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#JobSearch : How To Ace Your Job Interview: Insight From A Recruiter. Great Checklists . MUst REad.

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Having spent the past two decades leading recruiting teams around the world, I’ve conducted and observed tens of thousands of interviews. Honestly, I still see things that surprise me. For all of the effort that goes into the interview phase (it’s the most labor-intensive, and therefore the costliest part of the hiring process), the quality of the execution is often, at best, mixed.

This poor execution can be attributed to several factors but is primarily because training hiring managers on how to interview is a rarity in most organizations. Furthermore, it’s a muscle that is used relatively infrequently (unless the company is particularly high growth, individual hiring managers are probably hiring once a year, not once a week).

The first step to being better at interviewing is therefore to recognize that you’re about to participate in an imperfect process. You may even have more experience of interviewing, albeit from the other side of the desk, than the person interviewing you.

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

Before The Interview

Conducting some focused research is the best way to set yourself up for success. Follow these three simple steps ahead of every interview:

  1. Review the LinkedIn profile of each person you’re due to meet with, and prepare your questions accordingly (e.g., I see you joined Acme Corp a year ago, what made you want to join and what have you been most surprised by since you started?)
  2. If the company is publicly traded read the most recent annual report and/or quarterly earnings statement. Many larger organizations have an “investor relations” section on their website which contains a wealth of enterprise information.
  3. Search for mentions of the company in credible journals (e.g., here on Forbes, in the Harvard Business Review, The Economist) rather than a broad Google search.

Most importantly, remember that interviewing is just storytelling – your job is to distill your unique career journey into a compelling narrative. Get used to condensing your work history into a two minute “elevator pitch”, specifically focusing on moments of transition (why you left one job for another), and key learnings and achievements along the way. Practice with friends and loved ones.

During The Interview

The single most important thing you can do is be your authentic self: letting your personality show helps to establish a rapport. Whether the interview is in-person or conducted virtually, try to remember it’s just a human-to-human conversation. This is your opportunity to make the most of your time with the hiring team:

  • Try not to let nerves get in the way (easier said than done) – remember hiring managers probably do this less than once a year so in many instances will be just as nervous as you!
  • Make notes and ask questions (both pre-prepared based on your research, and to clarify things you learn from the folks you meet with).
  • Don’t forget that you’re interviewing them too! Can you work with this person? Will you learn from them? Are they inspiring?

After The Interview

One of the hardest lessons to learn is the ability to trust our gut reaction on walking out of an interview, especially in an economy like this one. If your gut is telling you no, listen to that voice. It is easy to let our scarcity mindset to take over, but one of the most powerful things you can do is walk away from an opportunity, especially if you’re getting the feeling that you might not be able to thrive there in the long term:

  • First make an honest assessment – do you still want the job based on what you learned? If the answer is ‘no’, that’s OK! The interview process is a two-way street, and sometimes it’s just not a good match.
  • Irrespective of what decision you make be sure to send thank you notes (email is fine) to the hiring manager, to the interview panelists and to the recruiter.

There has been some discourse on whether the practice of sending thank you notes is outdated, which is a premise I strongly disagree with. At a minimum, sending thank you notes allows you a further touchpoint with the hiring team, and gives you the opportunity to expand or double-down on key points you made during your interview. Furthermore, it demonstrates that you are familiar with longstanding professional etiquette, and that you are the sort of person that follows-through.

Lastly thank you notes can help cement relationships with the folks that you met during the interview process. Even if you are unsuccessful, these “warm” relationships will be useful either for future applications at the company, or indeed elsewhere, as you never know where folks will work next.

Although the interview process is far from perfect (indeed the same can be said for the broader talent market), the best way to set yourself up for success is to be prepared, and to take a pragmatic view of the process you’re about to participate in.

 

Forbes.com | January 17, 2023 | James Hudson

#JobSearch : 4 Thoughtful Questions To Ask When Networking. Question- Do You Know How to Network for a Job?

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The most thoughtful questions to ask when networking are tailored to the person you’re talking to, as well as the issue you’re discussing. If the issue at hand is that you’re looking for a job, ideally you have researched the general career path for your target line of work, so your questions uncover new insights or nuances not easily available to the general public (i.e., what an employer really wants) — this can help you advance your job application. If the person you’re talking to is someone at a target employer, ideally you have researched the company and/or job opening enough so your questions uncover specific hiring priorities — this can be a deciding factor in the job interview process.

