they will not be notified of the disconnection, if they do search for you, they will see that you are no longer a connection. Depending on your relationship with that person, this could lead to an awkward conversation. As an alternative, if you want to keep a connection but don’t want to see that person’s posts in your feed, you can also simply unfollow them.

Having the right network will improve the quality and relevance of your feed, the people who send you messages, and who engages with your content. Remember, you and your network are on a professional journey together, and the stronger your network, the further you can go.

Lizabeth Li is a director of product management at LinkedIn.

FastCompany.com | BY LIZABETH LI 3 MINUTE READ | November 25, 2018

#CareerAdvice : 7 #SideHustles you Can Start from your Couch…You don’t need an Office, Employees, or Investment Capital to launch a Small Business that could Generate Thousands of Extra Dollars a Year.

/in /by

If you’re alive in 2018, you’ve probably heard of the side hustle. These days, it seems like everybody has one. In fact, if you’re a millennial, half of your peers already do.

How much is your time worth?

Side hustles allow you to earn extra income, supplement a still-growing business, or get paid for a hobby you enjoy.

Many people hesitate to start a side business because they think it’ll be complicated. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to go to an office, hire employees, or spend hours cold-calling to succeed.

And sure, you may only earn a few hundred dollars per month at first. But because these side hustles cost almost nothing to start, the money you rake in will become pure profit.

Excited yet? Here are seven side hustles you can start from your couch.

1. SELL AN INFORMATION PRODUCT

People love to learn new things, and you can profit from packaging your advice, knowledge, or expertise into a sellable product.

Are you an expert at getting the best deals at Disneyland? Know how to train pets? Give good dating advice? You can turn those insights into an ebook or course that people will pay for.

With information products, you pay an initial cost to create the resource and the website where it’s hosted, but it costs you nothing to produce extra copies of the book or course for new customers. That means that after you cover the initial costs of creating the product, you’re looking at almost pure profits from each sale.

If you create a solid information product and promote it well, it could earn you substantial passive income for years to come.

For instance, if you sell an ebook about dog training for $10 and get an average of 25 people to buy it every month, you’ll rake in an extra $2,500 per year. Or if you build an interactive course teaching men how to talk to women and sell it for $1,000, just one purchase a month will boost your income by $12,000.

Like this Article ?  ShareIt !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply goto our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership, #life) in BlogSearch:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of article:

2. BECOME A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

A virtual assistant is like a regular assistant, only they connect to the business person online. They’re often hired by the hour, which means you can work as many or few hours per week as you’d like.

A virtual assistant can do practically anything, but the work often includes organizing resources and documents, scheduling appointments, taking calls, accounting, research, writing, proofreading, or editing.

If you have great attention to detail and would rather work with others than start a business by yourself, this could be a profitable choice for you.

Freelancing websites like Upwork and Fiverr often have job openings for virtual assistants. You can negotiate your own price with the client and clarify your tasks before accepting the job.

As a virtual assistant, you can charge between $15 and $60 per hour depending on how much value you’re able to bring to your client.

3. CREATE A NICHE REVIEW WEBSITE

Creating an in-depth resource on a specific niche can be a profitable endeavor.

The secret to a niche website’s profitability is affiliate marketing and advertising. The website creator writes a number of informative, in-depth articles and product reviews to help readers know which items they should purchase.

As the website’s audience grows over months and years, and more readers begin to purchase items through the website’s affiliate links, the website owner can begin to earn hundreds and even thousands of dollars per month.

The passive income blog Income School expects a well-built niche site to earn an average of 2.5¢ per page view, per month, and bring in an average of 30,000 monthly page views by the end of the first year. A niche website with thousands of monthly page views will also often receive five- and six-figure bids from investors.

4. PROOFREAD

We all have that friend who corrects everyone’s grammar or finds typos in menus and street signs. If you have a knack for finding mistakes in your native language, you could get paid to proofread.

Freelancing websites like Upwork and Fiverr have a steady stream of proofreading jobs, or you can start asking your friends and business connections to help them eliminate errors in their writing.

Proofreading rates can vary widely. Proofreaders who charge per word can command rates from 2¢ to 7¢ per word, or anywhere from $10 to $90 per hour. Rates depend on the quality of the job, the turnaround time, and the importance of the final document.

5. TRANSLATE

Parlez-vous francais? Or Spanish, Japanese, or Arabic? If you speak a second language, you could get paid to translate from your second language into your native language.

To find translation jobs, try online freelancing platforms made specially for translation, like Gengo and Unbabel. Or post your profile on ProZ, where clients search for translators and post translation jobs on the site-wide job board.

Translators generally charge between 10¢ and 25¢ per word or $30 to $50 per hour. Like proofreading, rates depend on quality, time constraints, and the importance of the translation.

6. TEACH ENGLISH

You’re reading this article in English, which means you’re a speaker of the most in-demand language on the planet. Millions of people attempt to learn English every year, which means English teachers are in high demand.

Websites like iTalki and Cambly are online platforms for anyone who wants to teach English or other languages to people of all ages. If you live in North America, you have more options, like teaching English to Chinese children through VIPKID or Qkids, or to Korean children through Englishunt.

Rates for English teachers can vary based on your experience and skill level. Cambly pays $10 per hour, VIPKID, Qkids, and Englishunt pay between $13 and $22 per hour, and iTalki allows teachers to set their own price.

7. START A CONTENT SITE

I know what you’re thinking: “Seriously? Didn’t everyone and his cousin already bail on their blogs because they got tired of the content-generation hamster wheel?” It may feel that way, but if you’re passionate enough about a subject, it might not feel like work.

And believe it or not, the market is still not saturated. There are millions of topics that people search for every day, and many of them have not been written about yet.

Even if your blog is about a popular topic, you can still find your unique angle, says Henneke Duistermaat in her book Blog to Win Business. “You can safely assume that everything about your topic has been written already,” she admits. “However, nobody has said it yet in the way you can say it.”

There are many paths to a profitable blog. Like niche websites, you can promote products through affiliate programs and collect a percentage of each sale. Or you can place ads on each page of your blog and collect a few cents for each impression, or person who views the ad. Another option is to sell information products (see No. 1) to the readers of your blog.

If you choose your subject well and use multiple money-making strategies for your blog, you can see monthly earnings of a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars over time.

