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Your #Career : Left on Bad Terms? When Not to Include a Job on Your Resume..It Happens to Almost All of Us at One Time or Another. You’re Working at a Great Job, Things are Going Well, & Then Before you Know It, All Hell Breaks Loose.

May 21, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Before you can even blink your eye, you’re given a couple of cardboard boxes so you can pack up your desk and go home for good. If you had a bad work experience, there are times when you may want to exclude it from your resume and just forget that job ever happened.

Most times, omitting a job isn’t going to hurt you. Suzanne Lucas, founder of the career blog Evil HR Lady, said short stints at a company may not be so important to include. As long as your resume isn’t riddle with lies, you may not have much to worry about. “So the reality is a prospective employer is very unlikely to find out about a short-term job that isn’t listed on your resume. After all, resumes are marketing documents, not historical records. Everything on your resume must be true, but you don’t have to list everything that is true on your resume,” said Lucas.

When to omit a job from your resume

Your best bet is to leave off a job if you were fired as a result of ethical misconduct. Some examples would be if you stole company property, you lied, or you harassed someone. It would be very hard to explain your way out of a situation like that. And more likely than not, if the issue comes up during an interview, you won’t get the job. Who wants to work with someone who can’t be trusted? Sure, people change, but you may not be willing to look past this and give you a chance to redeem yourself.

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Could an omission land you in hot water?

Sometimes leaving a job off your resume is a good idea. However, there are also some gray areas. In some cases, omitting a job is not the best thing. One example would be if you are applying for a job that requires security clearance. Your lack of transparency could cost you a job. Also be aware that your work history is part of youremployment credit report. Consequently, past jobs could be researched by your potential employer. It’s a risk you may not want to take.

Lucas said you’ll want to be careful if you’re asked to sign paperwork that requests a complete job history. “Where you run into a problem is if the company asks you to fill out an application and asks you to list every job you had over the past 10 years or so. If you leave it off there, they still won’t likely find out about it. But if they find out about it five years down the road and somebody has a bee in their bonnet, you’ll be fired for lying on the application,” said Lucas.

Also be aware of large gaps in your work history. This could raise a red flag with an interviewer. You’ll want to make sure you have a reason for the time lag. “One of the quickest ways to get recruiters and hiring managers wondering about your suitability for the position is by having gaps in employment on your resume. Yes, the recent economy affected numerous people and resulted in long-term unemployment for many. However, that doesn’t release you from the obligation of explaining what you did during your time off,” said career expert Darlene Zambruski.

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CheatSheet.com | May 20, 2016 | Sheiresa Ngo

Your #Career : These are the Worst Mistakes we Have seen Young People Make in Job Interviews…You Have One Shot to Demonstrate your Knowledge & Skills — So Make Sure you Get the Details Right, the First Time.

May 19, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

At Business Insider, we have interviewed hundreds of job applicants. We are usually impressed with the calibre of candidates. Most people we meet seem smart and accomplished, and applicants “get” our all-digital, fast-paced, antiboring way of handling business news.

But … young people are human, too. They make mistakes. And the following mistakes have cost them the jobs their CVs and résumés otherwise said they were good for …

23. Showing up 20 minutes early.

REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

It may seem like a good idea to show up early, but it puts pressure on the interviewer to meet with you. A time was set for a reason. You should never be late, but five minutes is enough for showing up in advance.

Tip: Find a nearby coffee spot and hang out there until your interview time.

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22. Being too general.

REUTERS/Gary Cameron

You have one shot to demonstrate your knowledge and skills — so be as specific as you can when answering questions. Don’t answer questions with “yes” or “no.” The interviewer shouldn’t have to feel as if he or she is carrying the conversation.

Tip: Review the projects you’re most proud of before heading into an interview. It’s easy to forget the details even if it’s your own work.

21. Not bringing a printed CV to your interview.

David Goldman / AP/Press Association Images

Bring a printed copy of your CV even if you previously emailed a copy. It shows that you’re organised and prepared, and it’s less work for the interviewer.

Tip: Bring several copies in case you are being interviewed by more than one person.

20. Typos in your cover letter, CV, or résumé.

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Your command of written English — spelling, grammar, and punctuation — is a shorthand test of your intelligence, or at least of your ability to memorize the rules of the language. Typos make you look unintelligent, even though smart people make mistakes all the time.

Tip: Get someone else to edit your letter and CV before you send them.

19. Having bad breath.

DaveOratox/Flickr

Everyone suffers from dry mouth at the office.

Tip: Chew a piece of gum and then remove it five minutes before the interview.

18. Not telling a good story about your life.

20th Century Fox

Who are you, what are you good at, and what do you want to do with your life? We want a quick, clear history of your life and career so far. At Business Insider, storytelling is literally what we do, but at any company, communication is key. If you cannot communicate who you are quickly, you’re not getting the job.

Tip: Write it down beforehand and rehearse with a friend.

7. Being overly sarcastic or negative.

Business Insider / Matt Johnston

We do not expect you to be a cheerleader. But if we hire you, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together, so we don’t want you killing the buzz.

Tip: Just be nice. Smile.

16. Being arrogant.

Lara Cores / Flickr, CC

Sure, we’re interested in hiring you. But that doesn’t mean you’re a rock star, and our company won’t collapse without you.