That said, sometimes you don’t have advance preparation time to do any tailoring – for example, if you’re meeting someone for the first time at a conference or other professional event. In that case, tailor as much as you can, and keep in mind some untailored but still helpful questions that can work in many situations. Here are four thoughtful questions to ask when networking:

1 – What brings you to this event?

This is a friendly and easy way to open a conversation with a stranger, but importantly, this question zeroes in on your new contact’s priorities. The best networking is focused on the other person, so understanding what they’re looking for can help you help them. You might be able to make introductions for them to others at the event, or in your follow-up post-event you might share a helpful article or make meaningful recommendations because you know what they’re working on.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

2 – How did you become [ROLE] or enter [INDUSTRY]?

Usually people introduce themselves by talking about where they work and what they do, or it might even be on their name tag (e.g., accountant at EY). Asking about their origin story is a friendly way to learn more about their background without sounding like you’re interrogating them. How did you get into accounting? Have you always been an accountant? Have you worked at EY your entire career?

People love to talk about themselves and wax nostalgic about their early days, so it’s a fun question for your new contact. For you, it’s an opportunity to learn about their background and gauge how you want to tailor the conversation and follow-up going forward. If there’s overlap between their career path and what you are targeting, you may want to schedule further conversation post-event to ask more questions later (you never want to monopolize someone’s time at an event where there are others they may want to meet). If there doesn’t seem to be an obvious collaboration opportunity, you can focus on making more of a social connection for now (this is still valuable since you never know who or what people know, and your overall network is critical to tapping the hidden job market).

3 – What do you love most about working in [ROLE or INDUSTRY]?

In addition to or instead of asking about someone’s origin story (question 2), you can ask what they love most about being an accountant, working in the accounting industry or working at EY specifically. This is a positively framed question, which encourages your new contact stays to keep a happy state of mind. It’s also an open-ended question (not a closed, Yes or No choice), which encourages your new contact to say as little or as much as they’d like.

As you hear your new contact talk about what they love about their work, listen for what parts of their job overlap with what you want to do – this might be an opportunity to collaborate, or an area where they can share helpful insights with you. If you don’t see any overlap, hearing what your new contact is interested in and passionate about will at least help you deepen the social connection.

4 – What do you know now that you wished you knew when you started?

This question encourages reflection about one’s career, and answers can go in a lot of different directions, giving you more information and time to figure out how to tailor the conversation and subsequent follow up. Some people answer it by talking about key skills and expertise that have served them well. If their career overlaps your professional objectives, this gives you insight into what you might prioritize. Even if your new contact is in a very different line of work, there may be some general pearls of wisdom that could apply to you, or at least you’ll glean some insights for your accounting friends!

Some people talk about critical choices along the way – why they decided to join EY, stay in accounting or pivot to accounting (if they initially did something else). You might learn something about the industry at large or different companies in that market. Even if your new contact is in a different line of work than you, hearing about different companies and industries is helpful to your overall understanding of the job market.

Thoughtful questions focus on learning about the other person

The best networking is tailored, and genuine networking relationships are built over time (here’s a checklist to see if your networking is paying off). Therefore, the most thoughtful questions when meeting people are the ones that enable you to learn enough about your new contacts so you can tailor your follow-up in a meaningful way (e.g., make relevant recommendations, share helpful information). Knowing more about your new contacts also allows you to prioritize which ones you’ll focus on for your job search right now v. general relationships you can nurture over time for your overall professional network.

 

Forbes.com | January 8, 2024 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine

 

#JobSearch : Do This One Thing To Ace Job Interviews And Get Hired. Got Interview? MUst REad!

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When preparing for a job interview, candidates often equip themselves with an arsenal of qualifications and rehearsed answers to standard interview questions. They do their prep, gather their career marketing materials, and get all their facts straight and ready to respond to hiring managers’ questions. Those are important activities that can help you make it to the next step in the hiring process. There’s one thing, though, that you can do in addition, that will help tip the scale in favor of you over other candidates: connect emotionally.

Although hiring managers will tell you all the logical reasons they made a decision on who to bring in to fill their open position, humans make decisions based on emotion. The amygdala, the part of your brain that processes emotions, activates first during decision-making. The rational elements of decision-making follow that initial emotional response.