If you have a smartphone or computer and an internet connection, the money is yours for the taking. Whether you choose to write, teach, or help someone else succeed, you can start building your profitable side hustle today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arianna O’Dell is the founder of Airlink Marketing, a digital design and marketing agency helping companies create digital programs that drive results. When she’s not working with clients or traveling, you’ll find her making fun gifts at Ideas By Arianna.

More

FastCompany.com | November 19, 2018 | BY ARIANNA O’DELL 5 MINUTE READ

#Leadership : #Productivity – 9 CEOs Share their Favorite #ProductivityHacks…CEOs Work an Average of 62 hours a Week & Attend 37 #Meetings . Getting the Most Out of Their Hours is Critical.

/in /by

We all have the same number of hours in a week, but for some of us the demands on our time are greater. This is true with CEOs. A study published in Harvard Business Review found that each week CEOs work an average of 62.5 hours and attend 37 meetings. Getting the most out of their hours is critical.

Here are nine tricks successful CEOs use to squeeze more productivity out of themselves and their employees:

KEEP ONE DAY A WEEK FREE FROM MEETINGS

Thirty-seven meetings a week is a lot, and Asana CEO Dustin Moskovitz makes sure at least one day a week is meeting-free, implementing a company-wide “No Meeting Wednesdays” (NMW) rule.

“The high-level goal of NMW is to ensure that everyone gets a large block of time each week to do focused, heads-down work,” he writes on the company blog. “The justification is well articulated in a now famous Paul Graham article: Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule. The gist is that makers suffer greatly from interruptions in their flow time. Managers are generally used to having a schedule-driven day, so it’s easy for them to throw a disruption into somebody else’s calendar. Makers also do this to each other.”

Moskovitz wants managers to be makers some of the time, so NMW ensures they get some flow time, too, he said.

Like this Article ?  Share It !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simplygo to our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership,#life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

MAKE TIME FOR A NAP

One of the best ways to recharge during the day is with a nap, and StockX CEO Josh Luber isn’t afraid to admit that he sleeps on the job.

“I find that one of the best ways to maintain productivity is to incorporate power naps into your day,” he says. “At the rate at which StockX is growing, it’s a 24-hour job and I spend 70% to 80% of my time on the road across varying time zones, which can be hard on your body. I take 11-minute naps once or twice per day and find that it makes for increased energy and efficiency.”

USE DOWNTIME TO THINK

Sara Blakely, CEO of Spanx, knows that she does her best thinking in the car. The problem is that she lives very close to her office.

“I’ve created what my friends call my ‘fake commute,’ and I get up an hour early before I’m supposed to go to Spanx and I drive around aimlessly in Atlanta with my commute so that I can have my thoughts come to me,” she told LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman on his podcast Masters of Scale.

Blakely also said she brings a notebook with her to take advantage of lulls. “There’s a number of events where the content on stage is super boring, but I’m locked in my chair because I can’t walk out,” she told Hoffman. “That’s the reason I always bring a notepad with me, because what I’ll do is I’ll start working. I have the focus of the fact that I can’t leave, I can’t get distracted, I can’t go work on something and I can’t do email, and I’m just sitting there with my pad of paper. I’m sitting there going, ‘Okay, this is really fucking boring,’ and I pull out my notepad and I start working.”

BE SPECIFIC WITH EMAIL

Katia Beauchamp, cofounder of Birchbox, says one of her best productivity tricks is something simple: She insists that her team includes a deadline in their email.

“It makes prioritization so much faster,” she told Lifehacker.

SAY “NO” MORE OFTEN

Jason Fried, CEO of Basecamp, says it’s hard to be productive when you say “yes” to too many things. So he is very selective about what he does.

“All the techniques and hacks in the world never add up to the power of ‘no,’” he told Lifehacker. “Having fewer things to do is the best way to get things done. I’m very careful with my time and attention–it’s my most precious resource. If you don’t have that, you can’t do what you want to do. And if you can’t do what you want to do, what’s the point?”

SKIP HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURES AND BE DIRECT

Following the chain of command can slow down a process, says TeslaCEO Elon Musk. In an email to his staff published on Inc.com, he tells employees “communication should travel via the shortest path necessary to get the job done.”

“A major source of issues is poor communication between departments,” he writes. “The way to solve this is allow free flow of information between all levels. If, in order to get something done between depts, an individual contributor has to talk to their manager, who talks to a director, who talks to a VP, who talks to another VP, who talks to a director, who talks to a manager, who talks to someone doing the actual work, then super dumb things will happen. It must be ok for people to talk directly and just make the right thing happen.”

MAKE QUICKER DECISIONS

When it’s time to make a decision, stop wasting time, former CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Meg Whitman said in an interview with Forbes. “I take in all the data,” she said. “A fast ‘no’ is better than a long extended ‘no’ or long extended ‘yes.’ It helps knowing that when you make mistakes, you can always fix mistakes.”

You have to be prudent, she said. “People can get frozen,” she said. “If you think about every bad thing that will happen, you freeze. This is where pattern recognition is really helpful. I’ve been doing this for so long; I’ve seen the movie before.”

SEND FEWER EMAILS

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner sends fewer emails to receive fewer emails. In a post on LinkedIn, he said that at a previous company he noticed that his inbox got lighter after two email-happy colleagues left the organization.

“Turns out, it wasn’t just their emails that were generating all of that inbox activity–it was my responses to their emails, the responses of the people who were added to those threads, the responses of the people those people subsequently copied, and so on,” he writes.

He decided to conduct an experiment, only writing emails when absolutely necessary. “End result: Materially fewer emails and a far more navigable inbox. I’ve tried to stick to the same rule ever since,” he writes.

CREATE BETTER LISTS

Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, starts each morning with his twist on the standard to-do list.

“Make a list of everything you want to accomplish that day. Be as exhaustive as possible,” he told Hoffman during an episode of Masters of Scale. “Group a few similar tasks together. Ask yourself for each group: What one action takes care of all of these? “It’s like a game of leverage.”

Repeat the grouping and refining process until you have just a few big tasks.

“If you have a list of 20 things to do, you end up realizing, ‘I don’t need to do 20 things,’” Chesky said. “If I do these three big things, the other 20 things will kind of happen as outcomes, or outputs, of it.”

You Might Also Like:

FastCompany.com | November 14, 2018 | BY STEPHANIE VOZZA 5 MINUTE READ

#CareerAdvice : 15 Words and Phrases to Never Include in a #CoverLetter …Take the Expert Advice to Craft the Best Cover Letter Possible. Think: Personable and Professional.