Tip: Just because you got the interview doesn’t mean you got the job. You still have to sell us.

15. Not knowing anything about the field you’re interviewing for.

racetraitor

If you’re interviewing for a job that requires you to stay abreast of the technology industry, obviously we’re going to ask you what you think is so interesting about tech. So if your answer is “Er … ,” then we’re going to be less than impressed.

Tip: Prepare! Literally write some speaking points on a notepad before you arrive at the interview. It will help you in case you freeze.

14. Sending email attachments.

REUTERS/Frederick Murphy/CDC/Handout

We hate downloading email attachments because of the malware risk they pose. If you use only text and links in your application email, we can see your stuff on our phones as well as on our laptops.

Tip: Your CV or résumé is best displayed as a LinkedIn URL. Examples of your work are most easily seen if they come as links within the email.

13. Wearing a Ramones T-shirt to a job interview.

conejoazul / Flickr, CC

We get it. You’re young and cool. And we love the Ramones, too.

Tip: Make us feel as if you’re a safe bet by wearing a shirt and tie (men) or go conservative but stylish (women). One candidate impressed us by wearing a shirt and tie to a Google Hangout video interview.

12. Letting your cat escape out of a window during a live video chat.

Peter Hellberg / Flickr

We often use Skype and Google Hangout. A video interview may feel casual, but you need to prepare: In the background, we can see the dishes piled in your sink or the laundry hanging off your bedroom door.

One candidate interrupted her conversation with us when her cat jumped out of an open window. We hired this person anyway.

Tip: Take a screengrab of what your laptop can see so you can tidy your room before the interview starts.

11. Trying to negotiate your salary in the first meeting.

Flickr, CC / quaziefoto

We get that you’re trying to make sure you aren’t wasting anyone’s time. But asking salary questions early marks you as a rookie.

Tip: Remember that this is a process. The further you get through the process, the more it shows we want to hire you, and the stronger your negotiating position eventually becomes.

10. Using a photo of your dog or kids — or a bad picture of yourself — on your Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ accounts.

Flickr/Jason Vasquez

If you’re using those personal email accounts to apply for jobs, then we also see Mr.Snuffleupagus when you send us your CV/résumé.

Tip: Send test messages to a friend who will let you see how all your email/social accounts appear to others, and sanitize accordingly.

9. Forgetting to follow up via email.

Nate Grigg/Flickr

When we reject a good candidate, it’s usually because we never received an email follow-up. We want to recruit people who really want to work here, and a simple thank-you note ticks a big box for us.

Tip: This needn’t be a big production. Just a single sentence offering to answer any further questions is all it takes.

8. Putting career “objectives” at the top of your résumé.

Skye Gould/Business Insider

Young candidates pad their CVs with fluffy, clichéd career-goal statements.

Do not do this!

Tip: We want to see only a simple list of your education and work experiences, and maybe a list of other useful skills at the bottom.

7. Trying to impress us with your off-the-wall creativity.

Wikimedia Commons

We’re looking for people who seem reliable and trustworthy. We’re not looking for weirdos who want to blow our minds. One job application began, “I am a chameleon …” It went downhill from there.

Tip: We want to be able to trust you. So behave and communicate in a way that feels reliable and trustworthy.

6. Sending us a video résumé.

Virgin

We need résumés to be sent easily by email to other HR staff, and we may want to print them out so we can compare candidates side by side. Off-format CVs are useless for this.

Tip: Your best bet? LinkedIn.

5. Failing to provide a link to your LinkedIn profile.

We can’t emphasize this enough: When you have to compare hundreds of CVs, LinkedIn is really useful because it makes all candidates’ résumés look the same — and that makes it easier for us to figure out who is relevant and who isn’t.

Tip: A LinkedIn URL in an email is a lot easier for us to deal with than a Word or PDF attachment.

4. Eating a sandwich during our meeting.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

If you’re discussing a potential job with an employer over “coffee,” don’t break out one of Starbucks’ “Sure As Eggs Is Eggs” sandwiches. It’s distracting.

Tip: Drink coffee, tea, water or nothing if offered.

3. Being “low-energy.”

REUTERS

Demonstrating the correct level of “energy” during a job interview is a tough call. You want to demonstrate that you’re a low-drama person — but not a monosyllabic introvert. You’re happy to be here, but we don’t want you bouncing off the walls like a crazy person.

Tip: If we can see you’re excited at the idea of working for us, we’re more likely to get excited about the idea of giving you a job.

2. Men forgetting to shave.

flickr user Ben Smith

Beards and mustaches are fashionable on men right now, and many guys brought them along on their job interviews. But what looks good at a 19th-century bare-knuckle boxing match is sometimes not so great when you’re up close and personal with a prospective employer.

Tip: If you’re rocking facial hair, make sure it is impeccably groomed.

1. Making your CV three pages long when you have no experience.

Wikimedia Commons

Don’t worry about your CV not looking full enough — that’s OK. We don’t have a lot of time to figure out what your job history is.

Tip: Less is more with résumés — we skim them for only about 30 seconds, an

Businessinsider.com | May 17, 2016 | Jim Edwards

Your #Career : 7 Mistakes For Rookie Job Seekers To Avoid… Mistake #1. If you Have Spent the Last 8 Hours Posting for Jobs Online, you Have Wasted 7 Hours & 50 Minutes.

