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#YourCareer : These Workers Wanted to Quit Their Jobs. They Got Promoted Instead. Best Time in Decades to Explore Jobs. A MUst REad for All!

January 23, 2022/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

As a record number of workers quit their jobs, some are finding good reasons to stay.

For some people, talking to supervisors about the need for a change or a raise came with quick results in recent months. Requests that would often be bumped down the line, or turned down completely, resulted in promotions and more pay.

Taylor Pratt, 37, was feeling burned out, so he quit his group product manager job last January at Zapier Inc., a business software provider. He rejoined in October after agreeing to a new manager role and commitments to address the burnout issues.

“They genuinely listened. It wasn’t just like a lot of ‘yeah, uh-huh,’” he said. “They cared that I was making the right move coming back and to make sure that we found the right fit.”

Many employees feel empowered to strike out in search of higher salaries and bigger roles, and they aren’t afraid to quit. In a recent Gallup poll of more than 14,000 U.S. workers, 48% said they were actively looking, up from 46% in 2019. Workers handed in a record number of resignations in November—many of them to take new jobs. Now, more firms are budgeting more money to pay raises in the hopes of keeping talent from walking out the door.

Ebony Martin, a lab technician in Chicago started looking for a new job after separating from her husband during the pandemic and feeling stalled in her career. The 38-year-old considered other companies and even new industries as she tried to break out of her role at a Chicago hospital. Finally, she talked to her supervisor about the need for better hours, given her experience and desire to spend more time with her son.

Ms. Martin’s boss was sympathetic and tipped her off about a soon-to-post role in another lab at the same hospital. She put her hand up, landed the higher-paying job in October and decided to stay.

“I was really happy—not just because of the job benefits, but the work-life balance and being able to spend more time with my three-year-old,” Ms. Martin said, adding that she would have quit if the new job hadn’t materialized.

Andrea H. Pagnozzi, a Boston-based career coach whom Ms. Martin worked with, said she has seen a recent uptick in clients who want advice about whether to stay in a job they had considered quitting when their bosses offered them a new role or raise, or produced a counteroffer when they tried to resign.

“There’s such a war [for] talent right now that it’s a candidate’s market and they’re holding court,” said Tiffany Dyba, a New York-based recruiter and career consultant. Ms. Dyba said she’s seen more companies make counter offers with promotions or raises and retain employees she had hoped to recruit.

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

Did you know? First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

Article continued …

John Gross started thinking about quitting his consulting job in Pittsburgh in the early days of the pandemic, even though he’d only been at the firm for eight months.

“I am always looking at my options,” he said. “At the end of the day, you’re an employee who is working for a company, and it’s your job to make sure you’re getting your market value.”

While eyeing other roles during 2020, the 35-year-old earned a promotion in his project-management role that December. It came with a 20% salary increase. In June 2021, he started a new role in business development. By December, he earned another 8% raise.

Mr. Gross said the opportunities at his existing employer have slowed his move to a larger market and bigger firm. He decided it was worth prioritizing learning new skills from his new roles, banking on that knowledge proving useful over his career.

“You can’t guarantee you’ll get that skill set somewhere else,” he said.

After getting passed over for a promotion, Jordan Lawshe contemplated quitting his job as an operator at a chemical plant where he has worked since 2018.

“It was really discouraging and I wanted to give up,” said the 27-year-old, who lives in Baldwin County, Alabama. “I put in a lot of hard work there and invested so much time. I thought that would speak for itself.”

Mr. Lawshe looked for other jobs but ultimately decided to hang on at the plant in the hopes there would be another round of openings. This summer he was promoted from operator to supervisor and said he was happy to learn other supervisors put his name forth as a contender.

“I feel a whole lot better now,” he said.

WSJ. com Author:

WSJ.com – January 7, 2022

#BestofFSCBlog : #SocialMediaNetworking – Leveraging the Power of LinkedIn Groups. A MUst REad for All!

June 15, 2021/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

No doubt, you know by now that LinkedIn is the place to be if you are an executive or professional looking to advance in your career. But just how can you leverage the power of LinkedIn to do that? One of many ways you can leverage LinkedIn is by participating in different groups. Joining a few groups can boost your LinkedIn profile development, since you’ll naturally gain more connections as a result. However, you have to be careful with how you approach these groups.

Here are some great tips on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and expand your network by joining groups.

Be Wise When Choosing Groups

Currently, there are over 2 million active LinkedIn groups with 8,000 joining the ranks each week. You could join 50 groups, but you can’t actually utilize that many, nor do you need to join that many to leverage LI’s power. Consider joining groups related to your industry, your social life, interests, hobbies, school affiliation, and other similar groups. The more groups you join with relevance to your interests, the better chance you’ll have of expanding your network properly with people you can relate with.