/in /by

While many job applications have the word “optional” next to the field that asks for a cover letter, it shouldn’t be overlooked. After all, a cover letter is intended to show you off and captivate a hiring manager, kind of like a movie trailer. It’s meant to tease and entice the recruiter or hiring manager to keep reading and be so interested in you that they simply cannot put down your resume. Think: personable and professional.

Some of the best cover letters tell interesting stories about the candidate and help them to be seen as a good culture fit for a company. “Recruiters always remember the personal side of cover letters — this is when you become more than just another applicant,” says career expert Heather Huhman. “They connect your experiences with your name because you’re giving them another dimension of you, sharing what makes you unique.”

Given the importance of a cover letter, you cannot afford to blow it. Once you’ve got a working draft, it’s time to grab your red pen. Here are 15 words and phrases that are simply dragging your cover letter down. Cut ‘em! Take the expert advice below to craft the best cover letter possible and let your personality, not robotic prose, shine through.

1. “To Whom It May Concern”

Generic salutations, while professional, can be a bit sterile. Do a little digging to find the name of the hiring manager or the recruiter. “Let’s say you discover an opening for an electrical engineer position at an engineering organization’s website. The position description indicates the employee will report to the lead electrical engineer. You decide (initially) to bypass the company’s automated application system so you can customize your communications,” advises Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, master resume writer. “You sail over to LinkedIn and begin researching. Use the advanced search feature and type in ‘name of company’ for the company name, ‘lead electrical engineer’ for keywords and ‘64152’ for a zip code for greater Kansas City (where the company headquarters and this position are located) and click enter. Your results will appear.”How to Write a Cover Letter

2. “Thinking outside of the box”

Recruiters read thousands of cover letters and resumes. It’s their job. So try hard to make reading your cover letter a treat. Career coach Angela Copeland says, “more specifically, stay away from phrases that are known to annoy hiring managers, such as ‘heavy lifting’ or ‘think outside the box’ or ‘game-changer.’” Be creative instead of using meaningless buzzwords.

Like this Article ?  Share It !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simplygo to our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership,#life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

3. “I’m not sure if you know”

“When it comes to today’s job search process, another thing to remember is your online footprint,” says Copeland. Phrases like this one underestimate a recruiter’s ability to Google and may come across as naive. HR professionals and recruiters do their due diligence on you. Trust us, they know. “In a way, your Google search results are a lot like the modern day cover letter. After an employer reads your cover letter, they will also Google you. Beat them to the punch and Google yourself. Be sure you’re comfortable with the information that shows up on the first two pages of the Google search results. Look through social media, photos and any other websites that show up when you search for yourself.”

4. Insider Jargon

“Job seekers should try to minimize phrases that are very industry-specific, especially if they’re switching industries,” advises Copeland. “Although these phrases may sound impressive within one industry, they will most likely confuse your hiring manager in the new industry you want to switch to.”

5. Claims Without Evidence

Instead of simply saying you’re good at what you do, Huhman advises providing a valuable anecdote. “Let’s say you’re applying for a marketing director position. Among other aspects in the description, the job requires several years of marketing experience, a deep knowledge of lead generation and strong communication skills. Describe how, in your previous role as a marketing manager, you ran several campaigns for your clients and exceeded their expectations of lead generation (with specific numbers, if possible), and how you also trained and mentored new associates on how to manage their own accounts, which improved client retention rates.” In other words, show how effective you have been in the past. “Your anecdote is accomplishing a lot at once — it’s demonstrating one of your top hard skills, lead nurturing, and showcasing how you can collaborate with trainees, communicate effectively and educate new employees on processes and client relations,” says Huhman. “You’re proving that you can meet the communication standards and marketing knowledge they’re seeking.”

6. “Love”

Cut the millennial speak. “You shouldn’t just say that you want the job or that you love your industry. You have to show your passion,” says Huhman. “Share why your career path best suits you and how your love for your work drives and motivates you. For example, answer some questions about what made you want to enter the field, how your personality helps you succeed and what past experiences influenced your career decisions.”The Dos and Don’ts of Showing Passion in an Interview

7. Lies

“Embellishing in a cover letter is one way to set yourself up for letting down your future employer once you’ve been hired,” warns Huhman. Steer clear of touting skills you don’t really possess or overselling your impact on a key project at your current employer. “The best-case scenario is that lying on a cover letter creates uncomfortable situations. Worst case scenario? [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][You’ll lose the] job because [you are] not the candidate they were looking for.”

8. Flattery

“When you’re looking for a job, do your best to bring your authentic self to the table. As the old saying goes, people hire people. Often, you’re hired because the hiring manager likes you — not just because you can do the work,” says Copeland. “Nobody likes insincere flattery. It leaves an impression that you aren’t authentic and therefore can’t be trusted. In business, especially in an employee/employer relationship, trust is paramount. Avoid being insincere, and focus on building a true relationship with your future hiring manager.”

9. “Please feel free”

Ending your cover letter with a clear call-to-action is key, but instead of being gentle, be direct. Show your confidence and prove to the recruiter that you know you wrote a compelling cover letter by wrapping up with a more self-assured request for an in-person interview or phone screen.

10. “Dynamic”

“Get away from stuffing cover letters full of clichéd phrases and think clear, honest and impactful. Think in terms of telling a story,” says resume expert Anish Majumdar. “You’re not a dynamic, agile leader who can deliver rapid marketing and biz dev ROI in rapidly-changing environments.” Instead, you are someone who thrives on helping companies “more fully realize their vision, and have some amazing successes on the marketing and business development front that you’d like to discuss.”

11. “Significant”

Instead of tiptoeing around the impact you’ve had at your current company with words like “significant,” “measurable” or “huge,” get specific. Nicole Cox, Chief Recruitment Officer at national recruiting firm Decision Toolbox, advises job seekers to, “substantiate your accomplishments with numbers. Some recruiters prefer to see actual numbers (such as ‘cut manufacturing costs by $500,000’), while others prefer percentages (‘cut manufacturing costs by 15 percent’). Either way, provide enough context to show the impact. If your objective was to cut manufacturing costs by 10 percent, make it clear that you exceeded the goal.”4 Metrics Recruiters Love to See on Resumes

12. “Really, truly, deeply”

Flowery language and excessive adverbs can come off as insincere. “Don’t get me wrong, you need to share your accomplishments in your cover letter. Nobody else will do it for you. But, you want to come across as confident, not arrogant,” says Copeland. “Fluffy jargon will risk turning off the hiring manager.”