May 10, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

A job search is like a marathon. You can’t cut corners on the preparation and expect to cross the finish line in record time. Everyone who is in a job search wants the silver bullet. There isn’t one. Job searching, even under the best of circumstances, is a lot of work. Be prepared for a lot of rejection, but also for a lot of kindness and support along the way.

I meet many job seekers who have never had to conduct a formal job search. After coaching over a thousand clients at every professional level and across practically every industry, I’ve found that most make the same rookie mistakes.

If you’re looking for a new job, below are some tips for starting off your search on the right foot:

1. If you have spent the last eight hours posting for jobs online, you have wasted seven hours and 50 minutes. It can be tempting to apply to jobs online. So many positions are listed, and so many appear to be a fit. But while you are hitting the send button, so are 500+ other people. Job postings represent the open market; the jobs everyone gets to see. Most people source their jobs through the hidden job market, the ones where opportunities are shared through close contacts and conversations. Shift your strategy and spend most of your time networking for job leads, and limit your time applying to jobs online.

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2. Just because you did it doesn’t mean it belongs on your resume.Many people’s resumes read like a laundry list of everything they’ve ever done. A resume should be targeted to the needs of an employer and prove where you can add value. The employee recognition award you received for a Y2K conversion back in 1999 probably isn’t going to cut it with an employer in 2016. Instead, tell stories of initiatives you are involved in today that are helping to move your company, industry or profession forward.

3. Don’t tell me about the things you were expected to do; write about the things you did that no one ever dreamed possible. Most resumes describe tasks that hundreds of others perform in their jobs every day. What catches the hiring manager’s attention is the value you brought to that job task. For example, if you are an operations executive, don’t just write that you ran a call center. Instead, explain how you transformed its performance, implemented metrics to improve accountability and the customer experience, or saved money or time.

4. If no one returns your calls requesting a networking meeting, you are leaving the wrong message. Many people approach their contacts by saying something like, “If you know anyone who is hiring, please let me know.” It’s highly unlikely that your contact knows someone who is hiring for a position with your skill set right now. A better message would be to say, “I’m in a career transition and I would love to pick your brain to learn more about your company, the industry and trends in the profession. I wanted to reach out to you because I trust your opinion and value your advice.” By asking for information rather than a job, you are more likely to get a response and initiate a conversation. Many will be flattered that you asked and will reciprocate with whatever help they can offer.

5. People who don’t think online networking is relevant to their job search will become irrelevant to the hiring managers who think it is. Many job seekers are still reluctant to create an online digital footprint. But it’s becoming more difficult to substantiate being an expert in your profession when there is no online proof of your thought leadership. LinkedIn will be the social media tool of choice for many professionals — but don’t just create a shell of a profile. Optimize your professional image with proof of your accomplishments via strong stories of success, keywords, the LinkedIn publishing platform, and even case studies and videos if appropriate.

6. People think they should talk in general terms about career successes, but you build trust with interviewers by talking about specifics. The goal of the interview is to build trust and engagement. This is best done by showcasing stories about business problems you have solved that are relevant to the organization, not by focusing on the typical personality clichés. Telling the interviewer how you influenced the entire senior management team to fund a multimillion-dollar technology upgrade that in turn protected them from a cyber-security breach will be much more memorable than simply telling him you are a good communicator.

7. When hiring managers ask you in an interview what your weakness is, they already know. The goal is to figure out what they believe is the gap in your candidacy and address it head on. Perhaps you lack experience in a particular industry or don’t have the MBA they say is preferred. Show that while you don’t have a certain qualification, you have other skills that are more relevant and transferable. For example, an HR professional who doesn’t have hospital experience and is interviewing for a role in a hospital can focus on the similarities within the HR function that transcend industries. The candidate who lacks an MBA can show how they’ve solved business problems that are frequently solved by candidates who have the degree.

A job search is like a marathon. You can’t cut corners on the preparation and expect to cross the finish line in record time. Everyone who is in a job search wants the silver bullet. There isn’t one. Job searching, even under the best of circumstances, is a lot of work. Be prepared for a lot of rejection, but also for a lot of kindness and support along the way.

Forbes.com | May 10, 2016 | Forbes Coaches Council

Your #Career : 5 Mistakes People Make Straight Out of College…Whether you’re eady or Not, you will Need to Move Forward after College. Here are 5 Mistakes you Want to Avoid.

May 8, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Finishing college is a big accomplishment, and for many people, a big relief. College can be a lot of fun, but some people are just ready to start their careers and start the next phase of their lives. Whether you’re ready or not, you will need to move forward after college.

The years after graduating college should be exciting, and you can learn a lot and advance professionally and financially if you avoid financial and career mistakes.

Once you graduate though, making wise choices in your job search and at your first job, and smart financial decisions, will help set you up for a successful life and career. On the other hand, spending money like you will never run out, or failing to appreciate your first job and learn as much as possible, can set you down a bad path that can be hard to come back from.

Here are five mistakes you want to avoid.

1. Failing to take your job search seriously

Ideally, you will have a job set up before you graduate. If you don’t, you will want to make finding one your top priority. According to USA Today, you can get a job coach, and also network and reach out to people at a company that you want to work for. Don’t make the mistake of assuming a job will simply fall into your lap; you need to get out there and apply.