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

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

Article continued …

Observe Group Conversations

Once you join a group, watch and learn. Don’t jump into the conversation right away. People in groups are generally familiar with one another, so they may not like it if you barge in on their discussions. Instead, sit back and observe conversations for a few days or a couple of weeks. See how the group members interact with one another, so you’re able to fit in more naturally once you become more active in the group.

Introduce Yourself

After taking some time to observe the climate and determining whether this group is a good fit, write a nice introduction to the group. Tell them to visit your LinkedIn profile to learn your background, but also tell them things about yourself that aren’t on your profile. The more you talk about yourself, the wider range of people you’ll be able to relate to. When you’re trying to boost your LinkedIn profile with more connections, relating to people is the best way to go.

Become Active

Now that you’ve introduced yourself, be sure to reply to any comments welcoming you to the group. From that point on, people are at least familiar with your name and would enjoy having you in discussions. One mistake people often make is not being active in a group, so other members will forget about you. Activity in LinkedIn groups is the best way to expand your network. The hard part is over—find the group and introducing yourself. Now, be active and participate in the group.

FSC Career Blog Author: Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

FSC Career Blog – June 15, 2021

#JobSearch : How To Land A New Job In Tough Times. What Is the Ideal Strategy to Land a New Job? A MUst Read!

December 1, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Yesterday a Baby Boomer called me with a question that many of you might be tossing around. Sandy asked, “I really dislike my current boss, and I want to leave this job, but should I just be grateful I have a job and not try for a new one? The pandemic has caused so much bad news about company closings, reduced hiring, and my brother just lost his job. It has got me down, so should I stop complaining, suck it up, and hang on for another year or two until times are better?”

Sandy’s fear is understandable. She thinks that few employers are hiring, which is not valid. I never advocate for anyone to remain in a miserable work situation. Understanding she needs a paycheck, I suggested that she test the hiring waters to see if her skills are in demand. I reassured her that I’ve just had four clients get hired for great paying jobs. Two were Baby Boomer professionals making over six-figures. Another was a 2020 grad getting an excellent opportunity to launch his career in a field he wanted. Lastly, the mid-level client who got the remote job he wanted.

There are new opportunities available. So, don’t assume all the bad news means you can’t land a better job – YOU CAN! It will take more time than before. You must use some job search savvy and know what is effective and what doesn’t work. You need to take the calculated risk and see what develops. I think you’ll be surprised by the positive results if you implement the right job-hunting strategies.

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

Article continued …

What is the ideal strategy to land a new job? The answer is being referred to the company and the hiring manager by an employee or colleague they know. Jobvite, a talent acquisition system reported that employee referrals only make up about 7% of potential candidates, but the number of those referred candidates hired is 44%. 44%! That makes this well worth the effort to try and locate a connection to someone inside the company. LinkedIn is the ideal place to search for contacts and obtain a referral.

In today’s challenging economy, people who learn and use networking techniques will be those that succeed. But for some people, the task of networking is hard to do. Ken was a Program Manager for a tech company who had lost his job because of the Covid pandemic. He became a client and told me he had no network to speak of. Ken had no LinkedIn profile and did not belong to professional or civic organizations. An introvert, Ken disliked the idea of networking, but he did email a few colleagues and his old boss, but no one had any job openings, so he stopped. We started our career counseling sessions by educating Ken on what today’s job search involved.

First, I wrote him a powerful resume, and then we developed a complete LinkedIn Profile. I gave him the mission to make connections with a target of obtaining at least 300. Next, we worked on having him learn some effective networking strategies. He was surprised by the fact that according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University report, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. Learning more effective techniques, he began again. The changes he made worked. Recruiters contacted him, and an old colleague he found on LinkedIn passed on his resume for a great job opportunity at her company. The employer called, and after several interviews, he was selected and hired for a terrific new job.

Today’s job market requires you to approach the job hunt differently than before. Here are a few tips to get started.

Increase your contacts. LinkedIn has become the place to collect contacts. An excellent way to farm for connections is to think about all the people you have worked with. Note former bosses, coworkers, colleagues, vendors, anyone you interacted with at your last job, and other positions you have held. Many people add their company’s Executive leadership team too. Next, invite your friends, neighbors, family, and college alum friends. Then branch into your professional associations and connect with those folks, especially the group’s leadership team, and board members. When it comes to networking, the more connections you have, the better.

Do not waste a contact. Do not approach people until you are ready. A common mistake is to frantically call EVERYONE you’ve ever met and say, “I’m looking for a job – do you know of one?” Huge error! You must clearly articulate the specific job title, company, and kind of company you want to work for. Instead, you can reach out to connections individually. Calls are great, emails work, and if you don’t have those, use LinkedIn to send them a message. Tell the contact you are job hunting. Be specific on the job title you seek. Ask them what is happening in their company. Don’t expect them to know of a job, but some will and usually share that information as they want to help you. Another thing to ask is if a job comes up at their company, would they pass on your resume. Most times, the answer is yes.