Making emotional connections in a job interview can set you apart from other candidates by creating a memorable impression and demonstrating your command of important social skills. Here are 13 ways you can establish that connection:

1. Research. Dive into the digital footprints of your interviewers. Scour Google and LinkedIn to glean insights into their professional journey and personal interests.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

Article continued …

2. Relate. Review the results of your research to find commonalities or points of interest that you can relate to during the conversation. Perhaps you both went to the same college, or you both follow Oprah on LinkedIn.

3. Listen. Be present and listen intently during the interview. Show that you are fully engaged by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and reacting appropriately to what the interviewer says. This attentiveness is the language of respect.

4. Tell Stories. Facts inform, but stories resonate. Share anecdotes that illustrate your experiences, especially those that demonstrate empathy, teamwork, and passion. Be sure to combine facts and stats with a big helping of emotion.

5. Express Enthusiasm. Let your genuine excitement for the role and the company’s vision and mission radiate. A warm, earnest smile can be the spark that lights up the room, or, in virtual interviews, the Zoom screen.

6. Use the Interviewer’s Name. People love the sound of their own name. Use the interviewer’s name naturally during the conversation to create a more personal rapport.

7. Mirror Body Language. Words account for only 7% of a communication; the rest is made up of body language, tone of voice. Use your body language to signal agreement and establish rapport—just tread the fine line between mimicry and mirroring with care.

8. Be Authentic. Authenticity is the foundation of your personal brand. It fosters trust. Be honest about your experiences and feelings.

9. Show Empathy. When the opportunity arises, show that you can understand and share the feelings of others. This could be responding thoughtfully to something the interviewer has said about the company or the team. For instance, offering a copy of your resume when the interviewer cannot find hers is a small yet impactful act of empathy.

10. Find the Emotional Why. Try to find a deeper emotional connection to the work and share a personal narrative related to the company’s mission. For example, if you’re applying to a healthcare company, you might talk about a personal experience that makes their healthcare mission meaningful to you.

11. Exude Positivity and Gratitude. Convey a positive attitude throughout the interview, and express gratitude for the interviewer’s time and consideration. Avoid being Doug or Debbie Downer and casting blame or expressing negativity.

12. Ask Meaningful Questions. Pose questions that reflect your deep dive into the company’s ethos and signal a genuine interest in the interviewer’s perspective. Show that you respect the interviewer’s opinions and perspective.

13. Reinforce the Emotional Connection. Post-interview, take a moment to reflect on the peak of your emotional engagement. Use that moment as a core message or theme for a personalized thank-you note that rekindles the shared connection.

Applying these strategies with thoughtfulness and sincerity can elevate you from a mere candidate to an unforgettable prospect. It’s this emotional resonance that often tips the scales and transforms a prospect into a successful hire.

Forbes.com | January 7, 2023 | William Arruda

 

#JobSearch : 9 Ways To Update Your LinkedIn Profile For 2024. What Recruiters to Find You in 2024? Read This!

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2024 is upon us, and it’s time to leverage LinkedIn’s full potential to supercharge your personal brand and career trajectory. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, branching out as an entrepreneur, or planning to polywork, LinkedIn remains an invaluable resource. Here are actionable steps to elevate your personal brand, enhance your LinkedIn presence, and expand your network and thought leadership.

1. Update Your Profile

You likely accomplished a lot in 2023. Ensure your LinkedIn profile accurately reflects these accomplishments. Pay close attention to your Headshot, Headline, and About sections—these elements create your digital first impression and should provide viewers with an authentic, compelling and current story of your personal brand. Before updating your About, measure it’s impact, then refine it to make it more magnetic and memorable.

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

2. Align Your Profile With Your Aspirations

Incorporate keywords relevant to your career goals into your profile. This not only enhances your visibility for the right opportunities but also ensures your digital persona is in harmony with your real-world aspirations. Effective personal branding is rooted in authenticity and allows room for aspiration. Consider the aspirational elements as “planned serendipity.”

3. Refresh Your Network

Review your connection requests (your probably have many that are pending) and accept those who meet your criteria. Adopt a broad networking strategy—diverse connections can lead to unexpected and valuable opportunities. Initiate conversations with your new connections to start building relationships.