Also, be careful of taking just any job. While you have to pay your bills, you will be in a much better place career-wise if you can find a job in your field. This is another reason why you should start searching early.

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2. Coasting at your first job

Landing a job is a big deal, but don’t assume that just because you get a job, you will keep it. It’s important to work hard and prove that you deserve to be at the company. Particularly when you are working at your first job, you want to establish yourself as an asset to the company. Being lazy or doing the bare minimum will only hurt you later.

Even if your first job isn’t ideal, you can still make the most of it: learn as much as you can, grow professionally, and network. You never know how your hard work will pay off. Even if your first job isn’t as interesting as you want, or isn’t at the level that you want, working hard and showing that you are a loyal and innovative team member may lead to just the job you do want.

3. Spending money impulsively

Once you have a job, it can be exciting to spend the money you make. Having a lot of money for the first time can be exhilarating and it can be very dangerous as well. As tempting as it is to go out and buy a new car, new furniture, and splurge on many dinners out, try to limit your extravagant spending. You probably have some time before you need to start saving for retirement, but spending wildly just because you have a job won’t pay off in the long run.

According to U.S. News & World Report, you should consider the benefits your employer offers and take advantage of them; also, think about your fixed costs and about your future savings.

4. Ignoring debt

If you took out student loans, you probably have a grace period before you need to start repaying them. If you have other debt you need to pay off, then it’s reasonable to wait to pay off your student loans, especially if you have other debt with higher interest rates. However, it’s a good idea to pay off as much debt as you can now. You don’t need to pay the minimum due for your student loans, and if you have credit card debt, the same is true. The more you can pay off now, the more available funds you will have to save for traveling, a house, or retirement.

When you graduate college, you will most likely have as few responsibilities as you ever will. Now is the time to pay your debt if you can.

5.Forgetting about your health

Yes, you’re young, and it can be tempting to spend money on the things you want instead of investing in health insurance. However, if you are no longer on your parents’ plan (which you usually can be until you are 26 ifdependents are covered), you do need to think about coverage. Even if you are still on your parents’ plan, you won’t be forever and you need to look at what plans your company offers and the cost of those plans. Also, it’s important to consider how many years you have before you need to pay for the insurance, or how it will affect your budget.

If your parents can’t cover you, then be sure that you do sign up for coverage. Without health insurance, you risk a serious financial hardship if an expensive health surprise comes your way (this is also a good reason to have an emergency fund).

Also, when you are working full-time, it can be easy to neglect other aspects of your health, such as exercise or diet. Maintaining a healthy diet, and finding time for exercise, will help you save money on expensive health care costs later.

The years after graduating college should be exciting, and you can learn a lot and advance professionally and financially if you avoid financial and career mistakes.

CheatSheet.com | May 8, 2016 | Sienna Beard

#Leadership : 24 Tricky Job-Interview Questions the Best Companies in America are Asking….’If You Could be Remembered for One Sentence, What Would it Be?’ —Google Associate Account-Strategist Candidate

May 5, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

With excellent perks, great pay and benefits, and high job satisfaction, employees at this year’s 50 best companies to work for in America seem to have a good thing going for them. But before you start seething with envy, you should see some of the questions they had to answer to get there.

To find these difficult and sometime odd queries, Business Insider sifted through hundreds of reviews on Glassdoor submitted by people who recently interviewed at the top companies.

If you’re thinking of tossing your hat in the ring, be sure to prepare yourself for some real head-scratchers:

‘If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?’ —Google associate account strategist candidate

‘How many Big Macs does McDonald’s sell each year in the US?’ —Facebook data scientist candidate

‘If this wall was a brick wall, and you were a brick, where would you be in the wall? What impact does this have on the wall as a whole?’ —Expedia market associate candidate

‘Design a spice rack for the blind’ —Intel hardware engineer candidate

‘Choose a city and estimate how many piano tuners operate a business there’ —Google product manager candidate

‘How much do you charge to wash every window in Seattle?’ —Facebook online sales operations candidate

‘How many children are born every day?’ —Apple global-supply manager candidate

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‘If you were to go camping with friends, where would you put your tent?’ —Expedia Senior Financial Analyst candidate

‘What kind of tree would you be?’ —Cisco Systems senior technical writer candidate

‘Why are manholes round?’ —St. Jude Medical electrical-engineer co-op candidate

‘If I was talking to your best friend, what is one thing they would say you need to work on?’ —Apple red-zone specialist candidate

‘If you could be remembered for one sentence, what would it be?’ —Google associate account-strategist candidate

‘If you were standing in a crowd of people, how would you stand out?’ —Microsoft site manager candidate

‘If you were to help a customer who is stuck on a boat in the middle of nowhere, what would be the first thing that you would say to that person?’ —American Express CCSG candidate

‘If I give you $1 million right now, what would you do?’ —Google associate account strategist candidate

‘How would you build Facebook for blind people?’ —Facebook product Manager candidate

‘Sell me this pen’ —Pfizer pharmaceuticals sales representative candidate

‘If you had a choice between two superpowers — being invisible or flying — which would you choose?’ —Microsoft high-level product-lead/evangelist candidate

‘How do you estimate the safe distance from shore given that there could be a tsunami?’ —Ebay analytics manager candidate

‘At this stage in your life would you prefer earning or learning?’ —Google software engineer candidate

‘What were you like as a child?’ —Biogen area business manager candidate

‘Write a program to simulate the writing of a ransom note given a magazine from which letters can be extracted’ —Microsoft software engineer candidate

‘What was your best day in the last four years? What was your worst?’ —Apple engineering Project Manager candidate

‘How did your parents feel about your performance in high school?’ —Eli Lilly senior care sales specialist candidate

Businessinsider.com | May 5, 2016 | Rachel Gillett

Your #Career : 3 Skills You Need To Rock Your Interviews & Your Career…I’d Like to Share My Take on What Interviewing Really Is, & Why you Need to Be Interviewing & Out there Consistently & Regularly Talking to Other Employers, Leaders & Managers.