Have Your Resume Ready. The goal of your resume is to secure interviews. Is your resume updated and downright the best it can be? Will it get through the employer’s Applicant Tracking System? Is it full of accomplishments and the results you achieved on the job? Will it stand out in a crowd? Find out before you network. A useful Forbes article to read to ensure your resume is topnotch and will impress employers is: Employers Ignoring Your Resume? 5 Mistakes To Avoid.

Dig deep so you can use a Referral. When you hear of an opening or find the opportunity online, go to LinkedIn and search “the employer’s name” and use the “people” drop-down tab. This will bring up anyone in your online network who works there. You can also see 2^nd connections and who you know that may know someone at that company. Reach out to the person and tell them about the opening you plan to apply for, and would they be willing to pass on your resume to HR or the recruiter. Some companies pay their employees for any referred person they hire, so this might help your contact too. Forward on your resume. Just to cover all bases, do apply online for the job opening also. You want to be found in the employer’s system if the connection doesn’t come through. (Most do, in my experience).

Know What to Say. Be able to offer a concise intro about your skills and experience when talking to connections, recruiters, and eventually hiring managers. A technique I call the 60 Second Sell (outlined in this Forbes article Best Way To Open An Interview To Secure A Job Offer) gives you the easy formula to create your persuasive elevator speech and verbal business card. You want to quickly outline experience, your top strengths, and some key outcomes you’ve achieved on the job as you only have about one minute to impress them.

It’s a whole new job market, so you’ll move ahead of the competition if you use these strategies.

Forbes.com | December 1, 2020 | Robin Ryan

#JobSearch : How to Get a Job. Landing the Job you Want, Specially in a Competitive Field, goes Beyond Having the Right Skills and Experience.

November 24, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Landing the job you want, especially in a competitive field, goes beyond having the right skills and experience. How you communicate, how organized and prompt you are, and how you present yourself will determine whether you are selected over other candidates. Arming yourself with knowledge about the company and role will demonstrate that you have done your research. Preparing for a range of questions shows you can think on your feet.

“Network with purpose and have a plan, an end goal and time frame,” says Marjorie Miller, a partner at executive search firm Mitchel Lake Group. “Something that helps you keep on track and keeps you to a schedule, so your search isn’t so open-ended.”

The following steps will help prepare you to land the job you want.

1- Nail down the basics.

Your cover letter and résumé, which concisely explain your experience and skills, are the basic but essential building blocks of landing the job. Some employers use automated systems to scan résumés to see if you are a match. Most résumés need to first get past that automated system for you to be considered in the first place. If you can’t get past that, you may never have the opportunity to show you are right for the job. Make sure your résumé is in the most simple format possible. You might need multiple versions of your résumé that are tailored for the specific jobs you are applying for. You’re going to need to write cover letters that have a personal touch for each role.

Quick tips

Keep it simple. Stick to the most standard formatting possible with your résumé.
Use keywords. The more frequently certain keywords appear in a job description, the more important they likely are. Make sure those words are included in your résumé.
Tailor your cover letter. Your cover letter should be specific to the company and job you are applying to.

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

Article continued …

2- Know where to look.

Once you are armed with a solid résumé, explore several different avenues to find the job you want. Online job boards are the most common path, but they are only the beginning. Don’t limit your search there. Networking with people in your industry, seeking out job placement agencies and recruiters, and joining professional organizations can improve your odds of not only finding a job, but finding the role that is best-suited to you. “Network with purpose and have a plan, an end goal and time frame,” says Marjorie Miller, a partner at executive search firm MitchelLake Group. “Something that helps you keep on track and keeps you to a schedule, so your search isn’t so open-ended.”

Key takeaways

Networking can be your most powerful tool. Seek out contacts in your target industry.
Professional organizations can open doors when you don’t yet have an inside track.
Agencies and recruiters can be your job advocates, helping you focus your efforts elsewhere.

3- Be open to remote work.

Many employers are allowing staff to telecommute and work from anywhere, which wasn’t always the case. This could give you the chance to work for companies that might normally have required you to uproot your life and relocate. “Since workers are no longer constrained to work for companies in their own cities and towns, they can consider every company across the globe as a potential employer,” says John H. Chuang, chief executive of Aquent, a staffing company for the marketing and creative industries. “This increases their earning power and also enables companies to compete for and retain the best talent available worldwide.”

4- Make sure your public presence is in order.

Employers are probably going to look at how you present yourself to the public, since this could reflect on them if they hire you. That means you should feel comfortable with what they may find on your social media, personal websites and search results. Think about how your posts and content may be perceived and if you would feel confident discussing it in an interview. This can work in your favor. Ideally, your social-media presence should be a way for employers to see that your interests align with the role or the values of the company. Having a personal website showcasing your work at previous jobs can be a big advantage to allow you to stand out from other candidates. LinkedIn is also a useful personal-branding platform if you keep your profile up-to-date and include a strong headline, well-written summary and keywords. It is also a place to post content relevant to your industry or career.

