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5 Healthy Ways To Deal With Criticism At Work.

January 22, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

We’ve all been there. Your boss shares negative feedback during your performance review that seems to come out of left field. Or a co-worker delivers a withering critique of a presentation that you worked on for months. While criticism at work can be difficult to deal with, it can also be a gift.

Without constructive feedback, it’s impossible to boost your performance and get better at your craft. Fortunately, the choice of how to handle negative input is yours. Here are five healthy ways to deal with criticism at work that will help take your career to the next level.

1. Be open

The first step in benefiting from criticism at work is to be open to it. Actively listen to what is being said and take time to absorb the information. Don’t jump to the conclusion that the person delivering the critique is out to get you. Instead, assume that they are honest and have good intentions. Even if the feedback isn’t tactful, that doesn’t mean it’s meant to be hurtful. Restate the feedback to confirm you are both on the same page. This gives you more time to process it and ensure you understood it correctly. Acknowledge the input and thank them for providing it.

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2. Consider your body language

Be aware of your body language. Make sure to uncross your arms and make eye contact. Slow your breathing to reduce your stress level and give your emotions a chance to settle down before you respond. Try to keep your body language open, and your shoulders relaxed. Dealing with criticism at work can be challenging, and open body language will make you feel less defensive.

3. Ask clarifying questions

Once you both understand the feedback, ask clarifying questions. Do you agree with the input, or is it a complete surprise to you? Remember that this is a two-way conversation, and it is up to you to take control of the discussion.

Some possible questions could be:

What is the context?
Could you walk me through an example?
What do you suggest I do differently moving forward to address this?

4. Schedule a follow-up

Planning a follow-up conversation will demonstrate to your boss that you listened, and you’re serious about improving your performance. Develop action steps to address the issue strategically and share them in this meeting. This is a great opportunity to develop additional rapport with your manager and make them feel like a partner in the process. It is also an excellent forum in which to offer a rational counterargument if there were elements of the feedback you disagreed with. By stating your case without anger or defensiveness, it will help them understand your point of view.

5. Share the feedback

Find a mentor, colleague, or advisor and share the feedback with them. This approach is a good way to get a different perspective from someone whose opinion you trust. Ask them if they feel that the input is accurate. You can also use this opportunity to confirm that you’re not being too hard on yourself. The manufacturer reports that a single dose of Tramadol may reach 100 mg in case of severe pain. Depending on the intensity of the pain syndrome, the analgesic effect of Tramadol lasts 4-8 hours. In the postoperative period, a short-term use of Tramadol in exceeding doses is possible. The maximum daily dose of Tramadol should not exceed 400 mg, with the exception of some clinical cases described in www.morepowerfulnc.org/tr/ (for example, in the treatment of pain in cancer patients and in the postoperative period).

It’s healthy to nurture a culture of feedback in the workplace. If you’re especially sensitive to receiving criticism, you may want to determine why. It may just be a matter of adjusting your inner dialogue to combat a lack of self-confidence or perceived inadequacies. You should also consider the source of the comments. Is it someone whose opinion you respect? Are they interested in helping you develop, or merely putting you down? Either way, you’ll want to remain calm, focus on the facts, and move on. Criticism at work can be a blessing in disguise. Use it to help you improve, and it can be your best friend.

Author: Caroline Castrillon Contributor Careers

Forbes.com | January 19, 2020

How to Be a Networking Pro when you’re Shy and Would Rather Stay Home. “You’re an Introvert?” People often Ask when I Tell them that Networking Doesn’t come Naturally to Me.

January 21, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

“You’re an introvert?” people often ask when I tell them that networking doesn’t come naturally to me. As an entrepreneur, networking can be the lifeblood of your business. By getting out there and meeting new people, you can increase your lead pipeline, make new contacts, and even forge new friendships.

MAKE A GOAL FOR EVENTS

This year, I started creating music for the first time and dove headfirst into the music industry. I started with zero contacts, so I knew that I needed to put myself out there. I made a list of events I wanted to attend, and each month committed to going to one. Often, the hardest part of networking is encouraging yourself to attend an event. Whether it’s outside your regular commute or it seems far too intimidating, getting there is the first step.

Each month, set a goal for how many events you would like to attend. Having a written goal can help hold you accountable. The next step is to just go, as simple as it may sound. “Let go of any insecurities or fear, and just dive in.” says Emily Roehl, Manager of Programming at Superfly, an industry vet I met after encouraging myself to attend a music conference this year. “It’s okay to introduce yourself first or even remind folks of your name—networking is hard for most people. What helps me the most is remaining humble and kind. If you give people the space to talk about their lives, you can quickly pick up on their values and intentions and find a common ground to anchor the conversation.”

