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#CareerAdvice : #JobInterview -What Not To Do After A Job Interview.

July 29, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

The waiting period after a job interview can be one of the most stressful times. You’ve done everything in your power, now it’s out of your control. All you can do is wait, try to be patient, and do things to keep yourself on track for success. Just like preparing for and going on a job interview, there are things you should and shouldn’t do.

Here are five of those things you shouldn’t do after an interview.

Don’t replay the interview over and over.

It’s easy to focus on what you didn’t do well in an interview and rehash those scenarios over and over in your head. This is actually a terrible thing to do. Not only does it put you in a negative frame of mind, it’s also a completely inaccurate view of how the interview went. Your interview could have gone spectacularly overall, but focusing on one or two things you could have done better will cause you to feel like the whole thing was a failure.

Analyze the interview once or twice, highlighting both the good points and the negatives. Make notes of what you’d do again in a future interview and give yourself a couple of pointers on what you’d change. After you’ve done those two things, leave it at that. Going over it more will only cause additional and unnecessary stress.

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Don’t harass the hiring manager.

Send your thank you message within 24-48 hours of the interview, then don’t reach out again until the date the hiring manager told you they’d be in touch. Unless you have a very urgent question or something major comes up, there’s no reason for you to contact the hiring manager.

Emailing or calling them and asking for a status update or to let them know you’re still very interested will only harm your chances of getting the job. Hiring managers are inundated with messages already, and they told you when you’d be hearing from them, so respect them by honoring that date. Once it’s a few days past that date you can reach out again.

Don’t stop your job search process or quit your job.

Until you have a signed contract, nothing is official. While you may have given the best interview of your life and the hiring manager was gushing over you, there’s still no guarantee the job is yours. You don’t know if another candidate could come in and be an even bet fit for the role, the job could go to someone internally, or a whole myriad of factors could be at play. Until you have that contract in your hands, keep working at your current job and continue your job search efforts.

Don’t post anything about the interview on social media.

It can be tempting to brag about a great interview or to post about how you’re excited for the opportunity and then tag the company or the hiring manager. You don’t know what the company’s social media policy is, so by posting you might actually be violating their standards unknowingly. Play it safe and keep your thoughts private, and brag to your friends and family offline.

Don’t ghost the hiring manager.

If you’ve decided to accept another job offer or if you’ve decided you don’t actually want this job for any reason, send an email to the hiring manager to let them know. Thank them for their time and the opportunity then explain that you’ve chosen to pursue another opportunity. They will be incredibly appreciative of this and they’ll certainly remember your actions. The business world is smaller than you think, so it’s very possible that you’ll cross paths again at some point, so don’t risk burning bridges.

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Author: Ashira Prossack

Ashira is a Millennial and Gen Z Engagement expert helping organizations manage, engage, attract, and retain the next generation of talent and bridge the gap between ge

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Forbes.com | July 29, 2019

#CareerAdvice : #JobInterview -Most Job Seekers Fail To Prep For This Common #InterviewQuestion .

July 28, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

One of the easiest ways to increase positive outcomes when interviewing for a job is to prepare. If you tend to get nervous during an interview, investing time on factors within your control like your outfit, transportation, and responses to common questions can make a world of difference.

An often overlooked area of preparation is what questions you’ll ask the interviewers. This can be a “make or break” part of the interview, and I have seen things turn around both ways (in favor of or against a candidate) depending on how they respond to this inquiry: “Do you have any questions for us?”

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Here’s how to make sure you impress right up through the final moments of the interview:

“No” is never an acceptable answer (so prepare more questions than you’ll need). When done well, interviews are conversational, with back and forth dialogue. This means, many of your questions may get answered in the course of the discussion. Even if this happens, you’ll still want to have 2 – 3 questions at the ready. In this situation, try: “This conversation has been incredibly helpful in understanding how the strategy team partners with various stakeholders throughout the company and the top priorities for the coming year. Can you share what makes you proud to work at this company and one thing you’d change?”
Use questions to the maximum benefit. Even when gathering information in the Q&A, you still have an opportunity to clarify your fit, reiterate strengths and show your interest. Ensure your questions are insightful, show curiosity and demonstrate knowledge of the role, industry and company to the extent possible. In this situation, try: “I’m excited that my fluency in Portuguese and connections in Brazil will be valuable when you expand in that region. Can you share more about the timeline and how you envision the acquisition impacting reporting lines?”
Have the right questions for the right people. Don’t ask the entry-level Recruiter what a “day in the life” of a Senior Programmer is. While he/she can speculate, you’ll get a more thorough response from someone on the Technology Team. Similarly, very specific benefits questions may be best directed to Human Resources. Of course, there’s gray area, but a major part of the interview is building relationships, and people feel good when they’re able to confidently answer your questions. Try: “In your role, I suspect you have an insider perspective on [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”][insert specific topic here]. Can you share [your insights on…]?” or“Can you share how your role collaborates with the rest of the project team?”
Ask questions as if you’re already in the role. Pretend you are hired and this is your first week. What questions might be on your mind? These tend to be great questions to ask in the interview because they’re more strategic in nature and show you’ve done your homework. Ask, “What does a successful first year look like on this team?” or “What’s the company’s biggest obstacle to success this year, and how will I be able to help overcome it in this role?”
Save self-interest questions. While it may be important to understand how frequently you’ll be paid or if you can leave early on Thursdays to attend class, these questions do not make the best first impression since they’re focused on your interests versus the hiring manager’s focus. It’s likely you’ll get a sense of some of your tactical concerns by observing the culture and interacting with potential future colleagues. If not, unless it’s a major constraint or deal breaker, save these questions until the offer stage. In the meantime, try: “What do employees comment on most about the culture here?” or “If I were a friend, what’s one thing you would tell me about working here that I wouldn’t know until I started?
Uncover red flags. If a hiring process is moving very quickly or the interviewer is trying to sell you rather than get to know you, slow down and proceed with caution. In this situation, try, “Why is the position is open?” or “What was the deciding factor in the decision to interview me today and why do you think I’ll be a good fit?”
Get what you need. In order to make a decision about fit for yourself, ask questions that help you understand core responsibilities, reporting structures, performance expectations and evaluation process, and future career paths. Some of this will be in the job description or come through in general interview conversation. However, if something hasn’t been covered in enough detail, ask the interviewer to explain or request to meet with additional people on the team. Interviews should be a two-way process where both parties are interested in making a smart choice for the long-term.
Be respectful of time. Chances are, the hiring manager will save about 15 to 20 minutes for questions at the end of an interview. They have a schedule to keep, so while you may have several questions, you may not always be able to ask all of them in the first interview. If you’re unsure if you’re overstepping on time, try: “I have several more questions I’d like to ask, but want to be respectful of your schedule. Do you have time for a few more?”
Ask the key question: The key question is some version of “Is there anything that concerns you about my ability to succeed in this role?”Asking this gives you an opportunity to erase any doubt the interviewer may have about hiring you. For example, she may respond, “I’m concerned this will be a long commute for you.” This gives you a chance to eliminate the issue: “Actually, my sister lives near here, so I’m out this way frequently.”
Close strong. It’s not unusual for the interviewer to give you a final wrap up question like, “Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?” This is a fantastic opportunity to briefly recap your relevant strengths and reiterate your interest in moving forward. Yes, it’s important to relay that you want the job. Also, don’t forget to ask about next steps before leaving so you have a sense of when you can expect to hear from them, and get business cards in preparation to send thank you emails.

Most interviews end with the opportunity for candidates to ask questions. While you may feel a sigh of relief that the hardest part of the interview is over, don’t relax just yet. Use these final moments to leave a strong impression with the interviewer that confirms you are the best person for the job!

Happy hunting!

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Dawn: Dawn Graham

I started my corporate career as a recruiter, and over the past two decades have been helping job seekers attain great roles from the “other side of the desk” as a caree…

Forbes.com | July 27, 2019

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#CareerAdvice : #CareerChange – A New Study Concludes That It Literally Pays To Switch Jobs Right Now. A MUst REad!

July 27, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

It literally pays to switch jobs. A new study, conducted by payroll giant ADP, reports that employees who accept a new job at another company receive more money than their former peers who remain. The higher premiums currently being offered indicate that the record-high level of employment and robust economy continues to grow. To attract top talent in this hot market, companies are starting to recognize that they need to pay a premium.

According to an analysis of the data by Bloomberg, the biggest beneficiaries are job hoppers in the information industry who realized 9.7% annual wage growth, construction workers with an 8.7% increase and professional and business services with an 8.3% premium. Those who stayed at their companies earned about a 4% increase in pay. On average, those who choose to switch jobs enjoyed compensation growth of 5.3%. The only large groups that suffered from falling wages—when changing jobs—were in the leisure and hospitality sectors. Small businesses are suffering, as they are not able to financially compete with salaries offered by their bigger adversaries in the war for talent.

Separately, data produced by The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Wage Growth Tracker, which includes both the public and private sector, arrived at the same results as ADP. The study reveals that job switchers’ income jumped 4.5%, the second-best pace of the 10-year economic expansion.

Sources: Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics and author’s calculations

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ATLANTA

Anecdotally, in my recruiting practice—placing professionals on Wall Street and in financial services over the last 20 years—I’ve seen firsthand increases of 10% to 20% on average for people who’ve switched jobs. The spread is due to the hotness or coldness of the market at a particular time period, supply and demand imbalance of candidates and other factors. With these large margins, it was highly attractive for people to jump ship.

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Many moved a number of times. Let’s say there was a person earning $100k and then received a $120k offer. A year later, she could embark upon another job search and request around $150k. Meanwhile, those who stayed put had what we recruiters refer to as the “loyalty discount.” The woman who maybe five years later—after several moves—earns over $150k (plus bonus), whereas her former peers earned about an average 3% in yearly raises, which places them at about $115k.

