First Sun Blog Archives - Page 118 of 235 - First Sun Consulting, LLC | Outplacement Services and Career Transition Firm

#CareerAdvice : #Internships – So, You Got Your Dream #Internship — Here’s How to Turn It Into a Career… Do you Know, 93% of #CollegeStudents had Jobs after Graduation in 2018? Hmm?

July 6, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Summer is finally here, which means we are seeing some fresh new faces around the office: interns. This season is an exciting time for everyone — students learn new skills and make connections, and businesses enjoy fresh perspectives from an eager workforce.

I still remember how excited I was when I started as a marketing intern at UPS. I immediately fell in love with solving problems for customers and learned lessons every day. Today, as Chief Sales and Solutions Officer at UPS, I still have that same love for problem-solving, and the lessons I learned early in my career that helped lead me to where I am today.

Starting a career in today’s business environment can be exciting — and occasionally overwhelming. Disruptive technologies and changing customer demands have forced businesses, and their employees, to adapt quickly.

For those of you just starting out this summer, here’s my advice for making the most out of your internship and potentially turning it into a career:

1. Embrace New Opportunities

In today’s business environment, young professionals must demonstrate that they’re capable of continuously learning and growing. Never be afraid of asking for opportunities that will help broaden your skillset, but be sure to demonstrate that you have handled your assigned workload before doing so.

A few weeks into my internship with UPS, I saw an opportunity to manage people, so I asked my boss if I could help manage the next group of interns. It may have been a bold move, but I had demonstrated that I was capable of handling my workload and was ready. I encourage all of you to think about what would make you a better professional, whether it’s managing people, learning a new tool or helping with a new project — and be proactive by asking for those opportunities while also achieving the goals of your current responsibilities.

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2. Be Adaptable

In addition to developing your skills, show that you are adaptable. That means saying yes to new opportunities, especially when they push you out of your comfort zone. That’s key, because when comes to developing in your career it’s always better to say “yes, and how” than “no, and why.”

Embracing challenges is the best way to expand your skillset. For example, just three years after graduation, a customer asked me to travel to Japan to sell UPS’s services to his management team. I was nervous but determined to succeed. I read everything I could about Japanese business culture, flew over and confidently led the meeting. But despite all that, I didn’t get the sale, which leads me to my next point…

3. Learn From Your Failures

At some point in your career, you will fail (we all do). But you don’t have to despair — just treat every failure as a learning opportunity. This requires you to remain positive even when you’re discouraged.

Dwelling on the failures in your career will surely cause self-destruction. Instead, I encourage you to channel that frustration into determination. I was dejected after my experience in Japan. But instead of dwelling on it, I analyzed the customer’s feedback, modified my proposal, flew back — and gained the business. Robert Kennedy once said: “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” I couldn’t agree more with this statement. Fail. Adapt. Win. Just don’t give up.

4. Know Your Priorities

When you start your first job, you may find that balancing all the priorities in your life is a little tricky. Our devices can keep us connected to work on a 24/7 basis. Work-life balance is still possible, but be realistic about it. At the end of the day, achieving the proper balance is all about managing your time and being present in each moment. So, remember to put your phone down every so often and focus on the present when it matters most.

Careers are ultimately about knowing and living by your priorities. Whether you are single, married or somewhere in between, staying prepared for life-changing career opportunities will keep you flexible — and, frankly, less stressed. Throughout my career, my family and I have moved seven times, including an international move to Europe. These life changes taught me to always anticipate the complex decisions and know the answer before the opportunity arises. This comes from good communication and evaluation ahead of being asked.

So seek out opportunity, be adaptable, learn when you fail and know your priorities. These are just a few ways to gain success in your new job. Internships are a great springboard for starting a career you love — so good luck to everyone starting out this summer!

Kate Gutmann is Chief Sales and Solutions Officer; SVP The UPS Store; UPS Capital – UPS. In this role, she is responsible for global sales, solutions and customer-engagement strategies. Under her direction, UPS sales and solutions professionals are focused on deepening customer relationships by providing high-impact and value-rich solutions, enabling customers to better compete in the global marketplace.

GlassDoor.com | July 5, 2018 | Posted by Kate Gutmann, Chief Sales and Solutions Officer – UPS

#CareerAdvice : #JobInterview – 5 Red Flags #HiringManagers Say Will Earn You a Rejection…With Proper Preparation & Self-Awareness, These are the Right Tools & Information You Need to Show Up Well in Making a Lasting First Impression!

July 5, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

While one can never predict the outcome of an interview, there are some surefire ways to shoot yourself in the foot and earn yourself a rejection.

These 5 behaviors will send off red flags to hiring managers and likely prevent you from landing your dream job!

1. Not providing concrete answers to interview questions

Hiring managers and recruiters will often reject candidates because they didn’t get clear responses to their questions. If you want to avoid sounding “wishy-washy”, focus on articulating yourself with answers and examples that elude to your past and potential future success.

Try this: While you can’t predict every question that might come up, you can certainly predict a handful of them. Try preparing for these questions using the S.T.A.R. method, and provide answers that focus on the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This helps you tell a succinct and linear story while giving the hiring manager clear insights and evidence into how you have handled situations in the past.

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2. Not managing emotions

We all have scars that can leave us feeling emotional, whether they be from previous employers, or past life experiences. However, if you can’t keep those feelings under wraps during an interview, you’ll quickly find yourself written off from an opportunity. Keep topics like wrongful termination, horrible bosses, financial struggles, and personal sob stories out of the interview room. You need to articulate how, and why, you are the best-suited candidate for this role, not why the hiring manager should have empathy for you. Remember, never speak poorly about a past employer, no matter how horrible your experience.