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FIND A NETWORKING BUDDY

As the saying goes, there is support in numbers. For your next event, grab a colleague or friend to hit the event with you. Find a peer that has similar industry goals and also is looking to widen their business network. You can go to the event together, but once you’re there, start talking to other people and reconvene later in the night. “When I go to networking events, I like to bring a friend,” says Derek Merdinyan of Video Igniter. “We both support each other to reach our business goals and also hold each other accountable to get out there and go to more events.” If you bring a buddy, you can even approach groups together to intermingle. Simply having someone at the event that you know can help alleviate networking anxiety and also provide a fallback plan. Having a networking buddy at the event is also great for when a conversation goes flat, and you’re looking for an escape route. When that happens, I usually tell the person it was nice to meet them and that I need to find my friend.

SUPPORT OTHERS BEFORE YOU EXPECT THEM TO SUPPORT YOU

You wouldn’t go to a party and immediately start talking about yourself without getting to know the other party. The same goes for a networking event. Go to events hosted by industry veterans, and get to know what they are about. Ask them questions about what they do and what they are passionate about. “I always suggest anyone get involved in their local scene for starters. It’s the most important networking tip and where it all begins.” says Erin Tonkon producer and Mixer at Little Underground.

This rings true for any industry. “Find all of the events happening in your area, and get to them as frequently as you can. “Get to know the artist community in your area. Go to shows. Support them. The music industry starts with the artists—they are who it’s all about, and it’s important to be a part of the scene whether you are an artist yourself, a producer, engineer, or interested in anything on the business side of things.”

DON’T FOCUS ON SELLING, FOCUS ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

There’s this idea that networking is for selling yourself. But in reality, you’ll get much further if you focus on cultivating relationships. “Don’t immediately ask for something, lead with value and how you can help them. Ask a lot of questions, and be genuinely curious about the person you are speaking with,” says Tamisha Arrendell, a singer and songwriter. Whenever I attend a networking event, I never try to close any sales. I focus on getting to know the people there and see how I can help them. Often this leads to new business relationships, friendships, and new clients.

Networking can be intimidating, but remember it doesn’t come naturally to most people. Go to events often, practice talking to strangers, and this year could be your best year in business yet.

FastCompany.com | January 21, 2020

The Six Rules For Crushing It On Linkedin.

January 21, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for networking. Now, instead of firing out email blasts or troubling someone for a lunch date or coffee, you can promote your latest achievement from the confines of your laptop or phone, dashing off a quick little note or tip that lets your best contacts know you’re still in the game.

The policy of only linking with contacts you already know solves the spam issue that has plagued Facebook. The sense that LinkedIn is a business platform and therefore requires the decorum of a business setting weeds out the trolls of a platform like Twitter. And the same business sense keeps people from posting pictures of their kids or dog, because unless there’s some business benefit, it doesn’t belong on LinkedIn.

But let’s face it. LinkedIn can be a little odd. Judd Apatow has a great comic bit about how strange social media can be. For people who grew up in the analog age, if you wanted to send a picture of your dinner to a friend, you would have had to take the picture (with a camera with a flash), get it developed, put it in a envelope, find a stamp, get their mailing address, and send it. Then they would open it up and go: “What the hell is this? Why did Judd just send me a picture of his fettuccine alfredo?” LinkedIn is like that for resumes. It’s as if there’s a town where every inhabitant is like that kid with a note taped to his jacket, only we’re grown people, and the note is our resume. We all walk around glancing at each other’s note. “Wow—you went to Harvard! Oh, that was a summer extension program. Still—you’ve got the Harvard logo, so that’s something!”

LinkedIn is not going away. Microsoft bought it and they never get rid of anything.

LinkedIn is not going away. It has 575 million users and is growing at 6-9% per year. Microsoft bought it in 2016 and, guys, they never get rid of anything. They still have Internet Explorer. They would have the Zune if Steve Ballmer hadn’t looked so silly dancing with it.

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LinkedIn is here to stay. So here are The Six Rules For Crushing It On Linkedin:

Never use a pronoun. That’s right. Where a normal person on a normal platform writes: “I was quite humbled to be chosen as plumbing fixture salesman of the year by the Beardstown Rotary Club,” on LinkedIn, you’re expected to write “humbled to be chosen…” dropping the pronoun altogether. It’s hard to know where this tradition came from. Maybe pronouns take up too much time. Maybe they seem too braggy. But using a pronoun on LinkedIn will peg you as an amateur, and you can’t have that.

Humblebrag about the most mundane things. This isn’t Facebook. We don’t want to hear about your kid’s honor society selection or your dog’s cute sweater. This is business, dammit. But as long as there’s the slightest business application, it’s fair game. So feel free to brag/not brag about: local awards, running into a more senior exec at the airport, meeting Tim Ferris, reading a Tim Ferris book, lifting weights like Tim Ferris. Basically, if you can work Tim Ferris into a post, you’re golden.

Basically, if you can work Tim Ferris into a post, you’re golden.

Feel free to post something for an audience of one. Sure, you’ve spent the past five years cultivating LinkedIn contacts the way Liz Warren doles out selfies, but now that you have 25,000 connections, don’t hesitate to post something that only your boss will care about. “Thrilled to be a part of the SQL Server 25 security patch update cupcake brigade! We gave out 32 cupcakes to everyone at the office, and saved the biggest for my boss @Josh!” 24,999 of your followers will have no idea what that’s about, but who cares? You saved Josh a cupcake! And he liked your post! That’ll come in handy during your review!