Forward-thinking companies, such as Amazon, have enacted plans to retain top talent. This month, Amazon announced a $700 million retraining programto build “pathways to careers” for its employees. The training programs will focus on fast-growing areas, such as healthcare, machine learning, manufacturing, robotics, computer science and cloud computing. The company contends that this initiative will keep people from leaving, as they will learn new skills and grow within the organization and earn more money in the long run.

I’ve also encountered many people who elected not to switch jobs, knowing that they’ll earn far less than their colleagues who move on. They claim that it’s not worth the risk of entering the unknown, having to prove themselves all over again and stress over embarking upon a new job search. They also claim that their company, similar to Amazon, will try to help them grow within the firm.

While employees rationalize remaining, the evidence strongly signals that it’s financially rewarding to switch jobs at this time.

Author: Jack Kelly

I am a CEO, founder, and executive recruiter at one of the oldest and largest global search firms in my area of expertise, and have personally placed thousands of profes…

Forbes.com | July 26, 2019

#CareerAdvice : #YourCareer -5 Career Paths That Are Perfect For #Introverts . Great Two(2) Min REad!

July 25, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

You walk into a networking event, or a team meeting and head straight to the back row. From here, you can observe everything uninterrupted. And when called upon, you cringe inside before you smile and speak.

If this sounds close to home, you are likely introverted.

Introverts makeup 16-50% of the population and find energy from being alone. You consider yourself more of a wallflower than a social butterfly.

And hey, that is okay!

You have a set of skills that are quite unique and can be used well in certain industries. You are likely independent, creative, a good listener and have a strong ability to stay focused. On top of that, introverts brains are wired differently and have a lower threshold for dopamine, this means, it takes less stimulation to feel a sense of reward, joy and euphoria.

But in the working world where collaboration and open office environments are on the rise, you likely struggle to find a role that fits for you. Here are five career paths to consider when on the hunt for an introvert-friendly job.

1. Lab Technician

With strong attention to detail and open-mindedness, introverts make great detectives. If you prefer the behind the scenes action, a forensic science technician is a good career to investigate…no pun intended.

You collect and analyze evidence in a laboratory setting and on occasion may travel based on the crime. This job does require a bachelors in a science related field but will be well worth it if you enjoy the daily tasks.

If going back to school isn’t in the stars for you, a lab technician is a great fit. You will stay behind the scenes in work to diagnose patients and the majority of your day will be spent in a lab environment running tests on samples.

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2. Creative Artist

Do you have an eye for photography, an ear for music or knack at crafting? You can capitalize on these creative skill sets and build out your own business. The options here are quite broad, as you can work either independently as a freelancer, start your own company or contract your services out to larger organizations.

If you have a creative skill set, begin to search online for jobs that match what you can offer. As a photographer, you can cover anything from stock photos to real estate photography and corporate events. If you enjoy building installations look for events such as store openings, weddings or special events that require a creative eye.

3. Writer

Introverts usually enjoy solitude and time with their thoughts, and a writer will channel these thoughts into a creative storyline. Consider creative writing, ghostwriting or copywriting career paths, all of which lend well to your independent mind and require a great deal of detail and focus.

If you come from a very technical background in a niche field, technical writing may be a great opportunity to break into the writing world. A technical writer will conduct research on a specific area and then produce documentation in the form of manuals or supporting documents for products or services.

You can begin by joining freelance platforms such as UpWork or Copify to offer your writing services for a broad range of clients and from here build out a business of your own.

4. Accountant

Through the use of strong math and organizational skills, an accountant will spend the majority of the day working with numbers, not people. You can work for a corporation or open your own accounting firm where you decide who to work with.

In order to become an accountant, you will need a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field. If you aim to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) you will need to pass the certification process. This is a strong career choice if you are looking for the long haul since jobs in accounting are projected to grow 10% by 2026, which is more than any other job available.

5. Animal Care Giver or Veterinarian

You might not enjoy spending time with large groups of people, but you may enjoy spending time with animals. An animal care manager or vet will spend the majority of their time working with animals in zoos, shelters, clinics or animal sanctuaries. Here they will diagnose, train and examine animals.

If the thought of student loan debt to become a veterinarian is overwhelming, research states that offer student loan forgiveness for veterinarians, as locations with vet shortages are likely to offer this plan.

Understand your skill sets and seek jobs that cater to what you do best. Once you step into a career that fits your mold you will be surprised to find how quickly you excel.

The next time you cuddle up on the couch when you avoid going out to a loud and rowdy party, check out the TED talk by Susan Cain The Power of Introvertsfor some introverted inspiration.

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Author: Ashley Stahl

I’m a career coach who helps job seekers via online programs and one-on-one coaching in finding their purpose, landing more job offers and launching their dream business…

Forbes.com | July 21, 2019

#CareerAdvice – #JobSearch – How Not to Choke During your Next High-Stakes #JobInterview . Great REad!