5- Do your research.

Read up on the company you want to work for. When you attend an interview, you should be able to communicate how you can be a valuable asset to the company. You should be able to articulate why you want to work for this employer, why this particular role is appealing to you and what makes you the right person for this position. Prepare yourself with answers to the most common interview questions. Think of ways to personalize your answer to show how your unique experiences or skills qualify you for the job. Share a story of a success you had or a challenge you overcame. Preparation helps you to come across as someone who is comfortable, confident and can think on their feet.

6- Sharpen your soft skills.

Your soft skills—such as how you communicate, your ability to work well and collaborate with others, and adaptability to change—are highly coveted by employers. The way you answer behavior-based questions can help determine how strong those skills may be.

The little things mean a lot: Showing up early to an interview; bringing extra copies of your résumé; dressing appropriately; thinking about your posture: these can help to demonstrate your soft skills, such as reliability, organization and professionalism. You want to appear confident, and being prepared goes a long way toward putting yourself in that mindset.

Get outside help: One way you could refine these things would be to get a career coach, if it is within your means. “It’s a great exercise to help you refine and define your brand,” says Ms. Miller.

7- Follow up and be gracious.

After your interview, make sure you follow up to thank each of the people you met for their time and consideration. You should mention something specific from your conversation to show you paid close attention. Explain briefly why you think you would be a good fit and tell the interviewer you look forward to continuing the conversation.

8- Make sure the culture is right for you.

The ideal job should allow your best qualities, passion and skills to shine. Don’t try to fit into a role that you will be unhappy getting up every day to do. You only get so many opportunities to make a new start, so make this one count. Get to know the employer’s culture. If you have been thoughtful about the companies and positions you are applying for, your best self will shine through. Remember that the employer isn’t just hiring you—you are also choosing who to offer your talents to and spend your time working with.

What to do next

WSJ.com | November 20, 2020 | Anthony DeRosa

#JobSearch : How To Look For Jobs At The Right Salary Level. How to Search for a Job in your Salary Range or Higher.

November 10, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

This reader wants advice on finding a new job at his current salary or higher:

I’d like to get a salary in the same range as my last job, perhaps even 10 or 15 percent more. That being said, salary isn’t the most important aspect of getting a new job. Should I start my search looking only for jobs that will be in my pay range, or during the current pandemic/economic crisis, is it more realistic that I might have to settle for less? – David

You can’t reliably target jobs by salary level because pay isn’t always listed in the job description

While salary is an important consideration in deciding your next job, it is a tough criteria to target in researching job opportunities because salary is often not posted publicly. If you only apply for jobs where the salary is included in the job description, you will go after a much smaller subset of available jobs, especially at the senior levels. You are better off targeting jobs based on industry, function or role, size of company, specific responsibilities, title or other criteria that are readily available and searchable.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search: https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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

Article continued …

Use job title to approximate pay

Job title is a more readily available criteria and can approximate pay. Job titles are typically tied to experience level – e.g., associate v. manager v. VP – and pay typically rises along with experience. Therefore, a job candidate can filter for higher level titles and essentially also be filtering for higher pay. Keep in mind, however, that titles vary across industries, and even company by company. If a company prioritizes a flat hierarchy without a lot of management titles, you may miss out on openings at these types of companies if you over-rely on title in your job search.

Use job responsibilities to approximate pay

The job responsibilities – i.e., what the role requires day-to-day and what results the new hire is expected to produce — is another way to approximate pay and more detailed and nuanced than what a job title can convey. Two jobs can have a similar title, say Director, but if one is responsible for a larger team, larger budget, larger region and/or larger impact on the employer’s bottom line, then you can probably assume that it offers a higher salary than a smaller scope of responsibilities. I say “assume” because some employers will have high expectations but may not have the budget to match. I once had a client who was interviewing for a job that involved launching an initiative across several countries, which could potentially add tens of millions of dollars to the company’s bottom line. Yet, the role was budgeted at a similar salary to a junior manager. Job responsibilities might approximate pay, but not always.

Target jobs you want and then negotiate the pay

The most exhaustive way to find jobs at the right salary level isn’t to rely on approximations like title or responsibility level at all, but to apply for jobs that you want and then negotiate the pay. For example, you may really want to work for a specific company, but it only advertises a lower-level job in the area where you could be a fit. Network your way into that company, ideally reaching the head of the group you want to work in. Then, propose specific contributions that you could make, which should be broader and more impactful than the lower-level job and therefore command higher pay. If the company really wants you, they may grow the job to justify increasing the pay. Or the company may still hire the junior role, but create another opening just for you.