13. Cut, Copy & Paste

Resist the temptation to write a cover letter that regurgitates what you’ve outlined in your resume. Instead, recognize the opportunity that a cover letter presents. “Use the cover letter as an opportunity to highlight the parts of your resume that align to the job,” says Copeland. “And, add things you don’t normally include in your resume that are relevant to the work. For example, I once coached a job seeker who was a university administrator. He was interested to work for a large hotel chain. Although he didn’t have direct hotel experience, his hobbies included both real estate investing and managing a fitness franchise location. This information was critical to him landing a job with the large hotel company.”

14. “Self-Starter,” “Detail-Oriented,” and “Forward-Thinker”

These are what’s known as “frequent offenders” amongst cover letter and resume experts. They are overused and carry little weight these days. “Treat a cover letter as a chance to make a human connection, not a formality,” says Majumdar. “What gets you excited about this job? What have you been up to recently that they’d find interesting? What should they know about you that they couldn’t discern by reading your resume? All great points to touch on in this letter.”

15. Synonyms Out of A Thesaurus

While it may be tempting to head to thesaurus.com to add a few high-brow words and smart-sounding phrases, resist the temptation. Be yourself. Be honest. “This is a prime opportunity to showcase skills,” says Majumdar. Words like “change,” “execute,” “communicates” and “relationship building” will all get the job done effectively when paired with strong anecdotes and authenticity.

GlassDoor.com | November 12, 2018 | Posted by Amy Elisa Jackson

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

#CareerAdvice : #CareerChange – Changing Careers? Here’s How to Tap into the Gig Economy during your Transition…Jumping into #FreelanceWork can be a Great Way to Bridge the Gap when you’re #ChangingJobs .

/in /by

The term “gig economy” refers to a workforce that’s defined by short-term engagements, temporary contract work, and independent contracting. As such, the gig economy includes freelancers, contractors, side hustlers, and anyone who’s making money on the side or earning full-time income with various short-term projects, rather than a single full-time job.

While this may seem like just another new buzzword, the gig economy is booming. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 5.9 million people held “contingent jobs” in May of 2017, which represents 3.8% of all workers in the U.S. A career transition is a perfect time to jump and test the waters because you likely have more time on your hands and less income coming in.

Tracy Ring, self-proclaimed admin pro, stepped into the gig economy during her career transition into social media and marketing. She explains, “I was able to use freelance work in the interim so that I could continue this path and career pivot, and not just accept another job to have a job, but rather focus on what I wanted”

Use the following ideas to become a part of this new work movement and–bonus–make extra cash along the way”

START WITH SOMETHING YOU KNOW HOW TO DO

People hire freelancers for a few reasons, one of which is that they specialize in something. Companies don’t want to fully train you like they would a new staff member, which takes time and money. Rather, they want to bring in someone who can get the work done with whatever project-based direction they have to give.

Ultimately, the implication is that you understand the nuts and bolts of how the work is done, you just need to cater your skills to their brand or project needs.

If you’re moving from one career to the next, you may be moving away from your current skill set to learn a new one, but don’t leave those skills at your last job. Instead, use them to jump into the gig economy and generate income while you look for the job you want to have. In this way, you can use those honed skills as tools to get from point A to point B.

Remember that this can also be a chance to test the waters using some skills from your past to get gigs that will give you experience for where you want to go. For example, Ring did a lot of small business marketing in her past roles, but never had a marketing title or marketing-specific job. So she’s using freelance and short-term gigs to build out those skills to eventually land a full-time marketing job.

“I had always been in generalist roles that were a blend of marketing, HR, project management, and admin. When thinking about my career path moving forward I knew that I wanted to focus on the route enjoyed most–digital marketing. Starting to ease into freelance projects allowed me to build tangible skills. I was able to strengthen my writing abilities and eventually create a portfolio of bylined articles,” says Ring.

Like this Article ?  Share It !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simplygo to our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership,#life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

HOW TO MANAGE A SIDE HUSTLE WHEN YOU’RE EMPLOYED FULL-TIME

If you can maintain a consistent flow of clients, you may want you keep the gigs going, even with a new full-time job. This is especially true if your career transition means you need to start in an entry-level job and work your way back up.

That’s why it’s smart to start with a side hustle in mind. In fact, 44 million people have started their own side hustle as a way to make extra income. The key is to choose a side hustle that has legs; something that can grow into an income generator, whether you have a full-time job or not. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this nearly exhaustive list of 105 side hustle ideas. Consider which ones would be best for applying your current skill set.

For example, selling photos online could be a great way to generate passive income if you’re a photographer. While selling cupcakes could be perfect for the person who wants to start a bakery one day.

MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE

If you’re new to the side hustle game, you have to start building relationships. One way to do that is to create profiles on various freelance and gig-finder websites, like Upwork or Remote.co. This is the best way to find work both actively and passively. Actively, you can be searching for gigs that fit your skillset, just like you would with regular job searching. On the other hand, with a good profile in place, you’ll be able to passively find work as well because those looking to fill positions can find you. If someone thinks you’re a great fit for a project, they can ask you to interview.

That doesn’t mean you don’t have to put in the work, though. Ring has had the best success finding gigs on these sites when she puts in the time with every application. “Never copy and paste cover letters or intro blurbs. Tailor your responses to the role and company. Any work I’ve secured has come from quick research on the organization/position, or writing responses that take the job description into mind. Make your pitches as concise as possible and always end with the unique value you can bring to the project.”

Ultimately, however, Ring says that it’s a numbers game, so actively apply for gigs as much as you can. “The more gigs you apply to the better your odds. But that doesn’t mean you can focus on quality over quantity.” That means focus on your research and tailoring your application to the role, as Ring suggested.

DON’T DO IT ON YOUR OWN

If the idea of creating a profile, finding clients, and maintaining that work feels daunting, take another route. There are many other ways to get into the gig economy without being a freelancer or contractor, like driving for Uber. With so many services like this now available to consumers, and many similar services for businesses as well, there are plenty to choose from based on your availability and preferences.

For example, if you want to share your car, rather than be a driver, sign up with a service like Hyre or Turo. This means that your car is available to rent–note that the process of screening renters is extensive and additional insurance is provided for your car.

If you drive a lot, consider wrapping your car in a business’s advertisement. These car wrapping services do require that you drive a certain amount of miles every day, but if you drive a lot, you can even make more money depending on where you live, i.e., in a city where more people see your car.