April 16, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If you can’t answer these questions, you can’t present a compelling story of who you are and what you have to offer. Secondly, you’ll not be able to guide your career to the level you want it. Amazing careers require a great deal of planning, vision and management, as well as a big dose of clarity, courage, and connection.

As a career coach, I work with hundreds of professional women each year who are in various states and stages of growth, leadership, and ascension. In our work together, there are key steps we walk through over a period of weeks and months to help them achieve what they’re hoping for (and everyone’s desires are different and special, of course).

One of the steps that corporate professionals are most resistant to, and intimidated by, is interviewing. And they don’t understand that they need to be interviewing regularly – every three to four months – regardless of how happy or unhappy they are in the current role.

Interviewing is essential for your growth, expanding your network, understanding your value in the marketplace, and crafting a career that will meet your highest goals. Interviewing is connecting in a powerful way, and articulating your highest visions of who you want to be in the working world, and finding people who are excited by that vision.

I’d like to share my take on what interviewing really is, and why you need to be interviewing and out there consistently and regularly talking to other employers, leaders and managers.

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What is the best kind of interviewing?

Interviewing at its best is an open, honest dialogue – a conversation between two interested people sharing their needs, preferences, and visions, and determining if there’s a match. So many corporate professionals don’t understand how critical it is to get out of your own company’s mindset, and explore and “try on” other avenues and approaches. In a recent talk I gave for the University of Connecticut and the National Association of Women MBAs, one senior-level executive shared with me that her mentor (at her company) advised strongly not to interview or find a job elsewhere, but to stay where she was. In my opinion, that’s bad advice. Always interview, so you can fully understand (and expand) your options and make the right choice based on as many opportunities as possible.

Interviewing for other jobs with other companies helps you see more clearly what you have and what you want next. Once you begin to embrace and enjoyinterviewing on a regular basis, you’ll find these positive outcomes will naturally occur:

You’ll understand your perceived value in the marketplace, and how well you’re faring against the competition.
You’ll see other ways of operating – other types of work, cultures, politics, policies and procedures, new exciting outcomes that other organizations are striving for, and other “ecosystems” that will inform your personal and professional desires and preferences.
You’ll make great connections (including powerful mentors and sponsors), who will open thrilling doors for you.
You’ll begin to see more clearly and refine exactly what you want to do with your talents and gifts.
You won’t feel so stuck and limited when it comes to the job you have.
Finally, you’ll be able to discern more clearly if what you have today at your current job and employer is really want you want.

What needs to happen before you can interview successfully? There are three essential skills you need to master before you can rock at your interviews and make the most of meeting new hiring managers and leaders at new companies:

Know and communicate precisely what you have to offer and what makes you, you

Again, in working with thousands of professionals, I’ve seen that that vast majority or working people simply can’t answer these fundamental questions:

What are you especially great at?
What stands you apart from the competition?
What do you adore about your current work, and what would you like to let go of?
What are visions for how you’d like to contribute professionally, in an ideal world and workplace?

Why should we be interested in you over others with your same training and experience?
What’s the ideal next role for you?
Why are you interested in us?
What types of people motivate and inspire you best?
What kinds of work outcomes are you most excited by?

If you can’t answer these questions, you can’t present a compelling story of who you are and what you have to offer. Secondly, you’ll not be able to guide your career to the level you want it. Amazing careers require a great deal of planning, vision and management, as well as a big dose of clarity, courage, and connection.

Network socially

After reviewing so many LinkedIn LNKD -0.93% profiles (and hearing from lots of my followers – now over 170,000), I can read your LinkedIn profile and in three minutes, identify a great deal about you that you didn’t realize you were communicating.

After all,

How you “do” LinkedIn is how you do your career.

I’m always stunned to see how many people just aren’t utilizing LinkedIn or other social networking tools to the fullest (or at all). They haven’t uploaded a photo. They use only their job title as their tagline. They don’t fill out their summaries or list in a compelling way the amazing accomplishments they’ve achieved. They don’t tell a story about who they really are and want to be in the workforce.

The harsh reality is that how you approach developing your digital profile and footprint is how you approach your professional identity. If you’re lazy, shy, uninspired, scared or reluctant to do the work to build a profile and connect with others in a committed, excited way, this is a strong indicator of how you’re operating at work as well.

In addition, you can’t just rely on digital networking to move you forward. You have to meet new people in person as well. Get out of the doldrums by “bringing yourself to market.” Attend industry association meetings, conferences, meetups, build a new networking group, etc. In other words, bring yourself forward in all ways possible to show the world who you really are. The people you meet with inspire, uplift and support you.