July 23, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

You finally got the interview for that big job or promotion. As it gets closer, you make sure to prepare. It’s a great opportunity, but you’re haunted by one recurring thought: What if you get in there and totally blow it?

“When we are under stress, sometimes things don’t come out the way we thought they would, even though we have practiced, even though we know what we want to say,” says public speaking coach Maryna Shkvorets. “Especially when we’re sitting in front of that person who could determine our fate.”

So, how do you make sure you don’t choke on the big day? We asked career and communications professionals their best advice.

EMBRACE THE WORST-CASE

When you’re heading into a high-stakes interview, it’s likely that you’ve built up a bit of a storyline around it, says executive career coach Amy Sanchez. “For example, ‘If I don’t get this job, the rest of my life will be ruined.’ We tend to go into hyperbole. ‘If I don’t get this job, I’m not going to make it to the next step in my career,’” she says. But that’s usually not the case, and it’s adding to your stress around the interview.

Instead, think through (with an objective friend or mentor, if necessary) what the worst thing that could happen might be. You may really want the job, but when you realize that not getting it won’t be career-ending, it takes some of the pressure off, she says.

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GET COMFORTABLE WITH PAUSES

Pauses in conversation are a powerful tool. “So often we fill the need to fill up dead air by talking, but a well-executed pause can have a bigger impact than packing in more details. A good pause allows your last point to really sink in and gives an air of confidence,” Shkvorets says. And if you’re not used to enduring pauses when someone else speaks, you might be tempted to just ramble to fill the dead air. That rarely makes a good impression, she says.

Get comfortable with pauses by practicing them. Pause for up to five seconds after each point, she suggests. “It may feel like forever, but it comes off very natural to the person on the other side. Plus, it gives you those precious few moments to collect yourself and think of what to say next,” she says.

REMIND THEM WHY THEY WANT YOU

Career coach Melanie L. Denny recommends asking one key question early in the interview: What was it about my application that made you want to meet today? “This sets a positive tone for the interview, reminds the interviewer of why he/she wanted you, gives you ammunition for negotiations later and a boost of confidence,” she says.

Then, throughout the interview, she says it’s a good idea to tell compelling stories of the value you delivered for past employers. Choose the stories that will be most relevant to the challenges you anticipate encountering in the job for which you’re interviewing.

POSITION YOURSELF AS A PROBLEM-SOLVER

Companies hire people to solve problems. Be open-minded and listen, the ask the right questions, says career consultant Lori Scherwin, founder of consultancy Strategize That. “Be strategic. Think: goals of the firm, success factors, leadership development and growth opportunities. Ask your prospective boss their near- and long-term priorities. Position yourself as a partner rather than just an executor.” When you are in a position to provide something someone else needs, it also takes pressure off.

PREP UNDER PRESSURE

You know you need to rehearse. But, don’t just do so in front of a mirror. Try to create some of the pressure you’ll be facing in the actual interview, Shkvorets says. Schedule a session with a few friends or a mentor who can act as the team that will be interviewing you. They should be tough on you and ask the same types of questions the interviewers will ask, she says. That way, when you step into the interview setting, it will feel more familiar.

CREATE A CONNECTION

While you’re doing your homework about the company or position, gather some information about your interviewers, if possible, Denny says. Don’t get too personal—you don’t want to look up their Instagram and comment on their photos, for example. But if you look on LinkedIn and see that you share an alma mater or hometown, that’s fair game, she says.

PREP WISELY

It’s also a good idea to practice some self-care as you get ready for the interview, Sanchez says. “The night before, focus on getting a good night’s sleep—use meditation, a warm bath, or any type of calming exercise to help you wind down,” she adds. Arrive a little early and get ready to shine.

FastCompany.com | July 23, 2019

#CareerAdvice – #YourCareer – 5 Things You Can Do Today To Start Moving Toward A #JobChange . Here are Five Things you can Start Doing Immediately to Steer your Work Life toward Greater Purpose and Meaning.

July 23, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

What do you do when you find yourself unhappy with your job despite being reasonably successful and decently paid? This is certainly a privileged problem, but that doesn’t mean you should leave it unaddressed. Your life is too precious to spend it working bored and detached.

According to Gallup, 70% of American workers rate themselves as “not engaged” or “actively disengaged” at work. And while some of them are in toxic environments with significant reasons to be disgruntled, many more find themselves in decent, reasonable jobs that are misaligned with the work they’d enjoy most.

If this describes you, your nagging dissatisfaction may have you slowly draining energy at work like a leaky balloon. You aren’t just tired, you are thoroughly uninspired.

Perhaps, like me, you are oriented towards safety and security. You have always believed that “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” and would prefer to settle for the safe and comfortable career path you’re already on than to shake things up with little certainty around where you truly want to go next.