Another option is to rent your home or a room in your home on one of the many rental sites now available to consumers. If you’re renting an apartment now, check with your landlord first. In many cases, they don’t allow you to rent your apartment or space if you’re on a lease.

JUMP INTO THE GIG ECONOMY WITH BOTH FEET

Our increasingly innovative and digital world has put the power to earn right into our hands. As you transition into a new career, supplement your lack of income with short-term gigs or a side hustle. Not only can you control how much money you bring in, but you may end up earning more than you think–turning your side hustle into a business or giving your savings a boost when you do get another full-time job. Whatever your skills, there’s a way to bring income, so consider your options and jump into the gig economy with both feet.

FastCompany.com | November 11, 2018 | BY JESSICA THIEFELS—GLASSDOOR 6 MINUTE READ

#Leadership : #Recruiting – Think a Job Candidate is Lying? Look Out for These Signs…The Majority of Candidates are Honest. But once in a While, you Find a Bad Actor.

/in /by

For most recruiters, taking candidates at face value is second nature. With multiple, urgent roles to fill, tons of resumes to go through, and dozens of interviews to schedule, you don’t always have the time to dig into a candidate’s background as thoroughly as you would like. Most of the time, this isn’t a problem–the majority of candidates are honest, upstanding people just trying to find the right opportunity.

But every once in a while, you will find a bad actor who chooses to exaggerate or even flat-out lie about their experience in order to get the job they want. If hired, the consequences can be disastrous. Replacing an employee–even if they’ve only been there for a short amount of time–is time-consuming, expensive, and tedious.

So the next time you have an interview with a candidate that seems too good to be true, make it a priority to check for these signs that a candidate is lying or exaggerating.

1. THEIR ANSWERS ARE VAGUE OR UNRELATED

We’ve all encountered it before: You ask a candidate a thoughtful, multifaceted question, and they respond with an irrelevant or imprecise answer. This isn’t just a sign that a candidate didn’t sufficiently prepare for the interview–it could also indicate that they’re not telling the whole truth.

“Vague and incomplete responses to questions are a warning sign of embellishment or otherwise falsified accounts of a candidate’s responsibilities,” says Tammy Cohen, founder and chief visionary officer of background screening company InfoMart. “An applicant failing to use common industry jargon or who doesn’t cite processes, metrics, or team members’ roles may also be exaggerating the scope of their work.”

When faced with this situation, recruiters should push candidates to elaborate to determine whether they’re exaggerating their credentials or just nervous.

“The interviewer should look to remain silent if the candidate has provided a vague or limited response, in order to encourage the candidate to expand. Although it may initially be awkward for both parties, this method is more likely to generate a much more individual response than spoon-feeding the candidate with further questions,” says Lars Herrem, group executive director at recruitment agency Nigel Wright Group.

Herrem also suggests “repeating a question, be it immediately after the candidate’s response or later in the interview, [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][to] highlight whether a candidate is being consistent, and therefore honest, with their answers.”

Like this Article ?  ShareIt !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simplygo to our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership,#life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of article:

2. THEIR BODY LANGUAGE GIVES THEM AWAY

You may have seen “human lie detectors” on TV shows and in movies who are instantly able to tell whether or not someone is lying just by observing them. But the truth is, you don’t need to be FBI-trained to spot signs a candidate is lying.

“Constant fidgeting, darting eyes, or complete avoidance of eye contact during important questions can mean an applicant is unsure of their answers,” Cohen explains.

Keep in mind, though, that these could also simply be signs that a candidate is nervous, so context matters. There’s a big difference between a candidate who bounces their knee every once in a while during lulls in the conversation and a candidate who goes on and on about grandiose achievements while refusing to meet your gaze.

3. THEY LEAN TOO HEAVILY ON GROUP ACCOMPLISHMENTS

It’s true that collaboration is essential in the modern workplace, but beware the candidate who only talks about their accomplishments as part of a group–it could suggest that they’re not as individually adept as you might want them to be.

“Personal pronouns like ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘my’ are reflective of firsthand experiences, rather than the use of ‘they’ and ‘we,’ which suggests the candidate is borrowing examples from other sources or people,” Herrem says.

Don’t let impressive-sounding team achievements sway your opinion without digging deeper.

“If they mention a group project, then ask them what their specific role was, or ask them to tell you about something they did on their own,” says Executive Resume Writer Donna Svei.

4. THEY GET DEFENSIVE

Every once in a while, a candidate will give you a hard time if you ask probing questions into their backgrounds. According to Susan Hosage, senior consultant and executive coach at OneSource HR Solutions, this is one of the telltale signs a candidate is lying.

“Despite the submission of resumes and cover letters detailing their extensive experience, I had two candidates who specifically had memorable issues during the interview. I had one candidate angrily say, ‘I don’t know who created these questions?’ To which I replied, ‘That would be me.’ The candidate abruptly changed his attitude, but unfortunately, didn’t do any better responding to the remaining ones,” Hosage shares. “I had another candidate who ended his panel interview by saying, ‘Now, I want to ask you a bunch of questions you can’t answer.’ Needless to say, he left a big impression on the panel–but it was a bad one!”

It won’t always be as clear cut as these examples, but if a candidate you’re interviewing appears to deflect a probing question or dismiss your concerns, you may have a fibber on your hands.

5. THEIR SKILLS DON’T PASS THE SNIFF TEST

One of the most common things candidates lie about or exaggerate is their experience with a given skill. Fortunately, there are relatively easy ways to assess their competence.

“Candidates tend to exaggerate about their software skills. An example would be someone who says ‘Excel power user’ on their resume. I found the best way to separate the truth tellers from the boasters was to ask this simple interview question: ‘Tell me about the most complex thing you’ve ever done with Excel,’” Svei says.

Another simple way to gauge a candidate’s proficiency in a given area is through an assignment or exam.

“You can see flamboyant details in the resume, but when you assess the skills with a questionnaire or test, it’s all spoof,” says Ketan Kapoor, CEO and cofounder of HR technology company Mettl. “Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that someone who has fared so [well] on the resume can flunk an assessment. But if it happens, think before you take your chances.”

GlassDoor.com | November 10, 2018 | BY EMILY MOORE –4 MINUTE READ


[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

#CareerAdvice – How to Maintain your Relationships as you Grow your #Network .. #Networking isn’t Just About Meeting People. It’s also about Setting up Systems to Sustain those Connections.