Try this: Focus on your success stories rather than your sad stories! If you’re unable to put your emotions aside when meeting with a hiring manager, consider taking a break from interviewing to regroup. Similar to dating, you likely wouldn’t want to jump back into the pool after a bad break up without taking some needed healing time!

3. Can’t articulate why you’re leaving a job

One question you can certainly count on coming up is “Why are you looking to leave your job?”. If you’re unable to provide a reasonable answer, the hiring manager might be suspicious and assume the worst. Additionally, stating that you’re leaving because you want more money, or stating something negative about your team/company will also raise red flags.

Try this: Before heading into an interview, prepare an answer for this question that is both neutral and non-critical. For example, you can say something like this:

You’re looking for new kinds of experiences (if you say this, be ready to talk about what kind of experiences these are, and why you’re not getting them at your current job!)
You’re looking to switch industries ( again, be prepared to say why)
You’re looking to be stretched in new ways
You’ve learned everything you will from the role and you’re looking towards the next steps

4. Can’t explain movements throughout your career

Movement in one’s career is healthy. In fact, “Workers who stay with a company longer than two years are said to get paid 50% less, and job hoppers are believed to have a higher learning curve, be higher performers, and even to be more loyal, because they care about making a good impression in the short amount of time they know they’ll stay with each employer.”, says Vivian Giang. While this may be true, the movements need to make sense. If you’ve made several moves across roles and industries, you need to connect the dots for the hiring manager, otherwise, they will assume you can’t commit or might be flakey.

Try this: Write down all your experiences, and think through the skills you’ve gained. Can you explain how each step and skill has helped you move forward? Tell a cohesive story about your career, and how each experience has inspired and contributed to your long-term goals.

5. Mistaking arrogance for confidence

Displaying arrogance is almost guaranteed to make recruiters perceive you in a negative light. While it is paramount to sell yourself with confidence, you don’t want to come across as cocky, or a “know it all”.

Try this: Actively listen when the hiring manager speaks. Show gratitude for the opportunity, and demonstrate (with humility) how you can add value to the team and organization. Ask questions that express your willingness to learn, be a team player, and contribute without an ego.

One final tip to decreases the likelihood of rejection is to really understand what the company does and show your enthusiasm for their mission statement and company objective. With proper preparation and self-awareness, we can all better equip ourselves with the right tools and information we need to show up well and make a lasting first impression!

The Author: Stacy Pollack is a Learning Specialist with an MA in educational technology. She is passionate about building leadership programs that engage and contribute to the success of her organization. She loves to share her perspective on job hunting, career building, and networking for success. Connect with her onLinkedIn orTwitter.

GlassDoor.com | July 5, 2018

#Leadership : Secrets of the Most #ProductivePeople – How to Check Email on Vacation and Still Enjoy Yourself…Smartphones Often Blur the Line Between Professional & Personal Life, so If you Must Check your #WorkEmail , Follow these Guidelines to Set Some Limits.

July 5, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Let’s be real. If you’re going on vacation this summer, you’re probably going to check your email. More than 62% of travelers make it a point to check their work-related email and voice mail, according to a new poll by Travel Leaders Group, a travel agency.

Email is a hard habit to break because we’re attached to technology, says Vicki Salemi, career expert for the job site Monster. “In most jobs, we never shut off, so going on vacation can be particularly challenging because you want to instantly disconnect once you put your ‘out of office’ on, but it’s not that easy for most,” she says. “You may feel like you’re missing out, or that a project will fall behind if you’re not constantly checking emails.”

Smartphones often blur the line between your professional and personal life. You may be making reservation plans on your device and convince yourself that a quick perusal of work email to clean your inbox while you’re away won’t be so bad, Salemi adds. “Next thing you know, an hour has gone by, and you’re completely in the work zone when you should be detaching and relaxing instead,” she says.

If you’re going to check it anyway, it helps to plan how it fits into your vacation, and to set limits.

PREPARE

A week before you leave, let colleagues and clients know you’ll be gone, giving them time to get information from you before you leave. Let key players know how to reach you in case of a true emergency, such as calling or texting immediately, to reduce your worries that you’re missing something urgent, says Elaine Varelas, managing partner of Keystone Partners, a career management firm.

“Make sure your out-of-office reminder is set with a note advising that you are away on holiday and will respond to email after your return,” she says. “And advise colleagues that unless the subject includes ‘please respond’ or ‘urgent,’ you will respond after your vacation.”

Delegate your projects and direct people elsewhere during your absence. Be specific in your out-of-office response, says Salemi. For example, “For billing inquires, contact [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][insert colleague’s name here]” or “For technology issues, contact [another colleague’s name here].”

Zapier is a tool that links the apps you use at work, such as Gmail, Asana, and Slack, to automate daily tasks. During vacation use it to automatically push inbound emails into Slack so the team can stay in the loop on external communications while someone is out of the office.

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SET BOUNDARIES WHILE YOU’RE GONE

Check emails in the morning before anyone else is awake, says Varelas. “Do it alone, so others don’t feel overlooked or as if they aren’t your first priority during your planned time off,” she says.

Keep it short, says Salemi. “For example, 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening to only respond to emails that require action,” she says.

You may need an accountability partner, adds Salemi. “Make a pact with one of your travel mates that if they see you on your phone responding to a message that’s work-related—and yes, they can ask for you to hand over your phone to check—you owe them a small amount of money, such as $5 or $10,” she suggests.