Envision and articulate what you want next

Because the majority of professionals I see come to me when they’re stuck, I’ve observed that human beings see only what’s at the tip of their noses. They forgot who they’ve been at their best or who they can be. If they’re unhappy in their careers, they experience only limitation, confusion, paralysis, exhaustion, toxicity, crushing politics, disillusionment, fear, malaise, and reluctance to change.

The problem with all that is that if limitation is all that you see regarding your own abilities and your past – then limitation is all you’ll get coming back at you in your future.

What to do instead? You need to think bigger and higher than what you see in front of you, and what you have been. Find new ways to be inspired by what’s possible for you, and talk in those terms – what you’re looking for, what lights you up, what compels you, what you’re capable of — rather than only what you’ve done and focused on to date.

If you need new sources of inspiration, go out and get them. For instance, watch one TED talk a day, or connect via social media with people who are 100 steps ahead of you doing what you long to do, and share their tweets and posts. Write an article on LinkedIn, or take a class that will inspire you. The more you connect with others who are making the impact you dream of, and with work that lights you up from the inside, the more you’ll see that what you dream of is not as far out of reach as you imagined.

Join me in my Amazing Career Project online course today to build a happier, more rewarding career.

Forbes.com | April 16, 2016 | Kathy Caprino

Your #Career : LinkedIn Thinks it Can Tell you How Likely You are to Get a #Job ….A New Patent Awarded to #LinkedIn on Tuesday Describes a System that Could Score your Success Chances & How your Strengths & Weaknesses.

April 7, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Applying for a job can be anxiety-inducing, but LinkedIn has come up with a way to tell you what your chances of getting a job could be — and what you can do to improve them.

A new patent awarded to LinkedIn on Tuesday describes a system that could score your success chances and show your strengths and weaknesses.

The LinkedIn system seeks to fix a problem that the company sees in today’s job hunting process: Employers often automatically reject candidates whose experience or education don’t match up exactly to a job listing. But the candidate has no idea why they were rejected.

“The user may not be informed about the basis of the rejection. Further, in the case of other users who may be competing for the same requirement, the user may not be informed about the cause,” the patent states.

The LinkedIn system is designed to give you that feedback when you apply for a job. LinkedIn could even offer suggestions like taking a professional course or moving to Los Angeles to gain better odds.

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There’s also a “predicted date of achievement” for how long it would take to get the job offer, according to the patent filing.

Talent business boost

Because it’s only a patent there’s no knowing whether success scores will be coming to LinkedIn any time soon. LinkedIn confirmed that the company was awarded a patent, but a spokeswoman reiterated that “patent acquisitions do not necessarily foreshadow new product innovations.”

LinkedIn ratings LinkedInWhat the feedback for premium subscribers looks like today.

For now, premium account holders can already see where they rank when they view a job posting based on their experience and company. That percentage only identifies where a person falls compared to other applicants, but not the likelihood of success or the weaknesses in an application.

Offering recommendations, though, could boost part of LinkedIn’s talent business.

The company bought Lynda.com, a site filled with online tutorials, and has been trying to turn it into a money maker for the company. Some things, like a move to LA to improve odds, are out of LinkedIn’s hands, but pushing its job training programs could easily fall into LinkedIn’s priorities.

Businessinsider.com | April 6, 2016 | Biz Carson

Your #Career : You Only have One Chance to Make a First impression…….When you Unintentionally MisUse or MisSpell a Word, you Appear to be Uneducated, & your Entire Message Loses any Sense of Credibility.

April 6, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

A client recently shared an email he had received from a competitor in his industry. The author of the email was attempting to position himself as an expert in their trade and belittle my client for his unique style of doing business. The email carried a negative tone and read as a stream-of-consciousness rant written in the late hours of the night with a bottle of scotch and a splash of venom.

It was quite obvious that the author did not proofread his document. The absence of punctuation and the six misspelled words did not compare to the closing statement: “There is no room in our industry for people like you who insist on going rouge.”

Let’s see—Dictionary.com defines rouge as: rouge n…….. A red powder, used as a cosmetic for adding redness to the cheeks.

A spellchecker will recognize rouge as a correctly spelled word—just as it will accept the spelling of the appropriate word: r-o-g-u-e.

When you unintentionally misuse or misspell a word, you appear to be uneducated, and your entire message loses any sense of credibility. As our poison-penned emailer may put it: “You’re nothing but a scoundrel with rosy-red cheeks.”

It is up to the writer to pay close attention to the content of their emails and letters. Words have many meanings. Read your messages out loud (we catch more mistakes that way), or have another person proof your work before you send your lyrical literature into the atmosphere.

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When a client sends a letter for me to review and tells me it was mailed yesterday, I’m wondering why they are wasting my time. I’m there to proof their work and maybe save them from embarrassment. I usually find several mistakes and will highlight their errors and send the document back for their wall of shame. Proofreading a document after it has been mailed is like closing the barn door after the horse has run away.

When your cover letter and resume are reviewed by hiring managers and they see inconsistencies, grammatical mistakes or spelling errors – what kind of impression are you making? When you express that you are “Detail Oriented” in your Profile and your resume is full of errors, do you think they will take you seriously?

If I see mistakes in a letter or resume it tells me the writer simply does not care. If I were making the decision to select this person for an interview, I would disqualify them immediately. Check the documents that you currently have online with the Job Boards, LinkedIn and all of your social media sites. There is a strong likelihood that you will find a mistake – hopefully not too embarrassing.