4. Give And Ask For LinkedIn Recommendations

Endorsements and Recommendations are the currency of credibility on LinkedIn. They validate your skills and professional standing. Request recommendations from colleagues and others whom you met in the past year. Reflect on 2023, and proactively offer unsolicited recommendations to those you’d like to acknowledge.

5. Grow Your Thought Leadership And Content Strategy

Turn on Creator Mode on LinkedIn to amplify your personal brand. Select up to five hashtags that define your areas of expertise (they show up right below your headline), and consider linking to a personal website or another social media profile to guide followers to content that helps bolster your professional identity.

6. Engage With Your Community

Engage with content that aligns with your professional interests. Like, comment, and share to foster connections and demonstrate your engagement with your industry or job function.

7. Curate A Powerful Content Plan

Develop a content strategy for 2024. Aim to share articles, posts, or videos that showcase your expertise and insights. Maintain consistency in your content, ensuring it reflects your point of view. Establish a regular cadence and commit to maintaining that frequency.

If demonstrating thought leadership is a 2024 goal, consider launching a LinkedIn Newsletter (you need Creator Mode turned on). Establish a publication frequency that aligns with your schedule and content capacity—be it daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. And focus on one topic – something that will be of interest to your audience. Strong personal brands are clear, consistent and constant.

8. Embrace Visual Storytelling

Rich media can dramatically increase engagement and add visual appeal to your profile. Share photos, infographics, short videos, your video bio and visually engaging insights that reflect your professional narrative. Use the Featured element of your profile to host this multimedia content.

9. Track and Measure Your Impact

LinkedIn provides data that can help you refine your communications plan. Use LinkedIn analytics to refine your strategy. Assess the reach and engagement of your content and adapt your approach based on what engages your audience most effectively.

By implementing these nine strategies, you’re setting the stage for a transformative 2024. LinkedIn is not merely a platform, but a vibrant community where your brand can thrive. Harness its power and anticipate the interesting opportunities that come your way this year.

Forbes.com | January 3, 2024 | William Arruda

#JobSearch : The Real Secret To Pass Your Final Round Interviews. Question: Think it Lies in Your Skills & Accomplishments? No!

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You might think the real secret to passing your final round interview lies in your skills and accomplishments, but let me tell you that’s not always the case.  Many candidates go into the interview ready to showcase their knowledge and share all their accomplishments. They might also try to present themselves as cool and confident, not wanting to seem overly eager for the position.

However, remember this important point: Hiring managers are looking for someone who they can connect with and who is genuinely interested in the role.  They want candidates who view the position as more than just another job, they’re looking for people who truly want to work at their company and bring value to the team. While they may not need someone there for their entire career, they do want to work with someone who gives them genuine enthusiasm and energy. That’s what is going to separate you from the rest of the pack.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

So, when you’re competing with others in the final round, remember that having the same skills and experiences as the other candidates may not be enough. The person who ends up getting the job is the person who shows they want the position the most and has the skills to back it up. They know why the team is hiring and how they can help solve their problems with their unique value to the role. The key is to spend more time and energy on being interested in the company and position rather than trying to be interesting yourself.

Now you’re prepared to ace that final round interview! Rooting for you!

Forbes.com | December 28, 2023 | Sho Dewan

#JobSearch : New Year, New Layoffs- 3 Ways To Prepare If Your Job Is At Risk. Question: How Secure are You in 2024?

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A new survey from ResumeBuilder says that 4 in 10 companies are anticipating layoffs in 2024. Over half of these companies are planning on a hiring freeze in the coming New Year. These small and medium-sized businesses join the ranks of several firms that have announced major job cuts. Nike has announced a $2 billion cutback over the next three years, with an uncertain number of job cuts included. Toy giant Hasbro will cut nearly 20% of its workforce in 2024, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal.

!

Music service Spotify announced a third round of layoffs. A recent email from CEO Daniel Ek says the company plans to cut its workforce by nearly 20%. Roku is going to be limiting new hires, and laying off about 10% of its workforce, while Amazon layoffs are effecting its new gaming division (all 180 jobs there are being eliminated). Citi CEO Jane Fraser announced layoffs in September, and sources have told CNBC that the bank could let go of at least 10% of its workforce, across several business lines. Flexport Logistics plans to cut up to 30% of its employees, and financial services company Charles Schwab is cutting back by 5-6% of its workforce, according to reports from Business Insider.