Also decide where you’re allowed to check emails. “If you’re on a beach, on a boat, in a museum, don’t check emails, enjoy the moment and your surroundings,” says Salemi. “Only check emails when you shouldn’t be in the moment instead, like in your hotel room, on the balcony, or prior to working out.”

DON’T ENGAGE

Reading email is different than responding to email. “As soon as you engage in any manner, such as forward, reply, or read triggering a message read-return receipt, people will start emailing more, assuming you are online,” says Varelas. “Do not encourage this.”

If you absolutely must respond, do it as efficiently as possible. “And certainly never after any alcohol becomes part of a vacation activity,” says Varelas. “Do not let any negative reaction to work email impact your mood with your vacation pals. They are on vacation, and wish you were, too.”

PREPARE FOR RE-ENTRY

Organize your email as you scan it. Salemi suggest creating folders and move emails within certain categories into their respective folders such as “follow up,” “budgeting” or “the team.” This will help you handle it more efficiently when you return.

Then block out an hour at the top and bottom of your first day back, says Varelas. “Give yourself time to address the email that piled up while you were gone,” she says.

Unplugging from email—even if you just decreased the amount of time you usually spend—can help you enjoy your time away. “One of the most important things to remember is that studies have shown you’ll be more productive after you return from vacation if you’ve truly logged off to the best of your ability,” says Salemi. “Your boss and company will thank you, especially as your morale and creativity will hopefully be boosted after you’ve given yourself the time you needed to literally reboot.”

FastCompany.com | July 3, 2018 | BY STEPHANIE VOZZA 4 MINUTE READ

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Your #Career : #JobInverview – Be Careful about Answering these 5 #JobInterviewQuestions ….These Questions are Designed to Trip you Up.

July 4, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Most interview questions are innocuous: They’re meant to evaluate whether you’re right for the job, and whether this company could be the next and best place for you. But some of the questions you’re asked, experts tell us, have a slightly more nefarious purpose: They are meant to trip you up by confusing you, catching you in a fib, or showing you’re unprepared.

But you don’t have to be tripped up by these tricky questions. Here are five that you should look out for during your next interview, and the best ways to answer them, according to experts.

1. WHAT’S YOUR DREAM JOB?

According to Steve Pritchard, human resources manager at Cuuver, this question may seem innocent, but it’s “asked by many hiring managers to deliberately trip up a candidate.” Of course, there is an element of curiosity involved, as the recruiter or manager may want to see if you have a clear career path in mind–but he or she may also be asking to see if you are “firing off applications for any job you see listed,” Pritchard warns. “If the latter is true, it suggests that this candidate may just be desperate for a job, so it’s best to have a defined answer that is relevant to the role you’ve applied for at that company.” He adds, “Having a dream job that has nothing to do with the available position suggests to the interviewer that you might not stick around very long, and that you will just treat this role as a pit stop.”

2. TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU SUCCEEDED AT WORK–AND A TIME YOU FAILED

Yes, the interviewer is genuinely interested in your stories of success and your ability to be honest about any failures. But he or she also wants to find out if you came prepared, says Keith R. Sbiral, a certified professional coach with Apochromatik. In other words, he or she is trying to find out if “you contemplated what might be asked during this interview, and if you have gone through the critical review of your own qualifications, successes, and most importantly, your failures,” he explains. “So often applicants are simply are not prepared, or only answer the positive half of the question, and they really miss an opportunity.” Be sure to “start with a clearly defined time you failed,” Sbiral advises. “Explain what you learned from it. Explain how you addressed the issue. And then flip to your positive success story.”

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3. YOU’VE DESCRIBED YOURSELF AS X IN YOUR APPLICATION. EXPLAIN WHY

“Some interviewers really scrutinize candidates down to the smallest word on their CV or application,” Pritchard warns. “If, for example, you said that you are tenacious, then don’t be surprised if you’re asked to give a real-life example in which you demonstrated this characteristic in your career.” The moral of the story? Don’t exaggerate your skill set or invent traits you don’t possess. An interviewer may be looking to catch you in a lie. “If you say that you are a problem solver, then be sure you have at least one instance in your career history where you were able to solve an actual problem,” Pritchard says. “This will show that you haven’t lied–and also that you can walk the walk, not just talk the talk.”

4. WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB?

You can almost guarantee you’ll be asked this question at any job interview. “Whether you’ve already left your last position or are just putting the feelers out for a new job, this question has been a staple in interviews for years,” says Pritchard. “On the surface, this is a very obvious, common question. However, the question can be very damaging to your credibility if you use this as your trigger to bad mouth your current or former employer.” And that, Pritchard says, “is the subliminal reason behind this question: If you launch into a tirade about former jobs, it puts you in a very negative light. It suggests that you have a bad attitude, are not a team player, and could be disruptive.” So no matter what, when you’re asked this question, “You should omit anything that might sound like you’re slating your last position,” Pritchard says. “There is nothing wrong with saying innocent comments like, ‘There’s no real room for progression,’ or, ‘I’m looking for something more challenging or in line with my career path,’ but steer away from the name bashing and personal problems. This means you can answer the interviewer’s question without airing your dirty laundry.”

5. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU BUT WE HAVEN’T?

“This is a question that, in my experience, 75% of people get tripped up on,” warns Sbiral. That may be due, in part, to confusion. “They think the interviewer is asking if you have any questions,” Sbiral says, “but they are not. They are asking you if you have anything else to add.” If you come prepared, this question doesn’t have to trip you up–instead, it can be a chance to shine. “This is a freebie,” says Sbiral, “an opportunity to add something they didn’t cover. I like to hear a well-refined answer as to why I–as a hiring manager–should know that you as the interviewee are the right fit for the position.” In other words, “Worry less about credentials at this point and more about organizational fit,” Sbiral recommends.