You only have one chance to make a first impression.

Excerpt from the book “Resume DNA – Succeeding In Spite Of Yourself” by John Singer ……. Read more: www.johnmsinger.com

For every position that interests you there are dozens, possibly hundreds of applicants. You need to make yourself stand out — but how? Resume DNA: Succeeding in Spite of Yourself is a practical blueprint for navigating your way through a complicated, competitive job market. You’ll learn to identify the qualities that distinguish you from your competition, write cover letters and resumes that demonstrate why you’re a good fit, deliver an opening statement that enables you to control the interview, work your network and pilot a proactive search in the “unpublished” job market, and much more. With humor and warm encouragement, Resume DNA: Succeeding in Spite of Yourself reminds you of what you’ve already accomplished . . . and teaches you how to leverage those accomplishments as you make your way up the career ladder. Available on Amazon.com

About the Author: John Singer

As a certified professional resume writer (CPRW) and a dedicated career coach and advisor, John Singer has mentored and motivated professionals to identify their unique skills and talents and transition into meaningful and rewarding careers. As president and owner of Professional Development Strategies, John is committed to equipping clients with the necessary tools to communicate their strengths, build and establish professional networks, and secure positions that will allow them to soar professionally.

Earlier in his career, John was an episodic television writer and member of the Writers Guild of America. With a noted career in the broadcasting industry as a station owner/operator and radio personality, John combines his experience in business, marketing, and communication to inspire others to reach their highest levels of professional performance.

John Singer resides in Tucson, Arizona, providing outplacement services for companies internationally. He is a motivational speaker who educates and entertains his audience with practical advice on business, branding, career search, and life.

Your #Career : 10 Signs You’ve Stayed at Your Job Too Long…So How Do you Know it’s Time to Move On & Try Something New?

March 26, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

According to Business Insider, the average person spends 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime. Since work comprises most of our lives, it is critical that you spend time at the right company, pursuing the right opportunities. Among so-called middle-class wage earners, work is glorified. People vie to be the first in and the last out of the office or laboratory in order to prove their dedication (The Harvard Business Journal).

Americans don’t just spend physical hours at work. Work also composes our mental energy even when not in the office; stressing, reminiscing highlights, reflecting, or replaying exchanges with our bosses and co-workers.

So how do you know it’s time to move on and try something new?

You dread getting out of bed in the morning

There are times when we simply just don’t want to go to work. But when the thought of going to work is filled with loathing, or you are constantly convincing yourself that you are just having a bad week or month, then it’s more than likely that your job isn’t the right fit.

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You are not included in key meetings and decisions

This is a telltale sign that you are being phased out. When your expertise is no longer needed or valued, chances are you are no longer seen as an asset to your employers.

Your work performance and productivity has slipped

You stop coming in early, staying late or taking on extra projects to get ahead. The work you produce is not something you are very proud of, often put off until the last minute. However, it is enough to keep you from getting reprimanded for not doing your job, and also not stand out enough to warrant being assigned additional tasks and/or projects.

Technology will soon make your job obsolete

Technological advancement is occurring rapidly. Many jobs that once relied on the skills of a single person may not be the case anymore. It is important to consider training and/or retraining in your field to continue to make yourself valuable to your company. Additionally, with the rise of technology it is important to consider that your skillset may need to evolve beyond your scope and line of work and into another discipline.

You frequently waste time surfing the internet and social media outlets

You spend less time working and more time surfing the internet, watching videos, or in the break room. Much of your time is spent intentionally distracting yourself from your job duties as you count down the minutes until you can leave.

Your personal life is suffering

Business Insider has observed that couples in which one partner spends 12+ hours more than the usual 40 hours at work divorce at twice the average rate. So, whether it’s the physical hours you spend at work, the time at home engaged in work-related projects, or the time you invest your mental energy distracted or stressed about work—when work permeates into your personal life, it is time to consider new options.

You are not learning or growing

You are not challenged by your work and your skillset is not being fully utilized. Your work should enhance your skills, ultimately adding to your value as an employee. Trainings are review, not applicable to your work, or nonsensical for one reason or another. As a result, you frequently try to concoct doctors appointments or other personal reasons as to why you cannot attend company meetings, trainings or events.

You harbor resentment for your boss and colleagues

Regardless of your place in a situation, you blame your boss and/or colleagues for your lack of success, not being promoted, or your shortcomings. Often times, you find yourself bitter and jealous of others.

Staff and budget cuts

When budgets and staffing are cut, you and your team are still expected to produce the same amount of work with significantly less manpower and financial means. Meeting deadlines will be challenging and work quality will certainly suffer; ultimately putting your job at risk.

You are no longer passionate about your work

Your job and the work associated with it just doesn’t interest you anymore. The corporate culture doesn’t seem to fit your personality. Even after a vacation, or time away from your work; you come back feeling deflated, uninspired, and disconnected upon returning to the office. If recharging doesn’t reinvigorate your passion or interest for your job, it is time to investigate things that may do so.

Forbes.com | January 26, 2016 | Jennifer Cohen

Your #Career : What Recent College Grads Don’t Know About Getting Their First ‘Real’ Job … What Many New Graduates Don’t Fully Realize is the Amount of Competition Out There that They’re up Against. While Employers are Hungry for Talent, They have a Healthy Pool to Choose From. And Many of Those Candidates Already have Experience.