Focus more on your individual impact than market conditions

Another benefit of targeting jobs you want and negotiating the pay after the fact is that it is a proactive and empowering way to manage your job search. You focus more on your individual impact than market conditions, like what jobs happen to be posted or how the general economy is doing. Today’s market is heavily influenced by the pandemic and the uncertainty it has wrought.

Companies have a harder time planning needs, budgets and therefore job openings. Of course, this will impact your individual job search. You have to be prepared for a potentially longer job search as some companies will take longer to make hiring decisions. You have to be prepared to stick to and negotiate your value if a company insists their budget has decreased. The difficult market conditions could influence your job search but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for less.

Forbes.com | October 9, 2020 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine

#JobSearch : 3 Reasons You’re Not Getting More Job Interviews (Even Though You’re Qualified). “Screw This! I Can Do Better!”

October 30, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

“Screw this! I can do better!” Some variation of this usually pops in your head the moment you decide to get serious about searching for a new position. Fueled with excitement and optimism, the idea of landing a new job elsewhere seems worth the effort.

But, after more rejection emails than you’re willing to admit, you start to wonder if you’re really cut out for the next step in your career. You question if now is the right time, if you should stay put and if you’re even qualified. Even though you know you have what it takes to excel in the role you want, the lack of job interviews makes you contemplate if you’re in over your head, especially given the current job market.

However, rather than second-guessing your skills, it might be time to reevaluate your job search approach instead. Here are three reasons you’re not getting more job interviews even though you know you’re qualified for the roles you want.

You’re not clear on what you want to do next.

Most people, whenever you ask them what they want, they’ll usually tell you what they don’t want instead. But, it’s not enough to want to leave your current job, you have to know where you’re headed. Especially at a time when the job market isn’t what it used to be, you can’t afford to toss your resume out into the wind and hope for the best. Applying for jobs without crystal clear clarity is a sure way to get denied, even when you know you’re qualified.

When you’re not clear on which type of jobs you should pursue, you risk appearing overqualified for some jobs and unqualified for others. So many high-achievers tell me that they’re frustrated because they keep hearing that they’re amazing but they’re not getting hired. One of the main reasons for that is because, even with great experience, without a clear focus on what you want to do next, it’s much harder to communicate in your resume and application why you’re the best person for the job. Getting crystal clear on the type of roles you want next not only makes your job search more organized and more efficient but also makes you a better candidate, which increases your chance of landing more job interviews when you apply for the right roles.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search: https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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

Article continued …

You’re not clearly showing why you’re ready for the roles you want.

If you’re always hearing from your family and friends that your resume looks good but you never seem to hear back from companies when you apply for jobs, then you’re likely struggling in this area. Even if you’re clear on the roles you want next, if you’re not clearly showing why you’re ready for them, your efforts will be futile.

For instance, if you’re ready to finally secure a senior management position, but your resume only talks about projects and supporting tasks and doesn’t mention one word about your leadership skills and your ability to manage or develop a team, then you’re not clearly showing why you’re ready for the management position. To get more job interviews, you need to show how your experience aligns with the roles you desire next. Don’t just outline your career history in your resume and hope someone is willing to take the time to understand why they should hire you. Eliminate the guesswork and show how your experience has prepared you for the next step in your career.

You’re not clear on how to stand out ahead of the crowd.

If you’re still applying to eight jobs a day, stuffing your resume with keywords, and only relying on application portals to get noticed, then you’re probably not clear on how to stand out ahead of the crowd. Worse, if you’re still waiting for recruiters to reach out to you on LinkedIn, without being proactive, then you’re limiting yourself and your job opportunities. Once you know what you want, and how to show you’re ready for it, you have to be willing to take it a step further to stand out and impress hiring managers.

But, I get it. Maybe you’re still wondering if it’s even possible to stand out in the current job market. If so, the answer is a resounding yes. One of my clients recently landed her first director role at a competitive company in the middle of a pandemic and the recruiter told her that she beat out 4,000 candidates for the position. But it wasn’t because she got lucky. It was because she decided to stand out and be strategic. She mastered how to reach out directly to the right hiring managers. She decided to get out of her comfort zone. She learned how to genuinely connect with new people at companies she loved and she didn’t just wait and hope for the best.

If you’re having trouble getting interviews, instead of doubting your skills, doubt your strategy. It might be time to take a step back. Get crystal clear on what you want, take the time to show you’re ready for it, and master how to stand out ahead of the crowd.

Author: Adunola Adeshola coaches high-achievers on how to take their careers to the next level and secure the positions they’ve been chasing. Grab her free guide.

Forbes.com | October 29, 2020

#JobSearch : A 7-Step Job Search Plan To Beat The Tough Economy. A Seven Step Job Search Plan that has Gotten Results!