This article was originally published on Glassdoor and is reprinted with permission

GlassDoor.com | July 3, 2018 | BY JILLIAN KRAMER—GLASSDOOR 4 MINUTE READ

#Leadership : A Guide for Professionals -How to Know When It’s Time to Seek Help for an #Addiction …With Millions of Americans Facing Addiction, it’s Important How to Recognize the signs, Especially if you See It in a #CoWorker or are as a #WorkingProfessional .

July 3, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

With millions of Americans facing addiction, it’s important how to recognize the signs, especially if you see it in a coworker or are a working professional.

Addiction can sneak into your life and steal everything away from you: your job, your family, your home, and your friends. It can affect you physically and mentally, making it difficult to function in even the most basic of daily activities, and it can take away your motivation, making it hard or even impossible to reach your professional and personal goals.

Knowing when it’s time to seek help for an addiction can help you avoid all the negative pitfalls that come with it, allowing you to take control of your life. Learning about the warning signs — abusing drugs or alcohol throughout the day, losing interest in the things that once gave you joy, experiencing major changes in your sleeping and eating habits, among others — can help you get treatment before things become dire and possibly save your career at the same time.

Here are a few important tips on how to know when it’s time to seek treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.

Educate Yourself

Knowing the signs of addiction can help you come to terms with the reality of it. For most people, those signs include:

Isolating yourself from friends and family
Changes in your sleep schedule
Loss of appetite
Abusing substances alone several times a week
Disinterest in activities or hobbies you once enjoyed

If you or see it in a coworker that is feeling or displaying any of these signs of addiction, it’s imperative that you take the necessary steps to begin treatment. The faster you do that, the better your chances will be of keeping your job and home life unaffected.

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Know Your Rights

Knowing your rights is important when you decide to seek treatment, especially where your job is concerned. Many individuals who are battling addiction take time off work in order to check into an in-patient rehabilitation facility, and your employers can’t discriminate against you if you decide to do so. Do some research to find out what your rights are — and what your employers rights are — so there won’t be any nasty surprises down the road.

Be Straightforward

There is often a sense of shame or guilt when an individual makes the decision to seek help for an addiction problem, and this can cause a rift in the family or office dynamic. Rather than allowing your addiction to create a serious issue at home or at work, be straightforward with your boss and your family members. You don’t have to give specific details, but letting them know that you’ve made the decision to get healthy will keep everyone on the same page and will help them see that you’re committed to making it work in the long term.

Garner Support

No one can get through addiction treatment on their own. It’s important to garner support from your friends and loved ones so you have a circle of people who are there for you when things get rough. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about your substance abuse with them, consider joining a support group or finding a counselor.

One of the most important things about battling an addiction is learning how to see it for what it is. Once you’ve come to terms with the issue and all that it entails, you can create a plan to figure out how best to get healthy and onto a path of recovery, for the benefit of both your professional and personal life.

FSC Career Blog | July 3, 2018 | Larry Mager

Your #Career : #CareerAdvice – 15 #Books That #TopCEOs Think Everyone Should #Read ….So if you Want to Enjoy your #Vacation Time and Stay on Top of the Hustle, we’ve Built your Summer #ReadingList with Recommendations from our #TopCEOs of 2018.

July 2, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Think spending the summer lying on the beach with a book is unproductive? Think again. Successful leaders such as Warren Buffett and Mark Cuban dedicate hours each day to reading.

So if you want to enjoy your vacation time and stay on top of the hustle, we’ve built your summer reading list with recommendations from our Top CEOs of 2018.

1. “The Speed of Trust: The One That Changes Everything” by Stephen Covey

Those who are perfectionists often struggle with micromanagement tendencies — when you have a clear vision for something, it’s hard to not want to take the reins at all times. But this often slows the whole team down, and ends up being more harmful than helpful, Stephen Covey argues. In the quick and competitive atmosphere of the start-up world, trusting your team is paramount.

Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom Video Communications, counts “The Speed of Trust” among his favorite books.

“The big thing I learned from this book is that especially for start-up companies, speed is everything. You’re competing with the legacy companies and quite often you have to make tough, critical decisions… how to build a company at full speed at the same time without creating major problems is the challenge. But if trust is already there, it is very easy,” Yuan said. “If I trust you, I know your intentions are good. Even if you tell me, ‘Eric, this is a huge mistake. Can you fix that’ I trust you and I can make the fix.”

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2. “Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company” by Andy Grove

Authored by Andy Grove, founder and former CEO of Intel, this book gives guidance to leaders facing sudden change in their companies — and shares how these moments can actually be some of the most valuable opportunities available to a company. Yuan counts this another favorite book of his.

“I’m very paranoid. I think in any start-up, no matter what, there is no room to say, ‘We’re okay now,’” Yuan said. “No, we’ve got to work harder. We need to always be paranoid and ready.”

3. “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Harari

In this New York Times’ bestseller, Yuval Harari manages to capture the story of the past 70,000 years of the human race. Beyond chronicling the history of our species, Harari’s book also implores readers to think about what it means to be human, and ask how we want to shape the future of the many generations to come.

This groundbreaking book is a favorite of Sanjit Biswas, CEO of Samsara — but he’s not alone. Fellow leaders Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have also endorsed the book.

4. “The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves” by Matt Ridley

Don’t listen to the naysayers and doomsdayers. According to nearly any metric — food availability, lifespan, income — now is the best time to be alive by a wide margin, Matt Ridley believes. In this nonfiction book, Ridley touches on how the human tendencies of exchange and specialization have improved life for everyone over the past 100,000 years — and how they will continue to benefit mankind in the future.