March 24, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

As a career coach and a mom with college-aged children readying themselves for the workforce, I hear from a lot of parents and recent grads with questions about how to best prepare for the “real world.” They want to know exactly what young adults can do today to position themselves powerfully to hit the ground running and land their first bona fide professional role right out of school.

I have my own thoughts about that, but I wanted to check in with a career expert who works extensively with recent college grads and who’s in the trenches helping young adults do what’s required to get hired quickly. I was excited to catch up this week with Ryan Kahn, a nationally-recognized career expert and star of MTV’s docu-series, Hired as well as creator of the video course How To Get Hired and founder of The Hired Group.

Here’s what Ryan shared.

Ryan Kahn (Photo Courtesy of The Hired Group)

Kathy Caprino: Ryan, what’s the first thing you think new grads should know about landing their first real job?

Ryan Kahn: What many new graduates don’t fully realize is the amount of competition out there that they’re up against. While employers are hungry for talent, they have a healthy pool to choose from. And many of those candidates already have experience. Many new grads have been led to believe there’s an ocean of great jobs just waiting to hire them and give them a signing bonus, but the reality is that, while new grads have a lot to offer, they’ll have to work extra hard to catch the attention of hiring managers.

Caprino: What’s the biggest mistake you see new grads making as they prepare to get their first job?

Kahn: Most often I see graduates missing the boat when it comes to planning ahead. And that’s understandable. Students are focused on classes and graduating. A lot of times preparing for the job market just doesn’t fit into their schedule. But there’s a lot students can do before they graduate to better position themselves when it’s time to start job hunting.

Get internships—as early and as often as you can.

Getting experience before you graduate is one of the biggest advantages you can create for yourself. Will it be a challenge to fit into your already packed academic schedule? Sure. Will it be worth it when you’re asked to list your qualifications and experience on a job application? Absolutely.

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Always be networking.

Not many people love networking, but it’s one of the most important secret weapons in your job search armory. Join clubs, attend meetups and conferences, and talk to your fellow students and faculty. Develop relationships with people that share your interests and you can learn from.

Start a portfolio.

Even if you don’t have tons of “real world” experience when you graduate, I’m willing to bet you have lots of great examples of college projects you can share.

Caprino: What are new grads missing when it comes to the interview process?

Kahn: Landing an interview is super exciting, especially if it’s for your first job. A lot of recent grads overlook some important rules of interviewing that could knock them out of the running. Here’s what they should keep in mind:

Be persistent, but not a pest.

One of the hardest things about interviewing is waiting for an update from the employer. There’s a fine line between following up and driving a hiring manager crazy with requests for updates. Establish a timeline for when you’ll be following up, and stick to it. For example, before you leave the interview, don’t be afraid to ask when you should expect to hear something. Also offer to reach out yourself in a week in the event you don’t hear anything.

Remember that you’re interviewing the employer, too.

A lot of folks new to the job market don’t realize that they’re not the only ones being interviewed. Finding the right fit is an important factor in succeeding at your first (of any future) jobs, so it’s important that candidates be prepared with a few insightful questions they plan to ask in an interview.

Study the culture.

Culture is increasingly becoming an important differentiator when it comes to attracting talent. And that means companies are really looking for candidates that fit into their existing culture. Do your research on a company before interviewing. Dig deep into the company’s hiring pages, read interviews with executives and scour social media for existing employees. Your goal is to get a sense for what the company values when it comes to culture, and make sure you’re aligned with that mission before you show up to interview.

Caprino: Any final words of advice new grads probably haven’t heard before?

Kahn: I think the biggest point most new grads miss is to remember that landing a new gig isn’t just about them—it’s about your potential employer, your mentors, and your network. Here’s what to know:

Celebrate failure.

When you’re looking for a job, it’s tempting to focus on your successes and shy away from failure. But the reality is that everyone who can help you along the way will be able to offer better advice if they know where you need the most guidance. Failure is a part of growing into your career, so embrace it and be open about it with your network.

Make yourself useful.

Your network will be filled with busy people. Take some time to figure out howyou can help them, and offer up your services. For example, if your mentor runs a blog, offer to write a few posts for them. Or it could even be as simple as forwarding along interesting articles you think people in your network might find helpful.

Don’t be so confident.

While a little confidence is always a good thing, too much of it can rub people the wrong way — especially those in positions to help you. Stay humble and let the folks in your network show you what they know. By giving them the opportunity to show off their skills, you’ll prove that you’re ready and willing to learn.

* * * * * * *

My favorite tip here from Ryan is “celebrate failure.” Truly relish it. After 30 years in business, I’ve found that it’s our failures, missteps and detours that provide the most vital lessons and shape our understanding of who we really are and where we want to go. The sooner we realize that “failures” are a healthy, useful (in fact, essential) part of building a great and rewarding career (and stop beating ourselves up about them), the sooner we can get moving doing the important work of attracting and creating the most rewarding roles, projects and relationships that will support our highest goals.

For more information, visit The Hired Group.

To build a rewarding career, join my free webinar series The Quickest Path To Your Happiest Career.

Forbes.com | March 24, 2016 | Kathy Caprino