Use an image. Studies show that posts with images get much higher viewership and interaction (and, power tip: upload the image directly to LinkedIn. Platforms like to keep you on their site, rather than clicking away with a link). And, come on, the goal of life now isn’t just to live, it’s to foster an interactive community. You want comments, lots of them, and fast! So when you post that humblebrag about your promotion to Assistant to the Product Manager, include the photo of you giving out kale to the poor kids in Bangalore during your year off after college. No, the photo doesn’t have anything to do with your post, but your hair looked great that day, and the photo is already on your phone, so it’s easy to post.

Post every business article you’ve ever read. Reading is hard. Reading more than a tweet is really hard. So if you take the time to get through 500 words on a subject related to business, by all means, post it. Preface it with something that proves you actually read the article, like: “Microsoft has a great new idea!” Or “Google is at it again!” Or even just “this ↓” Come to think of it, you don’t really need to read the article, just a few keywords. Keep that timeline fresh, people!

Become a thought leader. I’ve become a little obsessed with self-help gurus whose main qualification seems to be the willingness to opine on any subject for 500 words, and the strange ability to have a selfie to go with it. You’ve seen these types—how do they get so many photos of themselves? Are they dating a photographer? How can they possibly have a new photo at a different desk and laptop every day, always looking at the camera with a determined look that says “I am the future.” Well, if they can do it, you can, too. Pick up your phone. Set up a tripod. Get a picture typing at your laptop, walking around a park, getting into a car (preferably a Tesla). The world needs your opinion on “Why Joe Biden’s shirts are like Facebook’s algorithm” or “Why Oprah is just like my grandma.” Don’t delay. Your take on the day’s pressing issues won’t write itself.

Follow these rules and you’ll be swimming with the LinkedIn sharks in no time. Will it grow your business? No. Will it get you a better job? Doubtful. Will it fill most of your workday? Absolutely. You’ll end up with more followers, to boot. And isn’t growing your following what it’s all about? Humbled that this article was published. Don’t forget to send an invite, like, and subscribe.

Forbes.com | January 21, 2020 | Will Jeakle

Follow these 5 Tips If you Want to Make a Career Pivot.

January 20, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Pivoting mid-career to a different profession is far from straightforward. Though I began my career in academia as a Classics PhD, I then pivoted to a job as a digital media specialist at a digital marketing agency. After that, I moved on to marketing at an industrial copper wire manufacturer.

At a time when millennials are hopping jobs more frequently than ever before, career pivots will become more common in the years ahead. Right now, there isn’t a simple path to make that transition, but as I learned from experience—following these maneuvers can help make the change less daunting.

1. SKIRT HR AND AVOID RECRUITERS. DISCOVER A WAY TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE HIRING MANAGER

Most job applicants for any given job will check off certain boxes. If they meet the specific skill sets and experience required for a listing, an applicant tracking system (ATS) will flag them and notify the recruiter.

But career pivoters tend to be light on the listed job requirements, so HR personnel and recruiters are fundamentally disincentivized from even thinking about forwarding their application to the hiring manager. Their job is to filter out high-risk applicants and discover the applicants that—on paper—most align with the particular attributes a hiring manager is seeking. Yet the most highly skilled applicants may be a costly disaster for an organization if they lack the fundamental soft skills.

Whether through an email, phone call, or handwritten letter (you don’t hear about those much anymore), find out who the hiring manager is and then reach out. They’re not being solicited every day. This is your chance to get in front of the audience that matters the most.

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2. NO MATTER YOUR AGE, CONSIDER AN INTERNSHIP AS AN ENTRY POINT

Organizations might see career pivoters as high risk. Therefore, the onus is on them to find ways to minimize that risk for the prospective organization.

The pivoters can prove their worth by mitigating the risk for the new organization by persuading a manager to create a six-month trial period internship. If the pivoter demonstrates his/her/their worth, it can potentially lead to a long-term position.

Career-pivoting applicants need to come up with creative ways to craft their skill sets as transferable and then articulate what they may look like in an internship. Even if the internship doesn’t lead to a full-time position, at the very least the candidate has some actual new career experience that they can parlay elsewhere.

3. DON’T SUBMIT YOUR RÉSUMÉ TO A WEBSITE. CALL OR APPEAR IN PERSON AT THE COMPANY TO SPEAK WITH THE MANAGER WHERE YOU HOPE TO PIVOT

An extraordinary, gifted individual doesn’t always translate into an email or a résumé. Résumés are fundamentally two-dimensional documents attempting to capture the rich complexity of individuals.

Consider an interview transcript. You lose so much of the texture and the conversation. Résumés are no different. They can’t capture the whole person.

So once the candidate knows who the hiring decision-maker is, they should show up in person. If they can capture the decision-maker’s attention, they can make an impression that lasts much longer than even the most impressive résumé.