Biswas cites this book as another of his favorites: “It’s interesting to zoom way out and realize how fortunate we are to live in modern times,” he said.

5. “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by Klaus Schwab

We already know how much of an impact the steam engine, the telephone and the personal computer have had on the way humans work —but what is the next industrial revolution around the corner? According to Klaus Schwab, we’re smack-dab in the middle of it. Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, quantum computing and more are transforming the way business is done in a completely unprecedented way.

Among this book’s fans is Bernard J. Tyson, Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente, who said it has helped him stay up-to-date and ready for whatever comes next.

“I keep current by reading what very smart people are thinking about the future,” Tyson said.

6. “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice” by Adam Makos

It might not be the first book you think of when it comes to professional development, but this work of historical fiction has lessons about leadership and collaboration in spades. Set in the midst of the Korean War and widespread segregation, “Devotion” recounts the friendship of aviator duo Tom Hudner and Jesse Brown, the first African American carrier pilot for the U.S. Navy.

“It’s a wonderful book about friendship, resilience and amazing courage,” said Michael Mahoney, CEO of Boston Scientific.

7. “Return on Integrity: The New Definition of ROI and Why Leaders Need to Know It” by John Blumberg

We live in a world where sacrificing morality in order to drive the bottom line is no longer profitable, said John Blumberg. In fact, integrity might just be the most valuable asset you have. In “Return on Integrity,” Blumberg explores the intersections between the core values of CEOs and leaders and the impact on their companies.

Lynne Doughtie, CEO of KPMG, describes it as “a powerful book that challenges you to reflect on the importance of personal core values.”

“When each of us really knows our personal core values, they’ll permeate the organizations we work for by strengthening our decision making and enhancing openness, collaboration and trust,” Doughtie said.

8. “The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard Cutler

Penned by Dr. Howard Cutler and the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, this seminal guide on happiness explores how to overcome loss and everyday anxieties in order to find your own personal nirvana.

Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, credits the book with shaping his management philosophy.

“That’s where I learned the true definition of compassion and the difference between compassion and empathy and how important it is to aspire to live compassionately and manage compassionately,” Wiener told the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

9. “Being Digital” by Nicholas Negroponte

Although it was written over 20 years ago, “Being Digital” is still a classic on the future of digital technology. It dives deep into the successes and failures of technological innovations like the Internet, virtual reality, the CD-ROM and more.

Weiner recommends this book as well, and said it played a large part in helping him shape the online business plan for Warner Bros.

“One of the key points that Negroponte was making was everything that can be converted from an atom to a bit will be. So I looked around Warner Bros. and thought, well, that’s going to have some pretty serious implications for a studio and for media,” Wiener said in the same Silicon Valley Business Journal interview.

10. “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander

In 2015, CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg created a digital book club in which he and other members read a new book every two weeks, then took to Facebook to discuss it. One of his picks was “The New Jim Crow,” a gripping critique by Michelle Alexander that pulls back the curtain on the crisis of mass incarceration in the United States.

“This social justice book outlines the many ways the US criminal justice system discriminates against minorities, disadvantages them and prevents everyone from having equal opportunity. I’ve been interested in learning about criminal justice reform for a while, and this book was highly recommended by several people I trust,” Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page.

11. “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu

Written nearly 1,500 years ago, this Chinese military treatise revolutionized military strategy — and still makes an impact to this day. Sun Tzu’s lessons on strategy, planning and leadership are applicable not just on the battlefield, but also in the business world.

The book made so much of an impression on Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, that he wrote the foreword for the 2008 release “The Art of War—Spirituality for Conflict: Annotated & Explained.”

“Fundamentally, the book demonstrates how small armies can defeat larger ones,” Benioff said. “Ultimately, it is how salesforce.com took on the entire software industry.”

12. “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown

Nobody expected a group of Washington boys descended from loggers, shipyard workers and farmers to beat elite rowing teams from the East Coast, let alone the world over, but that’s exactly what they did. In “The Boys in the Boat,” Brown tells the story of the U.S. men’s rowing team in the wake of the Great Depression and their ultimate triumph over the team playing for Nazi Germany.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella endorsed this book in an interview with Fast Company, calling it “a wonderful illustration of the importance of teamwork, which was a core part of my focus out of the gate as CEO.”

13. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth

Strike the word “talent” from your vocabulary — Angela Duckworth’s “Grit” shares that the power of persistence is the true driver of success. Duckworth knows a thing or two about success, having earned a MacArthur Genius Grant and serving as an advisor to “the White House, the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 CEOs.”

One of the many CEOs who counts themselves as a fan of Duckworth’s is Brad Smith, CEO of Intuit

“It’s full of amazing, inspirational stories that show that anyone, regardless of I.Q., talent or background, can succeed if they have grit — a blend of passion and persistence,” Smith said in an interview with Lifehacker. “This book makes all of us underdogs feel like we’re just as capable as anybody else.”

14. “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t” by James Collins

The world’s best companies don’t reach the top by settling for “good enough” — rather, a constant drive for excellence propels them forward. But what exactly separates a good company from a great one? In “Good to Great,” Collins defines these differences, and shares how to make the transition.

Richard Flint, CEO of Sky Betting & Gaming and the #1 Top CEO in the UK, recommends this book to those hoping to make the leap: “It contains some surprises on what makes good leaders and companies,” Flint said.

15. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Whoever said CEOs can’t enjoy a good fantasy novel (or seven) on occasion? Craig Donaldson, CEO of Metro Bank, endorses Rowling’s acclaimed series to every parent out there.