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

Job searches go faster when job-seekers first take a step back to plan strategically. And careful planning has become even more important during these challenging economic times. Think of it this way; your “job” in a job search is to be a world-class consultative salesperson, for yourself. So do what the best salespeople do: plan carefully first, to get the highest return on your time investment.

Here’s a seven step job search plan that has gotten results for my clients, and that any great salesperson would appreciate.

1. Start with the audience. Define your audience using two parameters so that you can understand and market to them effectively. Vary one of these two parameters and your pitch needs to change to resonate with the new audience:

The position description, including the level. “Finance” doesn’t cut it; “Chief Finance Officer” or “Financial Analyst” does, because of the very different ways you need to sell yourself for each of these roles.
The type of organization, including the industry, for profit vs. non-profit, startup or global Fortune 100, and so forth. For example, a CFO at a startup will be expected to pitch in beyond their finance role more so than would a CFO at an established global company.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

Article continued …

2. Craft messages that will resonate with your target audience in your resumes, LinkedIn profile, emails, cover letters, and your networking and interview pitches. Which keywords, phrases, skills and experience would gain their interest? Find out by researching a) the words and phrases used in job postings, b) the LinkedIn profile content of those that do what you want to do, c) online publications for your field, d) blog posts and articles of relevant thought-leaders, and e) the “Investors” section on public company websites.

3. Make sure your target audience is big enough. Does your job target have enough potential so that your search won’t become a years-long odyssey? By “potential,” I mean the number of positions that exist, whether open or filled. You want to fish in a sea with a lot of fish so you’re more likely to catch one! Try to target roughly 200 potential positions, to help ensure you can complete your search in two to four months.

For example, a client was looking for a Chief Marketing Officer role at mid-sized technology companies in a remote part of the U.S. and identified 13 companies that met the definition. She thus identified only 13 potential positions, since each of these 13 companies has only one CMO.

This small number implies a very long search given that most positions will be filled, and for those that are not she would be competing with lots of candidates. She was ultimately able to target roughly 200 potential positions by expanding her geography, the types of roles she was willing to accept, and the industries to which she was open. And she did in fact land a role about three months after expanding her audience.

4. Prioritize your valuable job search time. Plan to spend 80% of your time on the “active” marketing channels that are getting my clients (and my colleagues’ clients) roughly 80% of their interviews: networking (that is, getting introductions) and cold-calls/emails. Spend the remaining 20% of your time on the “passive” channels for getting interviews – job postings and search firms.

5. Think broadly about your network, then plan how you want to reach out. Aim to let at least 200 people know about your search. Include family, friends, colleagues you haven’t spoken to in years who might be open to helping you, former classmates, your neighbor and so forth. One of my clients landed an interview after reaching out to a former business school classmate she hadn’t spoken with in 17 years. This is typical.

Then segment your outreach by those who will receive a) a mass “Your help requested” email vs. individual emails, b) a highly personalized vs. templated email, and c) an informational meeting request vs. a referral request or simply an update on your job search.

6. Create a one-page marketing-plan document. Plan to share this document with those who are well connected in your field, as it will make it easier for them to help you. Consider emailing the document prior to, or even during, an informational meeting. In the document, include a) your job target, b) how you can help/what differentiates you, and c) a list of the better known organizations that you’re targeting, with the hope that they’ll more likely think of someone they can refer you to if they see the organization names.

7. Set up your contact management system. You’ll want to keep in touch with everyone in your broadly defined network so no opportunities pass you by. To do so, you’ll need to keep track of, and schedule, your individual outreach efforts.

Whether your system consists of a simple spreadsheet (like most of my clients) or something more sophisticated, every contact should have “next action,” “date of next action” and “priority” fields next to their name. This way you’ll always know what to do on a given day and ensure no opportunities slip through the cracks. Adding a “last action” field is also useful to see how you have been spending your time. Click here to download an example of what this spreadsheet might look like (customize to make it work for you). Plan to follow up with everyone in your system every three to six weeks.

Jobseekers often struggle with what to say when keeping in touch, and I routinely get asked about this. Here’s what to say.

Forbes.com | October 21, 2020 | Robert Hellmann

#JobSearch : You Only Need To Do These Five Things To Succeed In Your Job Hunt—Block Out All Of The Other Noise. A MUst REad!

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

When you’re in between jobs, it’s an overwhelming experience. There’s an overflow of too much well-intentioned advice. Everyone’s telling you what you must absolutely do to succeed in the pursuit of a new job. Your parents offer stale advice that’s 30 years old. Colleagues—who moved jobs two years ago—give unsolicited guidance, but have no idea how out of touch they are with the current Covid-19 job market. All sorts of so-called experts come out of the woodwork and weigh in—for a hefty price tag, of course.

Allow me to simplify the process, Marie Kondo-style. Here are the core basics of what you need to do in the job hunt—without all of the drama and fanfare.

1) Know what you want to do next.