4. UNLESS YOU ARE COMMITTED TO A CAREER THAT DEMANDS FULL-BLOWN RE-SCHOOLING, AVOID JOBS THAT REQUIRE YEARS OF TRAINING AND ACCREDITATION

Certain positions such as medical doctors, electrical engineers, and lawyers require extensive training and degrees—for obvious reasons. Know the time limits of what you are willing to commit to training. This way, you’ll avoid wasting your time on a pointless job hunt.

5. CRAFT A COMPELLING NARRATIVE ON WHY YOU ARE LOOKING TO GO FROM X TO Y

Humans think in stories, not in facts. Any hiring manager will want to know “what’s your story, and why you’re seeking to make this change?” Craft an unforgettable answer to that inevitable question. This is an opportunity to articulate how past interests and goals have brought you to this point, and how your core values, soft skills, and hard skills will be valuable to this new organization.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Undoubtedly, some are more helpful to extroverted personalities. Current HR systems are fundamentally not suited to screen for highly talented candidates but who do not align with the traditional skill sets outlined by the hiring manager. Yet the reality is that there are many job listings where the skilled candidates will fall outside this filtering system. In the current hiring system, career pivoters will have to discover creative solutions to get hired for jobs that don’t align with what’s on their résumés.

Author: Mike Zimm received his PhD in Classics from Yale University. He is currently the director of marketing at Kris-Tech Wire, a copper wire manufacturer.

FastCompany.com | January 20, 2020

How To Emotionally Prepare For The Four Phases Of A Job Search.

January 18, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Job searches require constant commitment, even when your mental, physical or emotional energy is running low. This wouldn’t feel like an insurmountable task if job searches were over quickly, but they rarely are.

According to a survey done by the recruiting company Randstad USA, the average length of a job search is five months, with 82% of participants describing their search as a stressful experience.

If you decided to kick off the new year with a job search or are continuing the one you started in 2019, here’s how you can expect to feel in each stage of the process, along with tips to help you persevere.

Phase 1: Kicking off

Kick-off is by far the easiest phase. Your energy is usually high and most of your thoughts will be optimistic.

Don’t try to temper your expectations or assume your positive attitude is naive. In fact, the hopefulness you feel in the early stages of a job search is in recognition of the true opportunity that stands before you.

Few things in life will transform your daily experience faster than finding a new job. Everything from corporate culture to the skills you develop to your level of autonomy has the potential to change when you start in your new role. And of course, there are the changes that will come if the position enhances your personal life with better pay or work-life balance.

While you may have been thinking about finding a new job for a long time, the process will not begin until you start the basic job search activities. If you aren’t working on your résumé and LinkedIn profile, you have not kicked off your search yet.

The biggest emotional challenge in the kick-off phase comes from fighting off procrastination. You may fear that a job search will be uncomfortable and often includes rejection, but don’t waste precious time failing to get started: job searches are long enough already.

Try not to become obsessed with your résumé, as this can be another form of stalling from starting your search. There is no perfect version; as long as your résumé is error-free and tailored to the jobs you want most, it is probably good enough to start sending.

Move to the next phase as soon as you can because it will take the most time and energy.

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Phase 2: Finding leads

The lead generation phase is where you’ll identify job opportunities and drum up initial interest in your candidacy. This includes sending emails, having networking calls, meeting with mentors and new contacts, searching job boards, and having initial job-screening phone calls with recruiters.

This phase of your job search will feel extraordinarily long because it often overlaps with the other phases as new opportunities can surface at any time.

What’s difficult about generating job leads is the unavoidable awkward feeling of asking people in your network to help you, combined with the frustration of wasting a fair amount of your time applying to jobs or having conversations that never seem to lead anywhere.

Start now to prepare yourself for both of these feelings. Asking for help in your job search can make you feel vulnerable, especially if you tend to be the person that usually helps others. You’ll have to get over this feeling to leverage the power of your network and attract the best jobs.

Keep in mind that this period is the bridge between dreaming for a new job and having your chance to sell yourself during an interview. Interviewing is a tangible step and will bring with it the feeling of progress, where lead generation often feels unproductive.

Try your best to remember that every job seeker spends most of their time in this phase, doubting if their efforts will ever pay off. If you feel like your job search isn’t gaining traction fast enough, you are not alone.

Phase 3: Converting opportunities

Once your job leads turn into interview requests, you shift into the next phase of your search. While some people do enjoy interviewing, most find it stressful.

During interviews, you will only have a short period of time to make a memorable impression and prove your value. You are expected to come off as competent, smart, likeable, humble and confident all while skillfully answering unexpected questions and remaining relaxed.

It’s next to impossible to leave an interview without wishing you’d done something differently. Even if you ultimately get the job, you may spin for days about what you should or shouldn’t have said before finally learning the hiring decision. If you don’t get the job, you may spend additional weeks picking apart your performance.

Second-guessing yourself is counterproductive during a job search. Studies show that self-compassion is highly correlated with regulating emotions, which you will need to do extensively throughout the interview and negotiation stages.