“Read all the Harry Potter books with your kids if you have children, because there is no better way to relax than reading with an eight-year-old!” Donaldson said.

GlassDoor.com | June 28, 2018 | Posted by Andy Talajkowski

Your #Career : #CareerAdvice – 5 Ways to Use Your Summer Fridays to Find a New Job…Here, Find Five Key Ways to Ensure your Summer Fridays are Well Spent, Straight from #JobSearch Pros.

July 2, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If you’re lucky enough to have Friday afternoons off from work during the summer months, it’s probably tempting to head straight home, to the beach, or out with your friends when it’s time to leave the office. But by investing your free time on Friday afternoons into your job search, you can accelerate it in several meaningful ways. Though most employers are unlikely to schedule formal interviews on Friday afternoons during the summer, there are plenty of other ways you can get ahead.

Here, find five key ways to ensure your Summer Fridays are well spent, straight from job search pros.

1. Do your research.

It can be tough to set aside time to really figure out what you’re looking for in a job and potential employer, and Summer Fridays are the perfect time to do it. “Use all your resources to understand what the kind of company you want to work for is like,” suggests Joshua M. Evans, a career coach and owner of an HR consultancy firm.

Research can also help you immensely if you make it to the interview stage. “Checking out articles, looking at their business’s social media accounts, and jumping on LinkedIn to understand who works for them and how you can be introduced can be immensely valuable in giving you a leg up,” Evans says.

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

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2. Use the time off to network.

Scheduling informational meetings and informal catch-ups can be difficult logistically during the work week, but people often have more flexibility on Summer Fridays if their employer offers them, making it an ideal time to get some networking done. “People often say, ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,’ and though not entirely true, because you do need skills for a job, finding a job is a lot easier if you know someone within the industry or at a company themselves,” says Steve Pritchard, HR Manager at Cuuver.com. “Ask friends, family or even former employers if they know of any jobs, or to meet up for a coffee and a catch up to network and see what opportunities may lie on the horizon.”

3. Don’t go home.

If you don’t normally work well at home, it’s best to take your Summer Friday job hunting efforts elsewhere. “It is too tempting to take time off when the weather is nice and you’ve just had a long week at work,” notes Debra Boggs, co-founder of D&S Professional Coaching. “To keep from getting distracted, go directly to a coffee shop or library and set a specific amount of time that you’ll spend looking for and applying to jobs.”

4. Make phone calls.

Yes, really. Though phone calls about job applications have fallen out of fashion, experts say Summer Fridays are a uniquely good time to pick up the phone. “Proactively call people that do the hiring at a company you want to work for,” Evans recommends. “People, especially those in recruiting, are often more friendly on Fridays. If you reach out to them in the morning, they will have more time to chat and can even be in a good enough mood to offer to bring you in for an interview. People associate their good feelings on Friday with a good feeling about you.”

5. Volunteer your time.

“If a career switch is in your future, Summer Fridays are a great time to build your skills and contacts in your new market,” explains Dawn Graham, PhD, a career coach and Career Director for the MBA Program for Executives at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Volunteer for a non-profit practicing your data analytics skills, explore a self-created internship with a company in your target industry, start a side hustle offering services in your target function, and attend conferences where professionals in your dream field will be congregated,”she suggests. “It’s tempting to want to begin the weekend early, but a few months of strategic action could be the foundation for your new career!”

GlassDoor.com | June 29, 2018 | Posted by Amy Elisa Jackson

Your #Career : #CareerAdvice – Here’s When it’s Worth Taking a Big Risk in your Career…Sometimes, Playing it “Safe” Can be Detrimental in the Long Run.

June 29, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

In most situations, it makes sense to play it safe. Don’t cross the street without looking both ways, and never drive a car without wearing a seat belt. Both of those things make sense because there’s no upside to making the dangerous choice.

When it comes to your career, though, sometimes it does make sense to take risks. You shouldn’t be (small-f) foolish or take risks just for the sake of it, but there are situations when the safe choice limits your upside.

If you take a risk and fail, you can always get another job. The prospect may seem scary, but if you take enough smart, well-considered risks, then hopefully some will work out for you.

WHEN YOUR INTEGRITY IS ON THE LINE

There are plenty of times when the best thing to do at work is “keep your head down” and focus on the work. Whether it’s avoiding office politics (or discussing real politics), gossip, or correcting your boss when it would only cause you to catch their ire, these can be “high-risk, low return” situations that are best avoided. And there are other times it may go either way, if there’s real risk you could do permanent damage to your reputation if you have a plan or idea that fails.

However, there should be a red line when it comes to your integrity. This is because, in my experience, an employer or coworker who asks you to start letting “little” things slide will eventually expect you to start ignoring–or possibly even hiding–bigger things. And sometimes these can mean breaking the law and becoming an accomplice to a crime. Of course, it’s important to consider context here, but in general, it should be pretty obvious when you’re starting down a dangerous path.

But if you always make a point to be honest in your dealings with your employer, peers, and clients, you can avoid a slippery slope that can ruin careers and lives. The bottom line is, no job is more important than your integrity. If you have to break rules or lie or commit crimes to stay employed, you’re risking a lot more by trying to stay with that company.–Jason Hall

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WHEN YOU’VE SAVED FOR IT

I’m the first person to encourage others to pursue their dream careers, because having done so myself, I know how rewarding it can be. I worked at a hedge fund for almost five years after college, all the while wanting to move over to something more creative. When I finally took the leap, I knew it would involve a major pay cut, and I was okay with that. The reason? I had savings to back myself up.