But here’s a secret: few people ever know exactly what their dreams are or everything they want from their career. Even those experiencing extraordinary success in arenas that are notably hard to break into started out on an uncertain path and simply took one step after another.

So while the “follow your passion” advice is almost certain to overwhelm you with analysis paralysis, taking small actions helps you get going so you can make progress and gain clarity along the way.

Here are five things you can start doing immediately to steer your work life toward greater purpose and meaning. Will these first steps lead to a dramatic career change? Maybe down the road, but that isn’t the point right now. Your only goal for today is to get reenergized about the potential for your work life and head toward something new.

1. Schedule an exploratory call

Reach out to someone in your network that you trust for career advice or know to be plugged into an area of work that interests you. Email them today and ask to set up a call or meeting to touch base in the next few months. This lack of urgency is perfectly fine—just get it scheduled. People are busy and they appreciate flexibility, which also indicates that you genuinely want to connect rather than needing something. Schedule several meetings like this over the next few weeks and use each one to help discern what ideas capture your attention.

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2. Set up Google alerts

If you have more than one passion, you may get confused about which one to pursue next. Take the time, right now, to set up one or several Google alerts that will send you daily relevant articles and updates for the keywords you chose. Start each day learning more about a new and different area.

Read these alerts as often as you can and assess how each piece of new information makes you feel. Do you want to read more or are you starting to get bored again? Did the information spur a new awareness, project or direction? Rarely will your passions spark without provocation; do the work to seek out and trigger fresh motivation.

3. Share a new career interest on social media

Whether you are trying to or not, you are branding yourself and attracting or deflecting new opportunities through your social media use. Be careful to attract the people and things that will help propel you toward what you truly want.

Start by sharing an article or tweeting on a new area of interest. Even if you don’t get an immediate response, by continually sharing content in a new area, you will be rebranding yourself slowly but surely. It is only a matter of time before someone brings you an opportunity to further engage with your topic of interest.

4. Interact with a luminary

Send a direct and well-informed message through email or social media to a thought-leader in a business, industry or company you are feeling drawn to. Comment on a recent project or news story involving them and how it is shaping or impacting your life. You may worry that they might find your message unwanted, but the reality is that most people doing influential work are driven by deeper motivators to help others, so your feedback is welcomed and personally gratifying.

Avoid the megastars (e.g. Oprah Winfrey or Jeff Bezos) and there is a good chance your message may receive a response. But either way, reaching out to people doing work that interests you is the first step to neutralizing your perception that luminaries are special and inaccessible. These people are not any different than you are, they simply have a head start.

5. Embrace the now

You are not stuck in your current job, you are just there presently. Say this out loud right now if you’re alone: Yes for now. “Yes for now” is a mantra to remind yourself that where you are today is perfectly fine, but it is not where you have to stay. Each new moment will present you with a new reality and you are already taking steps today that will lead you to a different tomorrow.

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

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

Kourtney Whitehead

I’ve spent my career helping people reach their work goals, from executive searches to counseling to career coaching, through my leadership positions at top executive re…

Forbes.com | July 16, 2019

#CareerAdvice : #ProductivePeople – 10 Ways To Set Healthy Boundaries At #Work . Great Read & Share!

July 22, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Do you ever feel like your work schedule is unmanageable? Does your boss ask you to fly across the country on a moment’s notice? Do you say “yes” to every new project that comes along? If this sounds like you, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Studies show that job stress is by far the major source of anxiety for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over the past few decades. A big reason for this is that technology allows us to lead 24/7 work lives with virtually no boundaries. According to author and motivational speaker Tony Gaskins, “You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop and what you reinforce.”

Here are ten ways to set healthy boundaries at the office so you can work smarter, gain respect and increase your productivity.

1. Seek help

Setting boundaries at work may be as simple as seeking advice from your manager. New York Times bestselling author Ken Blanchard suggests this process:

Begin with you and your boss each creating a separate list of the things you believe you are being held accountable for in your job. This exercise is eye-opening because there are almost always significant discrepancies between the two lists.
Next, prioritize the items you think you should be focusing on.
Lastly, negotiate agreed-upon priorities.

2. Conduct an audit

Beyond simply approaching your boss, conducting a boundary audit can go a long way in providing clarity around where you need to set limits. Start by becoming more aware of those people and situations that cause you stress and anxiety. Write them down. If you notice yourself feeling angry, resentful or guilty, that’s a sure sign that you may need to reset a boundary or communicate it more clearly.

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3. Set limits

Once you have an idea of the areas where you need to focus, start setting limits. One example could be not checking work email in the evenings between 6-9 p.m. so you can focus on family time. Another may be to let your manager know that you need advance notice of work-related travel so that you can plan your family vacation.