/in /by

Building a great network involves more than meeting new people and introducing yourself. Once you get past that networking hurdle, you’ll face the challenges of maintaining and leveraging that network. As it grows, you’ll find it more and more difficult to keep in touch with every individual.

As a founder, maintaining a robust network has been critical to the success of my company. But make no mistake, managing hundreds of relationships is exhausting. This is where establishing a solid system comes in. That way, you can follow it without thinking (much like crossing off a checklist), until it becomes autopilot.

For me, that takes no more than one or two hours a day. I’ve seen the massive payoff from investing this little bit of time on a daily basis. We found our early customers, investors, and champions through my founder network–and we still find many of them there today. Here’s what that process entails.

I UPDATE MY NETWORK BY SENDING A PERSONAL NEWSLETTER

For a while, I was struggling to extract value out of my network, even though I had grown to know a lot of smart, connected people who wanted to help me. They just didn’t know how.

So I launched a personal newsletter. Once per month, I send an update on what I’ve been working on, and at the end, I have a section for “asks.” This is where I let my network know what I need help with at the time. Now, some of you might cringe at this, but think about it–if you’re looking for a freelance designer to revamp your website, and someone in your network knows a web designer who wants pick up extra projects, you’ve just helped someone by making your “ask.” As long as you respect people’s time and attention, asking for help won’t make you look bad.

The response to my newsletters has been tremendous–people better understand what our company Hatch Apps does (we enable non-technical people to build apps without coding) and are therefore referring more customers, investors, and relevant opportunities. I get replies all the time like, “A friend of mine is actually looking to build an app–can I connect you?” I use MailChimp so I’m able to track opens and clicks, and thereby know who in my network is most engaged.

I have friends who activate their networks via social media, or via a personal blog. Regardless of what medium you use, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First, make sure that you’re your authentic self. It’s great to share your wins, but you also want to share your struggles, so it doesn’t seem like you’re just looking for an excuse to brag. Secondly, include interesting content. I include sections on “awesome reads” and “brilliant stuff my friends are building,” which my networks tend to click on. Lastly, make sure that you urge your connections to engage with your email. Be proactive about requesting comments or replies. This practice is an excellent way to drive engagement over the long term.

Like this Article ?  ShareIt !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simplygo to our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership,#life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of article:

BUT I STILL MAKE TIME FOR INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS

While my update email is an efficient way to reach a large audience, nothing beats personalized one-on-one interactions.

I get that it might not be possible to do this with everyone in your network on a regular basis. But focus on quality, rather than quantity. There’s no reason you need to meet up with everyone on a monthly basis–that’s why I’ve “segmented” everyone in my network by how often I check in with them. Some folks hear from me monthly, and others only hear from me once per year. A simple text with “long time, how have you been?” can work wonders to reactivate a contact.

I also have a follow-up to-do list and use Slack reminders for follow-ups. And every morning, I check Facebook to see any birthdays, and make a point of texting or calling anyone who is turning another year older that day.

I’M INTENTIONAL ABOUT EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

A handwritten thank-you note goes a long way. A gift in the mail goes even further.

We all want to feel valued and listened to, and these days, it’s rare for people to get a thank-you note. Whenever a mentor shares some thoughtful advice, I send a handwritten note explaining how her great advice impacted my strategy. If a friend refers a job candidate, I send a bottle of his favorite wine. When a colleague forwards me an article, I email her with my key takeaways. Even if nothing comes out of the attempt to help (the advice is a dud, the candidate is unqualified, or the article isn’t relevant), I still thank them for going out of their way to help me out. I’ve witnessed that when a connection feels valued, they’re more likely to continue their patterns of support.

I FIND A WAY TO GIVE BACK

Remember, your network isn’t just about you. It’s about them too. That’s the golden rule of building professional relationships, which I learned from my college mentor, Deb Mills-Scofield.

After all the hard work you put in, you might be tempted to keep your networks to yourself. But this doesn’t do much for you. When you find ways to bring your networks together, you’ll continue to buy goodwill and strengthen your relationships. That means they’re more likely to give back to you and make introductions when you need them. I love to bring my network together through intimate dinners, casual happy hours, or by directly introducing them to one another.

It’s not enough to focus on growing and building your networks. You have to dedicate time and energy into maintaining them. If you find all these steps overwhelming, start small–even something like sending someone an article that you think they’ll enjoy can go a long way. As you continue to build systems around maintaining your network, you’ll find that these habits will become automatic. And you’ll see the payoff when the people in your network become invested in your success.

About the Author: Amelia Friedman is a cofounder at Hatch Apps, a company that automates software development to make building an app fast and affordable. She writes frequently for the Hatch Apps blog. Follow her on Twitter @ameliafriedman.

FastCompany.com | November 8, 2018 

#Leadership : The Complicated & Troubled History of the #AnnualPerformanceReview …Companies have Spent Billions of Hours Ranking, Filing, & Giving Workers Feedback. In the End, Does it Really Motivate?

/in , /by

Yay, it’s time for my annual performance review!” said no worker ever.


While the yearly assessment handed down from manager to staffer has become something for both parties to dread (and prompted some companies to abolish it entirely) the approach to appraise workers’ progress has a long history that’s ranged from practical to problematic.

There is no definitive source that points to the very first performance review. Some suggest that the Industrial Revolution’s focus on worker productivity may have contributed to formalizing a standard for judging how well people did their jobs based on their output alongside machines like the cotton gin and the spinning jenny. If so, that’s a dark part of the annual review’s history, as it can’t be separated from slave and child labor and the unsafe working conditions that plagued factory workers before unions were organized to protect them.

Flash-forward to WWI and WWII, when the military started using metrics, first to identify and dismiss poor performers and then to rank enlisted soldiers based on their potential to ascend to leadership.

In between the wars, in 1927, Elton Mayo, an Australian-born psychologist, implemented a socioeconomic experiment that studied the female employees of the Hawthorne Works factory of the Western Electric Company in Cicero, Illinois.

Their productivity was measured by changes in their hours, wages, rest periods, lighting conditions, organization, and degree of supervision and consultation to see what would affect the way they did their jobs. They found, perhaps unsurprisingly, that performance wasn’t tied to money, but to the fact that someone was paying attention to their conditions.