We spend so much time at work that we deserve to be doing things we love. At the same time, we can’t neglect our bills. If you know you want to switch careers, or take a similar risk that might result in a drop in income, go for it–but save some money first. When I went from collecting a steady paycheck to freelancing, I knew it would take time to build up a client base, and so I saved enough to ensure that even if I didn’t earn a dime during my first six months of independent work, I’d be okay.

It’s brave to take a career risk, but it’s unwise to compromise your near-term and long-term financial security in the process. So don’t. Save money to buy yourself the option to take that risk. This way, you can approach your new venture head on without having the stress of getting evicted or running up credit card debt holding you back.–Maurie Backman

WHEN YOU’RE STUCK IN A DEAD-END POSITION

A few years ago, I was working as the editor of two small–some would say dying–local newspapers. My boss was a nice enough guy but we had differing philosophies on local news. I believed in cramming as many local stories in the paper as possible. He believed in spending as little money as he could.

It wasn’t a bad job, but it was dead end. If I stayed I was never going to get a meaningful raise, a promotion (there was nothing to promote me to), and it was unlikely my boss would come around to my thinking as to how we could get back to growth.

I wanted to leave and could have left for better newspaper jobs. That, however, would have likely been trading the headache I knew for a different one. Instead, I joined a friend of mine and started a business.

At the time we started, we pooled the income I was making in my early days freelancing for Motley Fool and the money he was making building small-scale websites. It was barely enough to cover rent on a small office and pay each of us fairly meager salaries (less than I had been making).

It took a while, but I started bringing in more as a writer, and we landed a contract to manage a company’s digital portfolio. It was a grinding slow build, but we went from struggling to successful, and slowly the imminent danger we had been in through our early days faded.

That risk led to my current career as a full-time, work-from-home writer. Many people I worked with at that newspaper still work there or hold similar jobs elsewhere. Most of them wish they had taken risks, and now with time having passed, it’s harder and scarier for them to do so.

I might have failed, and if I had, I would have found a job. Perhaps that position would not have been as good as the one I had left, but ultimately I would have reset myself and gotten back in position to take the next risk.–Daniel B. Kline

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FastCompany.com | June 29, 2018 | BY THE MOTLEY FOOL 5 MINUTE READ

#BestofFSCBlog : #ResumeWriting – 13 Irresistible #ResumeTemplates to Download Now! Everything You Need to Know About Writing the Perfect #Resume .

June 28, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If there’s one area worth investing in when it comes to the job search, it’s definitely your resume — after all, in just about seven seconds of glancing at it, recruiters and hiring managers already know whether or not they want to move forward with your application. Of course, writing a great resume is easier said than done, but at Glassdoor, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

That’s why we combined our job search expertise with Grammarly’s top-notch writing knowledge to create a comprehensive guide on how to write, format and design the perfect resume. With our new Ultimate Guide to Resumes, you’ll learn which type of resume is right for you, what to include in it, how to highlight your skills and more all in one place, so you can create a recruiter-approved resume in no time.

Download the full eBook here, and get a sneak preview with our tips below!

1. Choose the Right Type of Resume

If you thought there was just one type of resume, think again. There are multiple different kinds, and the one you should use will depend on your own unique career circumstances. A chronological resume lists your different positions top to bottom from most to least recent, and is best for those whose careers reflect a clear path to the role they’re applying for. A functional resume emphasizes relevance over recency, with different positions listed top to bottom from most to least relevant, a skills section and a professional summary explaining why you’re a great fit. This is a great option for those who are transitioning into a new field or re-entering the workforce after a resume gap. A combination resume borrows from both formats by combining the professional summary and skills section of a functional resume and the chronological work experience order of a chronological resume. This is a good way to emphasize skills and experience equally, and is a great choice for many different types of job seekers.

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

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2. Know What You Need to Include

Resumes tend to have six major components: a header and contact info, professional summary, skills section, work experience, education and additional experience. Here’s a brief rundown of what they are, and tips for how to make the most of them:

Header + Contact Info: The top of your resume (or whichever is the most prominent part) containing your name and contact info.
- Pro Tip: Think twice before including your street address. It’s largely unnecessary nowadays, and can hurt your chances of scoring an interview if you live far from where the position is.
Professional Summary: A brief, one- to three-sentence description that encapsulates who you are, what you do and why you’re a great fit for the job at hand.
- Pro Tip: Avoid descriptors like “hard-working,” “self-motivated,” etc. — those terms are vague and generic. Focus instead on the skills and accomplishments that set you apart.
Skills: A list of the key skills you possess that will help you do the job you’re applying to.
- Pro Tip: Can’t decide what skills to include? Look to the job descriptionto see which skills matter the most.
Work Experience: A list of the different titles you’ve held, places you’ve worked and achievements you accomplished.
- Pro Tip: When writing out your bullet points, use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to not just describe what you did in a previous job, but what sort of impact it had.
Education: Details on the level of education you’ve attained, where you went and what you studied.
- Pro Tip: Only include your GPA if you’ve graduated in the last couple of years and earned a 3.0 or higher — the further along you are in your career, the more recruiters and hiring managers pay attention to experience over education.
Additional Experience: A catch-all section where you can add your volunteer experience, hobbies, awards, etc.
- Pro Tip: Some companies are particularly passionate about volunteering and giving back to the community. If you’re applying to one of them, use this section to describe how you’ve made a difference — it’s a great way to show culture fit!