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

Article continued …

Leaders from industries surveyed with at least 50 respondents say layoffs at likely the following rates, according to ResumeBuilder:

  • Construction (66%)
  • Software (65%)
  • Information (44%)
  • Retail (44%)
  • Finance and insurance (38%)
  • Education (34%)
  • Health care and social assistance (28%)

Jobs Outlook: Why Are Companies Cutting Back in 2024?

Three factors are driving the cutbacks, for companies both large and small. Number one with a bullet is AI. A recent Goldman Sachs study found that generative AI tools could impact over 300 million full-time jobs worldwide. With new capabilities being uncovered everyday, companies are doing more with less – capitalizing on the capabilities of artificial intelligence, including services like ChatGPT and Google’s new AI, Gemini. The second factor influencing corporate payrolls is the one thing the market hates most: uncertainty. Harvard Business Review offers this viewpoint: “As 2023 comes to a close, the global economy is, in many ways, doing better than expected. The U.S. not only avoided a recession but has grown at a steady clip. Unemployment has been low and, crucially, inflation is falling in most of the world. And yet, the economic outlook remains deeply uncertain.”

War in Ukraine, the Palestinian conflict in Gaza, and uncertainty around the US election are just a few of the challenges that 2024 brings to bear. The third challenge, according to finance professor, Mihir Desai at Harvard University, is the cost of capital. Rising interest rates continue to combine with inflation to create a perfect storm of “wait-and-see” for businesses. While the Fed has hold interest rates steady, and signaled the possibility of rate cuts in 2024, “All the impacts that one would expect from higher interest rates will still happen (and are happening) but just in slow motion relative to expectations,” says Desai.”That slowing process will be less immediately disruptive or recognizable but more long-lasting and harder to engineer an escape from.”

Looming Layoffs: The Time to Prepare Is Now

When certainty is in short supply, so are jobs. At least, that’s what the LinkedIn workforce report shows. Hiring was down 4.9% in November, and that trend is expected to continue. If you’re concerned that your job might be at risk, here are three things that you can do, right now.

  1. Take a Fresh Look at Your Résumé and LinkedIn Profile: as the New Year begins, it might be time to get a fresh start on your next opportunity. Many savvy job-seekers are turning to ChatGPT and other AI tools to craft their résumé. And it’s never a bad idea to make sure your personal brand is clear and compelling, on LinkedIn.
  2. Bring that Side Hustle to Center Stage: what would have to happen, in order for you to turn your side hustle into your main gig? CNBC says that 53% of Gen Zers have a side hustle, and 44% of all those with some income on the side think that they will always need that extra gig. 41-year-old Nadia Liu Spellman left her job in finance to start a frozen food business. Now it brings in $4.5 million per year. Who would you need to be, in order to stop procrastinating and step fully into entrepreneurship? Now may be the perfect time to explore what you are really worth – before your employer makes a choice you don’t really want.
  3. Get the Coaching You Need: Success is often a factor of time. When it comes to your career, you’ve got to wonder: how long do you want to wait? According to Forbes, coaching is the best way to accelerate your results. In your career, if you don’t want to wait and go it alone, consider the value of having someone who is as focused on your success as you are – especially if you find yourself in unplanned career circumstances. Coaching is about helping people discover what’s easiest for them – helping them to discover their own growth, and prepare for the unexpected. When it comes to your career, two heads are always better than one. Especially if you can find a professional advisor that can help you to access greater confidence, even if you find yourself in an unexpected place in your professional life.

If you are concerned about your career prospects in 2024, don’t get depressed – get moving. Even in the midst of uncertainty, there are still opportunities – and maybe a new career is just what you need, in the New Year.

Forbes.com | December 31, 2023 | Chris Westfall

#JobSearch : How AI Can Supercharge Your Job Search. How to Leverage AI in your Job Search. A MUSt REad!

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When I was working in college career services, I noticed nearly all of the students I advised fell into one of two camps: They were either completely overwhelmed by all the necessary tasks of their job search, or they simplified the process so much they created major gaps in their own process.

Over time, I developed a four-step model to address their gaps and “chunk” the job search process into something more manageable. The four steps are very straightforward: Resume, Research, Network, Search. (Note: I’m not sharing the steps for a successful interview or negotiation; we’re only focused on the search process for now).