Of course you want to learn from your mistakes, but often these mistakes are too minor to worry about and are unlikely to occur again.

Before entering an interview, promise yourself that you will do your best and then choose to be satisfied with wherever that leads you.

Phase 4: Negotiating

It’s a shame that this phase can be painful, since receiving an offer is a clear sign of success. Unfortunately, the pressure to negotiate can undermine much of the excitement.

First, if you are wondering if you should negotiate at all, the answer is most likely yes. There are a few places where job offer negotiation is considered outside cultural norms, but in many countries, and especially in North America, negotiation is permitted and even expected at all levels.

That doesn’t mean that you will get what you ask for. It simply means that you should always request a reasonable increase in your compensation or additional work-life benefits, even if you are happy to take the offer first presented. The worst thing that can happen is that they say no and you accept the offer as is.

In practice, it’s common to fear coming off as greedy and losing the offer altogether. Once you make it all the way to phase four of a job search, the last thing you want to do is start over. However, it’s extremely unlikely that your offer would be rescinded. What is more likely is that you will undervalue your worth and end up regretting not negotiating your offer.

Offer negotiation is not about forcing demands. You’re making additional requests because you have invested a lot in your job search and you want to get the best possible return. You owe it to yourself after all you’ve been through.

Finding a new and better job will test your emotional fortitude, but don’t get discouraged. It is ultimately worth the effort.

Author: Kourtney Whitehead is a career expert and author of Working Whole. You can learn more about her work at Simply Service.

Forbes.com | January 12, 2020

#BestofFSCBlog : How To Find A Full-Time Job When You’re Over 50. Great Read!

January 17, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

With unemployment at all-time lows, now might be the best time for you to be looking for a full-time job. The challenges, however, are greater if you’re over 50 years old.

According to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average it takes those 55 to 64 two weeks longer to find a job compared to those 20 years and older. (The news is worse if you’re 65 and older, where this average duration of unemployment is 10 weeks longer.)

It seems the idea of early retirement hasn’t caught on with those in their 50s (and even beyond).

“Our research shows that experienced workers are staying on the job longer or looking for a job for two reasons,” says Susan K. Weinstock, Vice President, Financial Resilience Programming at AARP. “Financially, they need the money, and, secondly, they like their job and find it fulfilling and want to keep working.”

Bankrate regularly surveys workers regarding their financial circumstances. Its data confirms what AARP found for those working well past age 50.

“When Bankrate asked Americans who were neither retired nor permanently disabled about their retirement savings, more than half said they were behind where they should have been,” says Mark Hamrick, Senior Economic Analyst at Bankrate.com.

“For members of Generation X (age 39-54), the percentage was 63% and Boomers (age 55-73), 54% said they were behind on their retirement savings. No doubt many people who would otherwise be candidates to retire seek to remain in the workforce because they feel they need income, or to further boost their savings. Others may choose to work as a means of remaining engaged and active.”

If you’re like many older workers, you may prefer to retain your current position. But what if your present employer can’t accommodate you? It may have been decades since you last tried to look for a new job. What has changed since then? What do you have to do differently today to land full-time employment?

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Bryan Zawikowski has been a recruiter for 25 years and is the vice president and general manager of the military transition division for Lucas Group. Forbes ranked Lucas Group as one of the top 10 executive search firms in the nation in 2019. Zawikowski’s team works with many people who find themselves either changing careers or looking for new jobs later in life. He shares the following advice:

“What are the best practices?”

· To thine own self be true: “Don’t try to hide your age. It doesn’t work, and you end up looking either vain or foolish—maybe both.”

· Polish up your online presence: “Your LinkedIn profile should be very professional, including the photograph.”

· Emphasize your real-world experience: “No ‘functional’ resumes. They end up in the trash.”

· Brevity is the soul of wit: “Maximum 2-page resume. The further back in your work history you go, the less detail there should be.”

“What are the easiest ways to make it happen?”

· Recalculate: “Be financially prepared to take a step back in compensation (either scale back your lifestyle or be prepared to dip into savings if need be).”

· Re-calibrate: “Be emotionally and mentally prepared to work for someone younger and perhaps more talented than you.”

· Circulate: “Network with former classmates, former work colleagues, friends and acquaintances that know something about your desired career path.”

· Captivate: “Have a GREAT story about why you are interested in this new career field and why you’d be good at it.”

“What are the do’s and don’ts?”

· DO something you enjoy: “Pick a career that you are really into, something that energizes you and somewhere you look forward to going to work most days.”

· DO maintain your health: “Stay physically active. You don’t have to be a marathon runner, but do something to keep your energy level up.”

· DO continue to learn: “Read as much as you can about your new career field.”

· DON’T lie: You can’t “pretend to be an expert at something just because you were good at something else.”

· DON’T assume the status quo: You’ll be disappointed if you “think you will be able to make a lateral move from where you are in your current career field.”