Too often, people jump into a job search without seriously contemplating their next move. They lack a definitive goal and a system of actions to achieve it.

You’ll see this on LinkedIn when members post a banner with the #opentowork hashtag on their profile photo. They’ll write something like, “Hi, Covid-19 happened and I lost my job.” Then, they’ll add, “Please help me!”

I get why they do this, but it’s not terribly helpful. The job seeker hasn’t clearly stated what they’ve accomplished in their career, the type of job they want next, the reasons why they are suitable and appropriate for that type of role and the specific help they require.

Tell prospective hiring managers, recruiters, people in your network and random strangers how awesome you are and the specific role you covet. Politely ask if they could please introduce you to the appropriate hiring manager, human resources and decision-making personnel, along with a positive recommendation.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search: https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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

Article continued …

2) Be honest—is this an achievable goal?

Before you jump head-first into the search, ensure that you possess the appropriate skills, background and experience. This market is too brutal and unforgiving to expect that you’ll get an interview and job offer just because you show up.

Over 60 million Americans have filed for unemployment since March. On a daily basis, we continue to see major corporations conducting massive layoffs. With all of this competition, you need to possess all of the right stuff to garner attention.

If you think you’re a smart person, can figure things out and succeed in the role, that’s not enough. No one in this environment has the time to deal with someone who isn’t a direct on-target fit. They desire a plug-and-play person who can hit the ground running from day one. There are too many other people out there for a company to settle on a less-than-perfect fit. It sounds harsh, but management feels, “Why shouldn’t we continue looking until there are applicants that meet or exceed the appropriate criteria at a cost-effective price?”

If you’re chasing an illusionary goal, you’ll waste precious time. Yes, I know. Everyone has a friend who has secured an amazing job without all of the necessary experience. That’s the exception. We are not them.

3) Why should the company hire you?

Clearly articulate the background and skill set you possess that make you a great fit for the position you’re applying to. It’s shocking how many people can’t tell and sell their own story. They stumble, fumble and go around in circles. This won’t fly. The interviewer will get frustrated with your inability to formulate a cohesive narrative and tell you that it was nice meeting with you and they have other people to see.

You must put together a marketing pitch to sell yourself. Just because you have 20 years of experience—and anyone can say that they’re at the top of their field—is not a sufficient enough reason to hire you. You have to sell them on yourself. Don’t say, “I shouldn’t have to sell myself, as my reputations and knowledge speaks for itself.” No, it doesn’t. You have to sell yourself hard. You also need to have a tight, concise pitch that tells a compelling story of your relevant background, how you’ll add value and why you’d succeed in the job. Practice until it sounds organic.

4) Network in person and online.

Nobody really likes networking. Unless you’re one of those gregarious, outgoing folks, it’s kind of icky. However, you must do it. Get on any and all career-related meetups online. Join all sorts of networking groups. Seek out top recruiters in your niche. Brand and market yourself on LinkedIn. Find relevant people to connect with, including human resources, talent acquisition and hiring managers. Comment on their posts and share your insights to brand yourself as a leader in your space.

5) Keep trying and don’t give up.

The search can last for many months, which can feel like years. There will be heartaches and roller-coaster ups and downs. You’ll be depressed with brief periods of elation. People will be rude, inconsiderate and unsympathetic. You’ll lose faith in people and feel miserable.

This can’t stop you. You need to persevere forward—despite all of the hurdles and obstacles in your path. Take the rejection, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start over again and again. Stay mentally and emotionally strong. The search may take one month or more than six months, but eventually you will get that great new job!

Forbes.com | October 20, 2020 | Jack Kelly

#JobSearch : Five Steps To Network Your Way To A New Job. Great REad!

June 4, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

What are informational interviews? Why are they so advantageous to your job search? Informational interviews are an opportunity to speak with people at your target company and gain side information without the pressure of a formal interview.

Repeat steps one through five below a few times per week, and you will land a new job in no time.

Informational interviews are advantageous to your job search because you can receive an internal referral, an introduction to a hiring manager and information that can be leveraged when interviewing or negotiating your salary.

I am going to walk you through how to go from an informational interview to a new job.

1. Find target people for your informational interviews.

The best informational interviews are with people in your target position at your target companies. With more than 300 million monthly active users, LinkedIn is one of the best ways to find these people. Use the Current Company search field to find five target people.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search: https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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

Article continued …

2. Invite them for informational interviews.

Once you have identified the people you want to chat with, invite them to informational interviews. Keep your message concise and include a clear call to action.

You may consider something along the lines of, “Hi [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”][First], I hope this message finds you fabulously. I see you work at [Company] as a [Title]. I do similar work at [Company]. I would love to share best practices. When’s a good time to connect?”

By sending this message to a handful of people in your target role, you are better ensuring that at least one or two of them will respond, agreeing to an informational interview. Out of the thousands of messages that I have sent, I have only ever had a single person respond saying, “No.”