4. Communicate clearly

Once you set limits, you need to communicate them to your team clearly and confidently. For instance, if you don’t want your team members to contact you at all hours, tell them exactly when you will be available for work conversations. If you don’t wish to be contacted on vacation unless it is an emergency, make sure to clearly outline what constitutes an urgent matter. When a boundary gets violated, address it immediately. It’s better to reinforce your limits in the moment than to wait. I bought Cialis some years ago to check if it will be any better than Viagra that I took at that time. One pill was enough to understand that this drug is right for me. It works for almost 36 hours, and I may not worry about forgetting to take a pill before sex. This is the best drug ever. I say you should try it.

5. Delegate more

Being a good leader means delegating. If you are expected to do the work of 50 people and feel overwhelmed with projects, chances are you’re not doing a good job of delegating work. Fortunately, this is a skill that can be developed. Learn to let go, trust your team and play to their strengths.

6. Take time to respond

One trick that may keep you from saying “yes” to that next project is the art of pausing. For example, the next time your boss asks you to take a last-minute business trip, hit the pause button before responding. This technique will give you a chance to check-in with yourself to determine whether you have a conflict. If needed, buy yourself time and say, “that might work, let me just check my schedule and get back to you.”

7. Practice saying no

Peter Bregman, author of 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done suggests choosing some easy, low-risk situations in which to practice saying no. Say no when your waitress offers you dessert. Say no to the street vendor offering to sell you something. Go into a room by yourself, shut the door and say no out loud ten times. It sounds crazy, but it helps to build your “no” muscle.

8. Develop a system

David Allen, a productivity expert and author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, suggests sorting through your to-do list and addressing each task in one of four ways:

Do it
Defer it
Delegate it
Drop it

The important thing is to tackle each issue only once and move on to the next.

9. Create structure

If you find yourself sucked into long, drawn-out meetings with your boss, create structure. One way to do this is to establish an agenda. An agenda puts you in control and positions you as a leader. You could also create structure by setting a meeting where one didn’t exist. A short weekly check-in might be more efficient than having your boss continually popping by your office unannounced.

10. Prepare for pushback

Once you start establishing healthy boundaries, you can expect others to react negatively. This is a sign that the boundary is necessary and that it’s working effectively. It’s also helpful to visualize your boundaries getting crossed and imagine how you’ll address those situations. That way, when a moment like that arises, you’ll be able to handle it rationally versus emotionally.

Employees who are the happiest and most productive are those who set boundaries. People who set limits gain respect because they show respect for themselves.

Brené Brown attends “Brené Brown: The Call To Courage” at NETFLIX on April 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

GETTY IMAGES FOR NETFLIX

Author and researcher Brené Brown says it best: “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. We can’t base our own worthiness on others’ approval. Only when we believe, deep down, that we are enough can we say, enough!

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Caroline Castrillon

I’m a business and life coach who helps people find fulfillment through career transition and entrepreneurship. As the founder of Corporate Escape Artist, I made the lea…

Forbes.com | July 18, 2019

#Leadership : #ProductivePeople – The 3 Ways that Happy People Deal with Problems . Great Two(2) Min Read!

July 22, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

To state the obvious: It’s easier to be happy when things are going well. Positive outcomes are known to lift people’s moods, while negative emotions (like anxiety) generally reflect concerns about negative outcomes.

But, happy people are also good at dealing with problems in ways that help them to maintain their mood, while still dealing with issues effectively. Here are three common things that happy people tend to do to deal with speed bumps in life.

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

It is important to understand the problem you’re facing, and so happy people certainly analyze the situation. But, they don’t remain focused on the problem for long. That is, they avoid rumination—which is a set of repeated thoughts about something that has gone wrong.

Instead, they look to the future. There are two benefits to this: One is that the future is not determined yet, and so happy people can be optimistic about things to come. The other is that happy people are looking to make the future better than the past, which creates a hopeful outlook—no matter what the present circumstances look like.

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FIND AGENCY

At any given moment, the situation you are in exerts some amount of control over your options. When you’re sitting in traffic, for example, there isn’t much you can do but wait for the cars around you to start moving. The amount of control you have to take action in a situation is your degree of agency.

Happy people seek out their sources of agency when problems arise. They are most interested in what they can do to influence the situation, rather than focusing on all of the options that have been closed off by what has happened. The focus on agency is important, because it provides the basis for creating a plan to solve the problem. And the sooner a problem is addressed, the less time it has to cause stress.

KNOW WHEN TO FOLD

There are always going to be big problems that you can’t solve. Perhaps there is a client who is never satisfied with the work you do. Maybe there is a process you’re trying to implement that never seems to have the desired outcome. You might even have been working on the problem for a long time.

Despite all the discussions about the importance of grit, effective (and happy) problem solvers are good at knowing when to walk away from a problem that can’t be fixed. Each of us has a limited amount of time and energy that we can devote to the work we are doing. Spending time on problems that cannot be solved has an opportunity cost. There are other things you could be doing with your time that might yield better outcomes. It is important to learn when it is time to give up on a problem rather than continuing to try to solve it.