3. Don’t Forget Design & Formatting

At the end of the day, a well-written resume with relevant experience will win out over one that’s pretty, but light on content. However, if you combine great content with a neat, clean design and proper formatting, you’ve just hit upon a winning combination. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you want your resume to look its best:

Use an easy-to-read font of no less than 11 pt.
Add margins of at least .7 inches.
Make sure there’s sufficient white space between sections
Keep your resume to 1-2 pages max, unless you’re in a field like academia or medicine and must cite papers and publications.
Don’t go overboard with intricate design or decoration — touches of color are fine, but avoid any clashing or visually busy details.

4. Check for These Last-Minute Items

Once you’re feeling good about your resume, don’t click submit just yet. Uploading your resume before giving it a thorough scan can result in errors and missed opportunities to make the best impression. Check off the following items to make sure your resume is ready to be seen by the world:

Verify your employment information to make sure that it matches what you have on LinkedIn. Any discrepancies, even if they’re accidental, might raise red flags for a recruiter
Use a platform like Grammarly to edit your resume. Grammarly can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context, all of which look unprofessional on a resume and can seriously hurt your chances of making it to the next round.
Save your resume with a simple file name to maintain professionalism and to simply keep better track of it in your files. You can’t go wrong with “Lastname-Resume-2018”
Double check capitalization on company names and titles — consistency in your resume is key.
Review your bullet points to make sure they’re focused on showing results, not simply listing your tasks.

Want more details on how to create a next-level resume? Check out the full Ultimate Guide to Resumes!

GlassDoor.com | June 28, 2018 | Posted by Emily Moore

Your #Career : 7 Steps to Rebrand Yourself for a #CareerChange …Just Because you Don’t have Experience in a New Field Doesn’t Mean your #Skills aren’t Valuable in that Field. Here’s What to Do Before you Make a Move.

June 28, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Ready for a career change, but worried you don’t have the experience or skills to land a job in your desired field? Filling your resume with your previous work experience that has no similarity to the job you’re applying for is likely to land your resume in the trash can. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck in a career you hate forever.

Dawn Graham, PhD, career coach, psychologist, and author of the book Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Career–and Seize Success, says rebranding your professional experience is key to a successful career switch. “When you’re making a switch, you need to be a good fit for the role, and while some of your skills and experiences may be transferrable, many may not be,” she says. Here’s how you can prove that you’re worthy of the title, even when your resume shows no previous experience in the field.

1. CHANGE YOUR SOCIAL PRESENCE

Use social media to your advantage to rebrand yourself in your new career area. Follow thought leaders in your target industry and comment on their posts. Connect with relevant industry groups and associations, share relevant and interesting articles within your online network, comment on posts, attend the biggest industry conferences, and develop a network of contacts in the industry. “Technology makes it easier than ever to market yourself in a way that appeals to the audience you choose,” says Graham. The more you can demonstrate that you’re serious and invested in your new target industry, the more credible you will seem.

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2. FIND YOUR TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS

Rebranding yourself takes time and introspection. Everyone has transferrable skills, even if you think you don’t. Graham gives the example of a recruiter who wants to move into social media marketing. “You can show off your customer research, analytics, and technical savvy skills,” she says. Demonstrating how you can reach new customers using the same skill set you used to uncover qualified candidates is a way to prove that your experience is relevant.

To determine your skills, Graham recommends breaking down achievements. “If you contributed to saving a large client, consider the steps that got you to that result–perhaps problem solving, diplomacy, creativity, and influencing.” Do the same with other accomplishments and you’ll soon notice a pattern of core strengths. Try going through this exercise with a colleague or manager who may be able to see strengths that you are overlooking.

3. DO YOUR RESEARCH

In order to find out what skills and experiences are most relevant to your new career choice, spend time learning as much as you can about your target position. Speak with professionals in your target industry, look for volunteer positions in the industry, take courses, and attend professional events to learn what experiences and skill sets are most valuable in the new industry.

4. DON’T LEAD WITH YOUR TITLE

While most of us use our job title when introducing ourselves, this can be an error when you’re switching careers. Many companies use language that doesn’t translate outside the industry. A title can cause confusion for someone in another industry, and biases their opinion toward your application. They may think right away that you’re not a good fit without reading further into your experiences. Instead of focusing on your title, place the emphasis on your value–the skills you developed in that position.

5. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

In order to highlight your value and position yourself as a good fit for the job, you need to know the challenges the hiring manager is trying to solve. “Many job seekers have incredible accomplishments, but without knowing what is important to your audience, you risk leading off with accomplishments that, while impressive, lead the hirer to think you’re not a fit for the role,” says Graham.

When in a job interview, make one of your first questions about the challenges the company or department is facing at this time. Once you find out the hiring company’s pain points, you can select the achievements from your background that best align with what the hiring manager is looking for in the role.

6. CHERRY-PICK EXPERIENCES

Some of your best accomplishments and achievements may not be impressive to the hiring manager if they have no relation to the job you’re applying for. To be most effective in rebranding yourself professionally, select the parts of your experience that align most closely with your target role. To make your application in this new field stronger, highlight these experiences in your LinkedIn profile. If hiring managers are reviewing your resume and then jump over to LinkedIn and see a whole different type of experience highlighted, they may be confused and cause them to put aside your resume. Rebranding your professional experience may mean dropping what you think are some of your best accomplishments, but by focusing on “fit” first, you will have a better chance of a recruiter recognizing you as a potential candidate for the position.

7. JUSTIFY THE SWITCH

“Every hiring manager wants to know why this job at this company at this time,” says Graham. Your answer to this question will be especially important if you’re a career switcher. Graham argues that switchers can have the upper hand in answering this question because they have most likely spent a great deal of time studying the industry, thinking about what they want in a job when making their career switch decision.

FastCompany.com | June 28, 2018 | BY LISA EVANS 4 MINUTE READ