· DON’T be unrealistic: You’ll only hurt yourself more if you “sacrifice more than you can afford to in terms of compensation. Retirement isn’t too far away and you don’t want to jeopardize that.”

You are the master of your own destiny. If you want to find a job, you can. No matter what your age.

Forbes.com | January 17, 2020 | Chris Carosa

9 Important Things to Discuss With HR Before Accepting a New Job.

January 17, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

At one time, many people had the mindset that jobs were hard to come by, so they should take whatever was offered to them with no questions asked.

Today, people are becoming choosier about their career paths, and they know that they are deserving of more than the bare minimum. In our job seeker-driven labor market, people aren’t content to take anything that is being offered, and they know that they need to ask certain questions to make sure that they are going to be treated like a valued employee and not just a number.

If you are offered a new position, here are nine important things that you need to talk with HR about before you accept the offer.

1. Ask About Benefits

It is important to know what is included in the benefits package. If the benefits are not appealing, this may not be the right company for you to work at. Find out about provider options, how much you have to pay into the health plan yourself, what is covered (including prescriptions and specialty services), if dental and vision care is covered, etc. These days, with the high cost of health care, it is important to know that you have excellent health care coverage through your employer.

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2. Ask if the Salary Is Negotiable

Depending on the employer, and the job being offered, the salary may or may not be set in stone. Most employers aren’t going to come right out and tell you that salaries are negotiable because they want to pay as little as possible. This is information you are going to need to dig for, so you are just going to have to come right out and ask. You will never know unless you do, after all. Besides, you may be pleasantly surprised by the answer. In many cases, if the candidate has enough to offer an employer, the employer is going to be more than willing to negotiate the salary a little bit.

3. Ask About Other Perks

These days, it is not always enough for companies to offer competitive wages and benefits packages. The more perks a company offers, the more attractive the job offer is going to be. So, you need to find out what other perks might be available to you should you decide to accept the position being offered. Perks can be anything from flexible shifts and working hours to office parties to paid time off and more. Some of the best perks to ask about are advancement training and promotion opportunities.

4. Ask about Vacation Time

Now may not seem like the most appropriate time to ask about vacations, but it is as good a time as any. Plus, you need to know before you take the job if you are going to actually be able to take vacations at all. Some companies only let you take time off that is unpaid, while others offer paid vacations once you have worked for them for a certain amount of time. Don’t forget to ask if you can roll over any unused vacation days and use them in the following year. My doctor told me that Cialis is probably my best chance to improve my sexual performance, so I wasted no time in ordering it at Cial4ED. And I am glad to announce that he was right about it! It didn’t go too smoothly: I felt nothing first few times and he allowed me to increase the dose. The result is nothing short of spectacular! My wife is even happier than I am!

5. Ask What Other Employees Say About the Company

You can tell a lot about a company by listening to what current and past employees have to say about it. If it is a good company to work for, the HR person should have no problem telling you what employees are saying about the company, and even find people within the company for you to talk to. (Of course, you can always check Glassdoor reviews as well!) If you find out that the employees are happy in their jobs, chances are you will be as well, and that this is a company that you would like to work for.

6. Ask About Incentive Compensation

Some companies will give bonuses to their employees as compensation for certain incentives, such as taking on additional responsibilities, pay raises based on performance, etc. Find out if monetary bonuses are offered, and if so, what the criteria are to be eligible for these bonuses. The more you know about how you will be compensated, the more you will strive to really earn those bonuses and be the very best that you can be when it comes to doing your job.

7. Ask About Relocation Expenses

If you are going to have to relocate in order to take the position, you need to find out if the company is going to help with any of the relocating expenses. Obviously, they are not going to pay for everything, but if they expect you to move for them, they should be expected to help in some way. For instance, they may offer to pay a percentage of the actual moving expenses or put you up in a rental unit until you are able to find an appropriate and affordable place to live.

8. Ask About Education Opportunities

Many companies will offer incentives for employees to go back to school or receive additional training that is going to help them advance in their careers. In fact, this is one way that companies can ensure long-term employees, because these employees are grateful for the help, and want to give back. Some companies will pay for a portion of tuition, and some even allow you to take a leave of absence in order to get your degree. The more education you have, the more you will have to offer your employer, and they often recognize this and will help.

9. Ask for Everything in Writing

Ask if you can have the job offer, and everything that you have agreed on, in writing. This way, there is little chance that the employer is going to pull back on the offer. A written agreement is much more binding than an oral agreement, and if you have everything on paper, they can’t turn around later and say that something wasn’t part of the offer, add work that isn’t in the job description. If they don’t want to give you anything in writing, it is a good sign that this may not be the best company for you to work at.

GlassDoor.com | January 15, 2020 | Posted by Jane Hurst

5 Common Mistakes Job Seekers Make When Searching For Resume Help Online. Before You Pay, Read This!

January 16, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Resume help can be found all over the web. There are resume templates and builders to help format your resume, online tools to identify important industry keywords, resume samples to get inspiration from, and articles like this one containing tips and tricks to help elevate your resume to the next level.