This is particularly true when you have been working on that problem for a long time. There is a tendency for people to pay attention to sunk costs—the time, money, and energy they have already devoted to working on something. But, those resources are gone, and you can’t get them back. If it isn’t likely that additional effort is going to help you solve a problem, then you should walk away, no matter how hard you have worked on it already. Happy people are good at ignoring those sunk costs both when making the decision to walk away from a project and after making the decision to walk away. They don’t spend time regretting the “wasted” resources.

FastCompany.com | July 22, 2019

#CareerAdvice – #JobSearch – 5 Seemingly Insignificant Actions that Will Make You a More Attractive Hire. Great Read!

July 17, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

According to data from Glassdoor, the average corporate job opening attracts 250 résumés, out of which a maximum of six, or just 2.4 percent of those who applied, are called for an interview. When applying for a job, the odds are simply stacked against you.

There are some simple, seemingly insignificant actions that you can take to improve your job prospects, however. Below are five such actions.

1. Don’t Take Your Cover Letter for Granted: Improve it With the Following Tips Instead.

Your cover letter is your opportunity to make a first impression, and in some cases it can be more important than your résumé. In fact, according to a particular source, most companies first screen resumes with talent management software before a human looks at it; these talent management software often weed out up to 50 percent of applications.

Often, spending a few extra minutes on your cover letter can mean the difference between getting hired or not.

The following tips will help make your cover letter a lot more effective:

Avoid using cliches and unnatural phrases in your cover letter.
Keep your cover letter short and simple; you want your cover letter to be no longer than a page; ideally about four paragraphs.
Use your cover letter to show that you understand the organization’s needs and can play a key role; it should be about the organization and not you. You want to steer clear of using a lot of “I”.
Carefully review and edit your cover letter to avoid mistakes or typographical errors — this is very important since your cover letter is often your first impression; in fact, typos in résumés is the number one reasonemployers automatically dismiss a candidate for consideration, with 61 percent of employers dismissing a candidate just because of this.
Don’t make your cover letter a repeat of your résumé; instead, use it as an opportunity to highlight your top selling points and address possible discrepancies in your résumé(such as an employment gap, for example).

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2. Get Certified

There are many benefits to getting certified: a report by Monster found that getting certified can result in an average pay increase of between 25 to 75 percent. Glassdoor’s interview of recruiters and HR professionals also found that the right certifications can increase a candidate’s odds of getting hired.

If you are yet to be certified, it might be a good idea to get a certification to improve your job prospects and employability.

If you’re a network administrator, you can get the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), or Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification.
If you work in construction or any building-related work, you can get the LEED Accredited Professional certification.
If you work in accounting or finance, you can get a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification.
If you work as a graphic designer you can get the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) certification.
If you work in project management you can get the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Regardless of your industry, there is most certainly a certification you can get to increase perception of your value and improve your employability.

3. Highlight Your Accomplishments in a Very Clear and Specific Manner

While many job seekers tend to obsess over their GPA or degree (or lack of) when working on their résumés, recruiters tend to prefer to read more about your accomplishments in similar roles to get a feel for how much of a difference you can make in the organization.

You want to go beyond just listing accomplishments. Instead, you want to list your accomplishments in a clear and specific way.

Examples:

Saying: “Achieved annual customer growth rate of 30 percent by supervising the marketing team” is much more effective than simply saying “Helped improve growth rate.”
Saying: “Boosted profitability by helping negotiate a reduction in fees with partners and working on an algorithm to help improve customers’ average order value” is a lot more effective than simply saying “increased profitability.”

4. Create a Personal Website or Blog and Highlight It When Necessary

Having a personal website, or blog, might appear insignificant or irrelevant to your getting hired, but it could be one of the single most important actions you can take.

In fact, according to a study, hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate’s personal website than any other personal branding tool — with 56 percent of hiring managers preferring it. Yet, just 7 percent of job seekers have a personal website.

Examples abound of people who have landed their dream jobs thanks to a personal website:

When Meg Dickey-Kurdziolek was laid off, it was having a personal website and portfolio that actually helped her get hired. During interviews, she realized that recruiters were really paying attention to her website and portfolio because they asked questions about projects that were featured in her portfolio during interviews, and that helped her stand out.
A personal website also contributed greatly to Benjamin Felix getting a finance job at PWL Capital. Even though Felix didn’t include his website in his résumé, it was brought up during his interview. Apparently, recruiters at PWL Capital came across Felix’s website when they searched for him on Google, and the fact that he had a personal website helped him standout.
For Mark Scott, who is now VP of corporate communications at eVestment, having a personal website also played a key role in his getting hired at the organization; he was able to direct the recruiter to his personal website during the initial interview to showcase his experience, and that helped him stand out and land the job.