But that finding was short-lived, at least according to Peter Capelli and Anna Tavis. They reported in Harvard Business Review:

By the 1940s, about 60% of U.S. companies were using appraisals to document workers’ performance and allocate rewards. By the 1960s, it was closer to 90%. Though seniority rules determined pay increases and promotions for unionized workers, strong merit scores meant good advancement prospects for managers.

THEORY X AND Y

At first, they observed, giving feedback that focused on improving performance was an afterthought. But along came social psychologist Douglas McGregor, whose Theory X and Theory Y would change the approach to assessments. While Theory X suggested that no one really wants to work and therefore they need strict supervision, Theory Y holds that employees should be trusted and empowered. It was a radical departure of viewing workers and leadership. As such, managers and their staff were seen in a collaborative way and performance could be positively influenced by encouraging development. “The limits on human collaboration in the organizational setting are not limits of human nature but of management’s ingenuity in discovering how to realize the potential represented by its human resources,” McGregor concluded.

THE RISE OF MIDDLE MANAGERS

By the 1960s, General Electric and other companies embraced this approach to the performance review and began implementing developmental feedback. However, when companies started to feel the crunch of inflation in the 1970s, they resumed appraising people in order to scale back merit raises. And under Jack Welch’s leadership, GE started ranking employees to promote top performers and pink-slip those who were just coasting.

As the decades passed, with more middle management having more direct reports at larger companies, the investment in individual performance reviews started to get out of hand. For example, by 2015 a report from the Harvard Business Review revealed that at Deloitte it took 1.8 million hours across the firm. And at CEB, managers reported 210 hours for appraisals (that translates to 5 weeks per year). Adobe scrapped the practice after calculating that 2,000 managers were in for some 80,000 hours when dealing with performance reviews. Talk about a counterproductive way to spend the workday.

But it wasn’t just the hours that put the performance review on deathwatch. As Capelli and Tavis noted, research proved that workers “would rather be told they were ‘average’ than given a 3 on a 5-point scale.”

Researchers at Kansas State University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Texas A&M also looked at how negative feedback during annual performance reviews affected employees and (shocker) it didn’t help them improve. But surprisingly, even positive feedback got misconstrued and failed to motivate.

As for the future of the performance review, the bad news is that it’s not totally going away. But as Capelli and Tavis point out, there is a better way. “Ideally, conversations between managers and employees occur when projects finish, milestones are reached, challenges pop up, and so forth–allowing people to solve problems in current performance while also developing skills for the future,” they write. “At most companies, managers take the lead in setting near-term goals, and employees drive career conversations throughout the year.” Sounds like a much more productive and empowering way for everyone to spend their time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lydia Dishman is a reporter writing about the intersection of tech, leadership, and innovation. She is a regular contributor to Fast Company and has written for CBS Moneywatch, Fortune, The Guardian, Popular Science, and the New York Times, among others.

More

FastCompany.com | November 7, 2018

#CareerAdvice : #ResumeWriting – Think You Know How to Write the Perfect #Resume ? Think Again… Here are 20 of their Essential Resume Dos & Dont’s that could bring you One Step Closer to Taking the Next Big Step in your Career.

/in /by

While writing a resume is undoubtedly challenging, there are certain CV faux pas that can be easily avoided to improve your application and chances for landing the job you want. Whether that means omitting third person or submitting two pages, the strongest resume shines a light on your unique skills and experience with succinct clarity.

That’s where Philips recruiters come in. They’ve filled roles with the best talent for thousands of jobs and know exactly what to look for in prospective employees.

If your résumé is hard to read, no one will.

Below are 20 of their essential resume dos and dont’s that could bring you one step closer to taking the next big step in your career.

1.  A headshot won’t give you a head start.

Save that valuable space on your resume for highlighting your professional accomplishments and achievements. A headshot opens the door to potential discrimination accusations that recruiters must stay away from.

2.  Two pages? Perfectly fine.

The old adage says: keep your resume to one page. But if you are a seasoned professional, it can make sense to write a two-page resume that encompasses your relevant work experience. If you have less professional experience, a single page is more than acceptable.

Like this Article ?  ShareIt !You now can easilyenjoy/follow/share Today our Award WinningArticles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide inour various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simplygo to our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership,#life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets doYou have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of article:

3.  There’s no place like home. So include it on your resume.

By adding your home residence to your resume, recruiters will know whether you’ll need to move to accept the job and potentially offer you money to relocate. Plus, if you land the position, your new company will have what it needs to generate a formal offer letter quickly.13 Irresistible Resume Templates to Download Now

4.  Keep employers linked in with your professional social media accounts.

By providing links to your career site profiles, such as LinkedIn, you’re giving hiring managers a simplified snapshot of your experience and easy access to all your testimonials.

5. Republican? Democrat? Save it for the voting booth.

Recruiters and hiring managers want to know whether you’re qualified for the job at hand. Leave out personal information, such as your marital status, number of children, height and weight, birthday and political affiliation.

6. Cash in later.

A resume should showcase your professional skills and leave money discussions for later in the interview process. In some states, it’s even illegal for recruiters to ask what you’re making. Air on the safe side and omit any salary figures.

7. Skip the bucket list for now.

While extracurricular and volunteer activities show that you’re a well-rounded individual, keep in mind that recruiters are assessing your skills and experience for the job at hand. Save all the juicy details for meeting with the hiring manager after you meet with a recruiter.

8. There’s only one objective: land the job.

These days, many recruiters consider an objective — a succinct summary of your skills at the top of your resume — “old school.” Instead, opt to let the hiring manager know during your meeting what skills you have to offer.

9. One size doesn’t fit all.

No matter how many jobs you’ve had, recruiters will appreciate it if you include experience that’s directly applicable to the role. Consider leaving out your starter jobs or your stint at a company that went out of business decades ago. You can always add “Additional Experience Upon Request” if you have more experience than space allows.QUIZ: Which Type of Resume Is Right for You?

10. Dig for the details.

When crafting a resume, it’s always best to be as detailed as possible. Try to avoid general phrases such as “excellent communication skills” and “well organized.” Instead, highlight your unique, specific offerings as a candidate, which can serve as great conversation starters.

11. Reference check? Take a rain check.

It’s wonderful to have colleagues, bosses and friends who will speak to your character, but corporate recruiters don’t need to reach out to your references. If you progress further in the interview process, they will often do a formal background check if needed. Have a list on hand, however, for later on, in case the recruiter requests it.

12. First person over third wins every day.

There’s really no better place to use “I” than in your resume. By writing in the first person instead of the third person, you’ll sound more authentic, friendly and conversational. It’ll draw recruiters right in. 