 

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

From my experience having worked at four different institutions and having advised thousands of students, the majority often do Step 1 (prep a resume and cover letter) — but then skip straight to Step 4 (start searching and applying like crazy). Inevitably, they all report that they weren’t hearing back and weren’t having much luck. That’s because they don’t spend enough time on Step 2 (research) and Step 3 (networking). Thorough and adequate prep in Step 2 and 3 will ensure greater success in any internship or job search process.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this approach lately as generative AI has emerged and many have begun utilizing ChatGPT and other similar tools to manage aspects of their job search. Are the four steps still necessary? I would argue, yes. The four steps remain the same, but the tools you’ll use to optimize each step are now more powerful. My advice to early career job seekers is to pair both human and AI guidance to power up their job searches.

 

Here’s how students can incorporate AI into each of the four steps to maximize their results:

Step 1: Develop Your Resume And Online Profile

The first step in any job search is to prepare your resume and online profile (on Handshake or LinkedIn) and pull together the core components of your cover letter. These documents should list relevant education and employment history as well as your skills, abilities, and interests.

It doesn’t matter if you want to start with gen AI or start with a live human in this step. In the end, you’ll want to utilize both. Gen AI is great at providing you a basic template and giving you sample bullets based on your roles or experiences. It can edit bullets or improve sentence structure in your cover letter drafts. It can also review your resume, profile, or cover letter against job descriptions or roles to provide you with greater insight on whether your skills or experiences might match and if you need to emphasize other areas more strongly in your application materials. If you’re having trouble getting started, gen AI tools are good for unblocking.

Now career advisors or mentors can support this process by helping you clarify your interests, target industries or roles, and synthesize which skills you’ve gained through different school experiences. Using a live human to gain this insight will make it easier for you to craft strong AI prompts which can refine the content on your resume, profile, or cover letter and to make those materials your own.

Step 2: Do The Research

This second step is all about understanding the macro (industry trends, emerging issues and jargon) — and the micro (specific news about the company you’re applying to and the responsibilities of the role you’re seeking).

This step is prime for gen AI to serve as an aggregator. On the macro side, it can help with research like figuring out how an industry is typically structured, what roles exist, what they do, industry jargon, and what are the emerging trends in the space. AI can suggest blogs, publications, podcasts, and other resources you should follow within your industry area to ensure you’re well plugged in and up-to-date on the latest issues. At the micro level, AI can help you dig into the roles you’re interested in and further explain what you might be responsible for or what you should emphasize from your own experience to be a strong fit. It can also help you generate a list of employers who exist in your geographic location and a list of competitors to help you broaden your research.

On the human side, you can take advantage of career events, panels, and programs put on by your school’s career center to hear directly from alumni and employers. After all the research you’ve conducted using gen AI, you’ll be ready to ask more in-depth questions using industry jargon and showcasing the new knowledge you’ve acquired.

Step 3: Network, Network, Network

Networking is a critical piece of the career search process. Use gen AI to help you refine the questions you might ask in an informational interview. Upload the information or notes you’ve taken from your research to help develop strong prompts and informed questions for your conversations. You can also use AI to ask for suggestions of platforms to use when trying to identify peers, alumni, and employers in your field.

At the end of the day though, networking is ultimately about making human connections. It’s about building relationships and taking an interest in someone else. Take the time to meet with alumni, peers, and professionals in the industry or roles you’re most interested in. Ask them about industry trends they’re following, about typical hiring timelines and processes, and allow those conversations to add to the research you’ve already done.

Remember that you can network with anyone. Peers from college, your fellow interns or coworkers from an internship or part-time job, your professors or family friends—all these individuals may be helpful or know someone who could be. Asking questions and being ready to share your own interests or goals could result in great connections. Step 2 and 3 really feed each other and as a result, will help you refine your materials in step 1 and make you far more informed on how to approach step 4.

Step 4: Search For Jobs

Once you’ve done the steps above, you’re ready to start searching for jobs. Once again, the human and AI connections that assisted you with profile-building, researching and networking come together in this final step.

Different job platforms, like Handshake, now utilize gen AI to help you identify open positions in the locations or industries you’re most interested in. And in some cases, can auto populate your information and application materials to make the applying part that much faster.

But remember to use your human connections as sounding boards and sources of encouragement and support. The job search can be taxing and having people to talk to as you go through the process is always helpful.

While the human element remains a foundational piece of any successful job search, it’s increasingly clear that new gen AI-driven guidance can supercharge any process.