In fact, there are so many resources to choose from that sometimes it’s hard to pick out what’s actually accurate and useful. Like anything you Google on the internet, there’s going to be a lot of hogwash that just isn’t worth your time. So with this in mind, here are 5 mistakes you should avoid when searching for resume help online.

Mistake 1: Believing the first thing you read

Your resume may be printed in black and white, but how you should actually go about writing your resume certainly isn’t that simple. Blanket statements that “resumes should never exceed one page” or that “resumes should never include an objective statement” are thrown around willy-nilly by self-proclaimed resume experts all the time. Sadly though, things are almost never this simple. Many of these pieces of advice are oftentimes only applicable in certain situations, and sometimes just downright incorrect.

Before treating the first piece of advice you read as gospel, be sure to do some more research. Ask yourself: What’s the logic behind the advice? Does the advice apply to everyone at all job levels and in all industries? Is the advice an oversimplification of the truth? Do all resume experts agree on it?

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Mistake 2: Paying for something you can get for free

Let’s get two things straight here. First, whatever type of resume help you’re searching for, chances are there’s a way to get it for free. Whether it’s resume builders, resume templates, resume samples, resume critiques, or resume articles, you can easily find free options for all of these resources.

Second, just because there’s a paid option doesn’t mean it’s any better than the free option. This is the trap many of us can fall prey to. We see a fancy resume template that costs $20, and we immediately think it must somehow be better than all the free templates we’ve been staring at for the past hour because one costs money and the others do not. In actuality, paid templates are oftentimes too over-the-top and not compatible with applicant tracking systems.

Mistake 3: Hoping resume builders will solve all your problems

Resume writing can be a very painstakingly difficult and drawn-out process. This is why many job seekers turn to online resume builders with the hope that they will make the writing process a whole lot more bearable. Unfortunately, this is all just wishful thinking.

For the most part, resume builders really only help you with formatting your resume by providing an assortment of different resume templates to switch between. While this certainly is a handy feature, resume builders are completely useless when it comes to helping you with what you’re likely really struggling with – writing the actual content of your resume. So, if you’re looking for help with highlighting your work achievements and constructing each bullet point, don’t get swept up in all the hype resume builders are getting these days.

Mistake 4: Not utilizing resume samples

If resume builders are the most overrated tool, I daresay the most underrated resource you can use would be industry-specific resume samples. While everything else you find online merely tells you how to write a resume, resume samples actually show you how a well-written resume should look like – and that’s priceless.

I’ve had so many job seekers over the years ask me to critique their current resume, and many of them looked nothing like how professional resumes should appear. Whether it’s using a poor design, personal pronouns, paragraphs instead of bullet points, or oversized fonts, job applicants often make a ton of fundamental mistakes that can easily be avoided by perusing online resume samples in order to understand the basic mechanics of a resume.

Mistake 5: Failing to realize when to use resume writing services

The crème de la crème – that is the standard you should be setting for your resume. However, if writing has just never been your forte or if English isn’t your native language, it can be nearly impossible to get your resume to that level of excellence all by yourself – even with all the online resources out there at your disposal. If that’s the situation you’re in, you should consider asking for professional help.

Now keep in mind, this is by far the most expensive alternative to take when it comes to having your resume written. Even as the CEO of a resume service myself, I would only suggest using a resume writing service as a last resort. However, if you are certain that you can’t write a stellar resume on your own and can afford to spend a few hundred dollars on a resume, then going with a resume writing service may be the best decision you can make for your career.

It’s honestly awesome that there are so many ways the internet can help you with writing your resume. However, don’t just dive into this without any strategy in place. With so much at your disposal, it’s important to identify what types of help are out there and what exactly you need help with.

Forbes.com | January 14, 2020 | Posted by Peter Yang

Hate Your Job? Stop Complaining And Take Action

January 15, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

As a career coach, I hear every complaint under the sun as to why someone doesn’t like their job. I also see people get into the rut of constantly complaining about the situation without feeling empowered or responsible to do anything about it.

But it’s a new decade, and a perfect time to seek new opportunities. According to Glassdoor, in January, there are 22% more job applications started on their site than in a typical month. Take advantage of a fresh new year to create your own fresh start.

Below are some tips to help you transform your current career roadblocks into guides for taking action.

1. Assume abundance vs. limited options. This is the first thing that needs to be tackled. The mindset that there are no options is the number one reason that people throw their hands up and take on the role of a victim. Though there are definite roadblocks that people face such as geography and experience limitations, we are experiencing a great job market at the moment. Even in tougher times, opportunities exist that go beyond your geography due to the accessibility that online businesses and work from home options that are available.

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2. Look at where job growth and demand are already abundant. Glassdoor is a great resource to get you thinking about what’s possible. They’ve just released their annual report that reveals the 50 Best Jobs in America. They’ve researched which jobs based on earning potential, job satisfaction and job openings. It’s a great place to get ideas of where you might want to invest some time and energy.