13. Calculate when GPA really matters.

Still in college? Include your GPA if it’s over 3.2. If it’s under, opt to omit it. Make certain to include your degrees and areas of study, but it isn’t necessary to add your SAT score.11 Surprising Jobs With No Experience Required

14. No degree? Add college credits.

If you attended college but didn’t graduate, include the dates you attended, your major and how many credits you earned toward your degree. If you land an interview, recruiters will likely ask why you did not graduate, so prepare an answer ahead of time.

15. You’ve got mail.

Lots of employers value creativity, but if your email has “cutefuzzykittens” in it, you should create a more professional address for recruiters and hiring managers to reach you. This will help them take you more seriously as a candidate. 

16. Make-or-break verbs.

Strong verbs, such as “managed,” “delivered” and “launched” successfully convey a sense of action and accomplishment. Before sending out your resume, insert strong, confident action verbs where you can.

17. An honest mistake can honestly hurt you.

Even with the best intentions, typos can happen. Run spellcheck and double- and triple-check your grammar. Better yet: ask a friend to take a peek — an extra set of eyes is always advantageous, as nobody is perfect.What Recruiters Want to See at Each Stage of the Interview Process

18. Age is just a number (but not on your resume).

Your resume shouldn’t contain personal information, such as your age. By removing it you’ll keep the spotlight on what really matters: your stellar qualifications.

19. Visualize a new job, not a fancy font.

Substance over style always wins. The best resumes are clean, clear and to the point. Your experience and accomplishments are strong enough to stand on their own.

20. Leave a little mystery.

Everyone has a good reason for seeking new job opportunities, but it’s best to save this kind of information as material to share during your interview with the recruiter and hiring manager. 

These resume tips can be used across all industries, no matter if you’re just starting out or if you’re established. It can be overwhelming trying to make your next big career move, and that’s why Philips is here to help along the way. For more career advice from Philips, please visit www.philips.com/lifeatphilips.

GlassDoor.com | November 6, 2018  | Posted by Philips Team

#Life : 7 Ways to Raise your Kids to be Good at their #FutureJobs (no matter what they do)…It has Nothing to Do with AI or Coding Camp, and Everything to Do with a love of Learning and #EmotionalIntelligence .

/in /by

Parenting is one of the most difficult roles there is, full of challenges, frustrations, and constant self-evaluation. Most parents try to raise healthy, happy, well-adjusted, functioning kids.

Apart from teachers, parents have significant influence on their children. Their actions and teachings form a major part of what children will do with their lives upon becoming adults. To inspire and help children develop skills that are crucial to leadership in later life, there are a number of things that parents can do.

BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO LEARN FROM MISTAKES

Children will gravitate toward what they see their parents doing, not what they hear them say. Perfection is impossible, but it isn’t necessary. It is critical for children to witness that their parents have the sincere desire to continuously learn and admit to and learn from their mistakes. Being role models as parents will determine whether children will aspire to be leaders or followers.

Like this Article ?  ShareIt !You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5Million Growing  Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us@ firstsunllc

Question: Wantthe ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on JobSearch, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simplygo to our FSC Career Blog below & type(#career, #leadership,#life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/ 

What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of article:

GIVE THEM RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHORES EARLY ON

Allow children to take on as much responsibility and assign tasks when they are able to perform them. Giving children age-appropriate chores can start with getting toddlers to carry plastic dishes to the table, according to psychologist Barbara Cox. This encourages children to learn from both their successes and failures that can become learning opportunities. Cox also suggests that around the age of 8 to 10, have children pack their own suitcases, beginning with adult supervision. This teaches problem solving and allows them to build self-confidence as a result of taking on new challenges and succeeding. It also gives them the ability to develop problem-solving skills and build self-reliance when things don’t work out or go the way expected.

PLAY FAMILY GAMES AND ENCOURAGE TEAM-RELATED ACTIVITIES

One of the major leadership skills is learning to work with different kinds of people. An excellent way to develop this is to engage in family games and encourage children to participate in team activities of all kinds. This could be sports, music groups, drama, or any type of group that the child has a natural interest in. Learning to interact with and build people skills around as many kinds of people as possible will serve children well, regardless of what they pursue in the working world. For leadership roles, developing these skills is crucial.

ENCOURAGE AND PRAISE GENEROUSLY BUT AUTHENTICALLY

While children need encouragement and praise, it is crucial that praise is merited. Praise without any substance for the sole purpose of building a child’s self-esteem will have negative consequences later. Expecting the same type of praise when they go out into the world will be a rude awakening when they do not receive it.

DEVELOP THEIR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Emotional intelligence is becoming increasingly important when it comes to choosing effective leaders. Helping children identify, express, and manage their emotions is a crucial part of helping them become healthy, functioning adults as well as increase their leadership potential. Talking about characters in a movie or television program with children is a good way to help identify emotions and develop an appreciation of their importance in life. When children have experienced a bad day, encourage them to talk about their feelings. Your role as the listener is to acknowledge their feelings, suggest other ways the problem could have been handled, and how to go forward. The child will feel heard and included in a circle of family trust.

TEACH THEM HOW TO DEAL WITH SETBACKS, FRUSTRATIONS, AND FAILURES

It is easy to stay positive and upbeat when things are going well and everything is turning up roses. However, successful people are those that find a way to keep moving forward despite setbacks and failures. Instead of focusing on the failure, children need to be praised for their efforts and taught to learn from failures and see it as a necessary part of eventual success. They need to understand and accept that failure does not diminish them in any way, and does not limit what they are capable of doing. A great way to do this is to tell them about highly successful people who persisted after numerous failures to eventually make major breakthroughs. Some examples would be the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, J.K. Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Jerry Seinfeld, and Walt Disney.

MODEL AND ENCOURAGE A LOVE OF READING

Barry Zuckerman, professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, tells us that children who are exposed to books at a young age do better on a number of measures. They have a higher vocabulary, higher literacy, pay attention and concentrate better, and are better prepared to go into kindergarten. The ability to learn new things, set goals, and achieve them also gives children a tremendous boost of confidence that they will require if they move into leadership positions in their adult lives. It is never too early to involve children in reading. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents start reading out loud to their children from the time they are born.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harvey Deutschendorf is an emotional intelligence expert, author and speaker. To take the EI Quiz go to theotherkindofsmart.com

More

FastCompany.com | November 2, 2018