 

Forbes.com | December 20, 2023 | Christine Y. Cruzvergara

#YourCareer : Do You Plan To Work After 65? More Americans Are Delaying Retirement, Study Finds. How About You?

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There is an increasing trend of older workers remaining in the labor force. A Pew Research study this month found that the number of working Americans ages 65 and older has nearly doubled in 35 years. The Pew data reveals that approximately one in five Americans in this age group were employed in 2023.

Older workers also work longer hours and earn higher pay than previous decades. The survey shows 62% percent are full-time employees, up 15% since 1987. At that time, the typical worker aged 65 or older made $13 per hour, whereas in 2022, they earned $22 per hour. AARP reported that the average income of retirement-age workers was $78,000 in 2019, which soared 63% from 1985.

Seasoned workers have contributed significantly to the growth of the labor force. Experts predict that the percentage of older workers in the labor force will continue to increase in the coming years. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, this demographic is projected to comprise 8.6% of the workforce in 2032, up from 6.6% in 2022.

 

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

 

Article continued …

People are delaying retirement to stay mentally engaged and financially secure. As life expectancy has increased, it’s understandable to fear outliving your money, especially as the cost of living skyrockets.

While the employment of older workers has increased, there are still challenges, such as income disparities and ageism in the workplace. However, there are signs of progress, with more employers considering job applicants over 50.

  • Experience and Expertise: Older workers offer a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to the workplace, which can be invaluable in various roles. They have often spent decades honing their skills and deeply understanding their respective fields.
  • Reliability and Work Ethic: Older workers are known for their strong work ethic, reliability and professionalism. They tend to show up to work on time, take fewer days off and are less likely to switch jobs frequently, which can contribute to a stable and committed workforce.
  • Soft Skills and Communication: Older workers possess well-developed soft skills, such as professionalism, written communication, analytical skills and interpersonal skills. They are often skilled at communicating with others in the office, which is essential for effective collaboration and information flow.
  • Mentoring and Knowledge Transfer: Older workers can be crucial in mentoring and providing skills to younger team members. They can help transfer institutional knowledge, problem-solving skills and best practices, contributing to the professional development of their colleagues.
  • Job Satisfaction: Older workers report higher levels of job satisfaction, according to Pew. They’re more likely to say they find their job enjoyable and fulfilling most of the time and less likely to find it stressful.

 

Forbes.com | December 19, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

#JobSearch : 3 Hiring Trends For 2024: AI, Optimism And Online Recruiting. Great Quick Must REad!

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In 2024, hiring trends will shift as organizations adapt to a changing global workforce and several key themes emerge, offering employers and job seekers a positive outlook. While 2023 started with massive layoffs and continued with that trend throughout the year to cut costs, the panorama seems quite different for 2024. Now with costs more under control and an interest rate moving in the right direction, the potential of AI technologies shows a clear opportunity for forward-looking job platforms and employers to improve this experience for all.

1) Optimistic Outlook on Global Hiring:

Despite the challenges presented by recent global events, hiring trends for 2024 indicate a renewed sense of optimism. Google research shows that 39% of hiring leaders said they plan to increase their financial commitment toward hiring in 2024, and 70% of surveyed U.S. job seekers were somewhat or very confident about their prospects of finding new jobs.

As economies rebound and industries rebuild, companies prepare for growth, creating a heightened demand for skilled professionals. This positive outlook is demonstrated by increased job opportunities across various sectors, creating a favorable environment for job seekers.

 

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

 

Article continued …

2) Large recruitment websites are the most popular

Technology has transformed the hiring process, and 2024 marks a definitive shift toward online recruiting. Among the hiring decision-makers surveyed in the same research, 58% identified large recruitment sites as the top sources for finding highly qualified candidates — even more so than their company career pages and employee referrals. Active job seekers also identified large recruitment sites as their top source, with 92% using them at least monthly.

3) AI-driven Innovations in Hiring:

Employers and job seekers have similar expectations from hiring platforms. The quality of job seekers’ experiences on these platforms plays a significant role in their job search journey and AI is helping drive this effort.

– Predictive Analytics: Machine learning models predict candidate success by analyzing historical data, allowing recruiters to make more informed hiring decisions.

– Chatbots for Initial Screening: AI-powered chatbots engage with candidates in real-time, conducting preliminary assessments and providing instant feedback.