3. Align your career choices to your personal purpose. Though job growth and market trends are insightful of where the job market is going, it shouldn’t solely dictate your career decisions. The clearer you are on what your individual purpose is, the more proactive you can be in building a career that supports that. People who are clear as to how their job supports their individual goals tend to have higher levels of job satisfaction. If I know this job is really about creating time for me to be with my family over rapid growth, then I’ll enjoy a more low-key environment. On the other hand, if I’m all about taking on complex challenges then long hours will feel worthwhile.

4. Shift to listening for the opportunities and guidance vs. obsessing over your grievances. If you find yourself hating your job, don’t waste your time complaining. Instead, tune in to what the situation is challenging you to do. Should you be going back to school to set you up to qualify for the job you want? Do you need to speak up and make sure your viewpoint is heard? Do you need to finally take that step you’ve been afraid to take towards your dream but risky career path? This isn’t about falsely sugar coating your situation. It’s about using your experiences as a compass vs. getting sucked into a victim mindset.

5. Take one step at a time. Too often, people are waiting for all the pieces of the puzzle to be perfectly clear and understandable. That’s no way to make things happen. Instead, know what steps you can take while you figure things out. You can usually start reaching out to people that may have more information on what you’re looking to do. At the very least, you can start to look up websites, send away for information and read up on companies or jobs that you’re interested in.

Author: H.V. MacArthur

Forbes.com | January 15, 2020

Must Read: How To Make Career Decisions Without An Ounce Of Regret.

January 15, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

These days, we have access to nearly unlimited resources, advice, and tools to help us plan our career paths. Of course, that makes things pretty tricky, too.

Often, there are a seemingly infinite number of paths you could take or opportunities to pursue. How do you know what the right decision or direction is? There’s nothing taught in school about how to manage career decisions with confidence.

Because of this, we often make decisions based on the advice we get from others: bosses, colleagues, even well-meaning friends and family members. Or, we make them out of pressure or desperation, when we’re feeling the least confident and most unsure of the next step.

This is a recipe for career regret. When you make decisions that aren’t right for you, you won’t be happy, and your work will likely suffer, too.

How, then, can you make decisions without regretting them? The solution depends on doing the following six things:

1. Know Your Zone Of Genius

Your Zone of Genius provides two essential data points to great performance: your Genius and your Purpose. Your Genius is the kind of thinking or problem-solving you’re best at. Your Purpose is the impact on the world or others that’s most meaningful to you. Know this, and you can confidently determine whether or not a potential decision—like accepting a promotion or taking on a new role—is a great fit. If you can’t be challenged intellectually or fulfilled by the impact it has on others, then it’s a definite no.

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2. Build Your Confidence Muscle

Confidence can seem fairly elusive like it’s a trait that some people have and others simply don’t. First and foremost, forget that. After years of working with successful executives, I’m here to tell you: Everyone deals with confidence issues. It’s universal. However, it is absolutely possible to build up your confidence over time—and when you do so, it’ll be a whole lot easier to make those big decisions with ease.

Start by telling yourself every day that you appreciate and value yourself. This may sound hokey, but the way to rewire your brain is to re-write the messages you tell yourself. If you typically tell yourself negative things, then over-riding those messages with positive ones will start to make you feel different.

3. Seek Support Instead Of Advice

Advice is everywhere! And, more often than not, it’s based on what worked for that one person or situation. But just because it worked for someone else’s career path, doesn’t mean it’ll work for yours.

You need to filter advice through the lens of, “Does this make sense for me? Does this excite me?” If it doesn’t, discard it and move on—no matter who gave it to you. Instead, seek out people who will take the time to know who you are, understand what’s right for you, and support you in the process of figuring things out.

4. Be Clear About What You Want

Create a vision for yourself and your career. Where do you want to be in the next three years? What do you want to focus on, and what do you want to give up? What are the key goals you have? Make sure your vision is exciting and energizing for you to think about.

Once you have this vision in place, use it to help you make decisions. When facing new projects or opportunities, consider: Will this decision help you actualize your vision? If not then the answer is no; if so then it’s an easy yes.

5. Appreciate And Value Who You Are—Not Extrinsic Rewards

This one is so important. If you don’t appreciate yourself, then you’re going to be more easily swayed by extrinsic rewards such as prestige, money, and perks. Because when you’re not happy or don’t love yourself, you need more external validation.

The reality is, external rewards will never do anything other than give you a small blip of joy, and then you’ll need another one right after. Appreciating and valuing yourself is more valuable than anything you can get. Make this a priority.

6. Resist Conformity

The urge to conform is powerful. We want to be a part of the group, and being an outsider can be painful. It’s instinctual to change who you are to fit in.

Resist this. It can be difficult, but ultimately if conforming means losing yourself or letting go of your values, don’t do it. The best decisions are made when you’re being absolutely true to who you are.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

Author: Laura Garnett

I am a performance strategist, Mother, TEDx speaker, and author of, “The Genius Habit”. I work with CEOs and executives to identify their unique genius and purpose an…

Forbes.com | January 15, 2020