3. Conduct your informational interviews.

Once your new friends begin responding to your message, it’s time to conduct your informational interviews. (I am a big fan of conducting these via video!)

What questions do you ask during these chats? Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple Google search. Instead, the best questions are those that allow 1) for answers you genuinely are craving and 2) for you to share about your fabulous self.

Some of my favorite informational interview questions include:

• How did you get into [profession]?

• What’s your favorite part of working at [Company]?

• If you could change one thing about [Company], what would it be?

• Is there anything you wish you would have known before you joined [Company]?

• What makes you fabulous?

End the interview by thanking your new friend for their time. You can also ask them who else they can connect you to at the company and in the industry.

3. Send a thank-you email and card.

Don’t forget to follow up. Send a thank-you email and thank-you card (yes, via snail mail) within 24 hours. You may also consider sending a five- to 10-dollar Starbucks gift card as a token of your appreciation.

Additionally, as you continue throughout your job search, be sure to continue to update and thank them.

4. Seal the deal with a clear call to action.

You had a successful informational interview, and you thanked them; now what? Seal the deal and land a new job with a clear call to action. This may look like:

• “I appreciated your insights on the interview process. What tips do you have for my application?”

• “Based on what you have shared about [Company], I can really envision myself here. What does your internal referral process look like?”

• “I saw a recent job posting on [Company]’s job board for a [position]. Would you please introduce me to the hiring manager?”

Note: Some of these questions may be most appropriate during your informational interview, while others are best as follow-up inquiries. Read the room.

Repeat steps one through five a few times per week, and you will land a new job in no time. Oh, and when you land your awesome job, be sure to update all of your new friends!

Author: Kyle Cromer Elliott, MPA, CHES

Founder & Career Coach at CaffeinatedKyle.com. My goal is simple – to help people find jobs they LOVE (or at least tolerate). Read Kyle Cromer Elliott’s full executive…

Forbes.com | June 4, 2020

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#BestofFSCBlog : LinkedIn is Key to Attracting Recruiters During Your Job Search. A Must Read!

May 4, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

With about 87% of recruiters using LinkedIn to find viable candidates, this platform should be at the top of your job search strategy. And with today’s social distancing guidelines, LinkedIn is an even more useable job search platform, as there are less and less face-to-face interactions available. Whether you were hit hard by the recent economic crisis and are actively looking for a job, or are considering your options for the future and dipping your toes into the job search arena, LinkedIn is a valuable resource for you.

Recruiters are constantly searching on the platform to find the candidates they think would fit the opportunity they have available. When you optimize your LinkedIn profile in the right way, your name will show up in the searches more often than not. Simply having a profile isn’t good enough nowadays, so working with a professional LinkedIn profile writer can help take yours to the next level.

With the competition for high-level jobs being at an all-time high, attracting recruiters is more critical now than ever before. Don’t neglect this key part of your job search strategy.

Complete Your Profile

During your LinkedIn profile development, you’ll see a status bar on the right-hand side of the page telling you how complete your profile is. Follow the basic steps to make your profile 100% complete. The reason is that completed profiles are more visible in searches, and will be more attractive to recruiters. Sometimes you might only get to 85 or 95%. Don’t sweat it if that is where you are at. Often times, LinkedIn wants you to include things that just don’t make sense to add (in my case… early experience that was basically waitressing while in college).

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search: https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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

Article continued …

Think About What Recruiters Search For

Once you’ve completed the basics of your LinkedIn profile development, it’s time to take it to the next level. Using keywords and buzzwords relevant to your job or industry throughout your profile will make your profile show up more often in searches.

One secret I’ve learned from recruiters is they often don’t search for job titles since titles can vary among different companies. Instead, recruiters search for specific skills and expertise, so those are more important than trying to match a title to what you think a recruiter wants to see. While you want to make sure all of your skills are displayed, you also want to make sure the text in your profile flows naturally.

Always Develop Your LinkedIn Profile

While LinkedIn may indicate your profile is complete, you should always look for ways to develop and enhance it. A professional LinkedIn profile writer may suggest being active on your profile at least weekly or more often if you’re in the middle of a job search. This doesn’t mean you have to do a complete overhaul, but it could simply mean joining a new relevant group and making new connections in the group.

LinkedIn is a living document, so keep it updated with recent training you’ve completed, volunteer work you’ve done, or your most recent certification or project. There are many ways to optimize your LinkedIn profile, and all of them are important for attracting the attention of recruiters. Make sure that even if you become employed, you stay active on LinkedIn meaning commenting or posting. You don’t want to neglect your network, you want to nurture it.

Your executive resume is a critical part of your job search, but LinkedIn is becoming equally important. With the competition for high-level jobs being at an all-time high, attracting recruiters is more critical now than ever before. Don’t neglect this key part of your job search strategy.