According to the hiring trends anticipated for 2024, the recruitment industry seems optimistic. This optimism is mainly due to the strategic integration of online recruiting platforms and the increasing influence of AI in the talent acquisition process. The evolving landscape requires organizations to be adaptable and commit to technological advancements. These factors will be crucial in unlocking success in the quest for top talent.

 

Forbes.com | December 19, 2023 | Luciana Paulise

#JobSearch : Why Recruiters Won’t Give You Feedback After Interviewing. How to Get Feedback. MUst REad!

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Much has been written about the parlous state of the post-pandemic job market, with (righteous) anger being directed at recruiters who are ghosting candidates in the middle of interview loops. The unfortunate truth is that recruiting teams were disproportionally impacted by the pandemic, and post-pandemic, layoff cycles. Meta alone went from having more than 9,000 recruiters to fewer than 1,000, and while that’s an extreme example, it’s a barometer of the profession as a whole. There are far fewer recruiters currently in-seat, and those that are gainfully employed are drowning.

The current discourse around candidate experience (or lack thereof) points to an uncomfortable underlying truth. Even at the best of times with fully staffed, and highly trained, recruiting teams, in the majority of cases (in the U.S. at least) you can expect an outcome from your interview loops, but not much more than that. That’s because in risk-averse corporate America, we’re not allowed to give you substantive feedback.

The net result of this risk-aversion are generic boilerplate feedback statements: “there were other candidates that more closely matched our requirements” that recruiters are required to deliver ad nauseam. I recognize that these are almost as infuriating to receive as they are for the recruiter to have to deliver.

Although it is disappointing not to receive actionable feedback after an interview loop, it’s better for your sanity to assume you’re not going to get any, and then be pleasantly surprised if you do. It is even better to accept that whether you receive any feedback or not, it doesn’t really make any difference.

Our Friends In Compliance and Legal

Broadly speaking, most Fortune 500 recruiting teams have strict guidelines around what they can and cannot share with external candidates. Depending on the level of risk-aversion at the company, that embargo can also apply to internal candidates (yes, even employees). Put bluntly these policies originate with compliance and/or legal teams that decide there is too much risk involved, and that the trade-off for a better candidate experience is not worth the risk it poses. So although recruiters often want to give you feedback, there are usually strict guardrails in place preventing them from doing so.

 

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Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

Context Is Everything

Even if recruiters (or hiring managers) were able to give feedback, the only thing they’d be giving feedback on is their assessment of your fit for a specific position, at a specific company, at a specific point in time, amongst a particular competitive set. Put another way, if a hiring manager at Alpha Company decides you’re not right for a Product Manager vacancy, it doesn’t mean that a hiring manager at Beta company will come to the same conclusion.

It is also perfectly possible to go through the same interview process, at the same company, multiple times and get different outcomes. That’s because even when companies control for subjectivity and have well-structured processes, the competitive set you’re up against is the variable factor. There are countless case studies on LinkedIn and Reddit of folks getting hired into their “dream” company on their fourth or fifth attempt.

At worst interviews are unstructured and highly subjective, and at their best they’re anchored to performance norms (competencies) that are specific to an organization. Passing an interview at AppleAAPL -0.3% does not mean you’ll automatically pass an interview at GoogleGOOG +0.5%.

High-quality feedback is critically important to career development, but that is not the same thing as getting feedback from an interview loop. The person interviewing you will be spending an average of 45 minutes with you, and even if the company uses robust interviewing tools, the interviewer may not have been trained on how to use them. All of this to say they are not in a position to provide you with anything substantive or actionable, no matter how much you might want them to.

How Can I Get Good Feedback?

Considering the source is crucial: Has the person giving you feedback spent sufficient time observing your work to be able to offer an objective assessment? Equally important, does the person giving you feedback consistently demonstrate the types of leadership traits you want to emulate? If they’re not the type of leader you’d like to be, there’s no need to internalize anything they offer up.

Lastly, don’t overlook the fact that actionable feedback can come from anyone that works closely with you, including peers and subordinates. Feedback from someone senior to you in the organization doesn’t make it any more valuable in the long term.

The surest way to get feedback is of course simply to ask for it, just remember to manage your expectations around who is in a position to comply with your request.

 

Forbes.com | December 13, 2023 | James Hudson