Setting up a website also doesn’t have to be complicated or cost an arm and a leg: WordPress is free, and as indicated by this review, you can have your website hosted and accessible for less than the cost of a cup of coffee. Making your website enhance your employability goes beyond just having a website, though. What matters is that your website does the following:

Showcase your skills and experience: Show potential employers what you can do rather than tell.
Include enough background information to make it easy to make a decision about hiring you; Ideally, you want to make it easy to access relevant information about you all in one place. So your website should link to your social profiles (such as LinkedIn) and other relevant online presence as well.
Highlight relevant social proof in your industry; This includes media features and interviews, awards, and conferences you’ve been invited to.

5. Work on Your Follow Up Game

As I indicated in my last piece, research by Robert Half found that pretty much all hiring managers expect — and encourage — candidates to follow up after sending in an application. This is especially critical when you consider that the odds are stacked against you: the average job opening will get about 250 applications, and many of these applicants won’t follow up after submitting their application.

Following up is the one way to give yourself an edge in the sea of applications your employer is likely to be inundated with. Following up puts you ahead of the pack; while it is unlikely that a recruiter remembers each of 250 candidates that applied for a job, you can be sure that the candidate that followed up a few times will stand out.

Conclusion

As the employment landscape gets more competitive, it is important to work on making yourself more employable; often, all it takes are actions that require just a few minutes of your time. The above are five such actions. While they might appear initially insignificant, they can make a whole lot of difference in your getting hired.

GlassDoor.com | July 15, 2019 | Posted by Jane Eldrich

#Leadership : #CollegeGrad – Senator: Make Colleges Pay For #StudentLoanDefault .Great REad! Welcome your Comments!

July 17, 2019/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Who pays when a student loan borrower defaults on their student loans?

The answer might surprise you. Here’s what you need to know and how this issue affects you.

Student Loans

According to the latest student loan debt statistics, there are 45 million borrowers who collectively owe more than $1.5 trillion of student loan debt. Approximately 11% of borrowers are in student loan default, which is at least 270 days delinquent on their student loans. By 2023, it’s estimated that as many as 40% of borrowers could default on their student loans.

Here’s why the issue of student loan default for federal student loans impacts you.

All federal student loans are issued by the federal government. The federal government does not underwrite student loans – meaning that everyone who borrows a student loan receives the same interest rate, regardless of their underlying credit profile. The goal is to increase access to higher education for more students.

At the same time, some borrowers naturally have stronger credit profiles than other borrowers. A stronger credit profile typically means a lower probability of student loan default, while a weaker credit profile typically means a higher probability of student loan default. So, while the federal government wants to extend credit so that students can attend college, they also accept the risk that many of these borrowers could default on their student loans.

Some people are able to pay off student loans faster. Others prepay their student loans. However, some end up in default. When you default on your federal student loans, who ultimately bears the cost of those student loans? The answer: the federal government – and ultimately, federal taxpayers like you.

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New Proposal: Make Colleges Pay

If you default on your student loans, what about the college or university you attended? What’s their financial responsibility? The answer: they don’t have any. If you don’t repay your student loans, then the federal government essentially eats the cost. (However, it’s possible the federal government could de-risk by securitizing these loans and selling them to a third party investor).

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) wants to change that. He will introduce legislation that makes colleges and universities financially responsible if you default on your student loans.

“[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”][American students and workers] shouldn’t have to further enrich colleges by taking on a mountain of debt or mortgage their lives in order to get a good-paying job,” Hawley said. “Yet, we have a system that preferences students who want to attend a four-year college over Americans who want to learn a skill. This system protects higher education institutions that have been padding their endowments with taxpayer money while they raise tuition.”

Hawley’s legislation will require colleges and universities to repay 50% of the balance for any defaulted student loans that students borrowed to attend their institution. Hawley’s bill will further prevent colleges and universities from increasing the cost of tuition to help colleges fulfill this financial responsibility in case of default.

“It’s time to break up the higher education monopoly,” Hawley said.

Colleges and universities will push back on any such legislative proposal. Their argument, among others, could go something like this: We provide a solid education to our students and prepare them to have successful careers. We can’t control whether our alumni ultimately repay their student loans. We also can’t be held financially responsible if our students do not earn enough income to repay student loans that they borrowed.

Hawley supporters will point to the nation’s growing student loan debt issue and the potential risk borne by taxpayers. They’ll highlight the financial disconnect among the three “participants”: the student, the federal government and the educational institution. All three are connected, they’ll argue, but only the student (who bears the burden of student loan debt) and the federal government (who bears the burden of student loan default) are the ones who are financially responsible.

Let’s see how this one plays out.

Zack Friedman

Zack Friedman is the author of the highly-anticipated, blockbuster book, The Lemonade Life: How To Fuel Success, Create Happiness, and Conquer Anything. Zack is the foun…

Forbes.com | July 17, 2019

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EMBRACE THE WORST-CASE

GET COMFORTABLE WITH PAUSES

REMIND THEM WHY THEY WANT YOU

POSITION YOURSELF AS A PROBLEM-SOLVER

PREP UNDER PRESSURE

CREATE A CONNECTION

PREP WISELY

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

FIND AGENCY

KNOW WHEN TO FOLD

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