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Your #Career : 5 Ways To Know It’s Time To Quit Your Job…Being Unhappy at Work is the Worst. That’s No Way to Spend the Day. If that Sounds Like You Maybe it’s Time you Look for a New Opportunity & Quit your Job.

May 29, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If you want to look for a new opportunity hit up your network of friends in real life and connections on social media. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account yet now is the perfect time to create one. Just remember that before you quit your job figure out what your next step is because life without a paycheck can be scary.

If the sound of your alarm clock sets you into snooze mode…and you really don’t care that it’s after 9 am and you’re still in bed take a minute and ask yourself why. Maybe it’s because you’re not a morning person, maybe it’s because everyone can use an extra 15 minutes of sleep or maybe it’s because you want to quit your job.

Being unhappy at work is the worst. It makes the days long and has you impatiently waiting for 5 p.m. That’s no way to spend the day. If that sounds like you maybe it’s time you look for a new opportunity and quit your job.

Here are some tell tale signs it’s time to quit your job:

You Don’t Give 110%

If you’re used to giving your all every single day at work then giving anything less than a perfect performance probably makes you feel really bad about yourself. Once your will to work hard is gone it’s hard to get it back. A change of scenery may be just what you need to get your groove back.

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You’re Not Interested In What’s Coming Next

If your job has become just about the paycheck you probably need to quit. We all work because we need money, but it’s important to have something to look forward to. If you don’t picture yourself at your job in three or six months then it’s time to find a new opportunity.

Goals Don’t include Working Towards A Promotion

Staying motivated and working towards the next best thing is an important part of advancing your career. If you don’t see a future for yourself at your current workplace it’s time to find a place where you will want to be better, learn new skills and move up the ladder.

Not Satisfied

If you find yourself doing your own thing on the side it may be time to turn that into a full time job and go into business for yourself. Ask yourself why youstarted a side hustle. Maybe it’s becuase you wanted to learn a new skill, maybe it’s because you need extra money or maybe it’s because it’s time to quit your job.

You’re Not Interested In Making Friends At Work

Workplace culture is so important because we spend eight hours – sometimes more – with our co-workers. If you find yourself sitting alone at lunch and not enjoying the social aspect of your job it may be time to move on to bigger and better things. Try to keep a positive attitude because negativity is noticed and you don’t want to be asked to leave. If you want to go it’s better that it’s on your own terms.

If you want to look for a new opportunity hit up your network of friends in real life and connections on social media. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account yet now is the perfect time to create one. Just remember that before you quit your job figure out what your next step is because life without a paycheck can be scary.

Forbes.com | May 29, 2016 | Ginger Dean

#Leadership : 14 Signs your Employees Secretly Hate You…If you’ve Been Labeled a “Bad Boss,” you’ll Probably Be the Last to Know.

May 29, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

“Your staff will be very adept at making it a well-kept secret because they will do everything to keep their job security intact,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.”

“But if you decide to boost your emotional-intelligence radar and look for subtle signs that your team may be unhappy, you’ll uncover a wealth of actionable feedback.”

Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of “The Humor Advantage,” agrees that it’s important to know how your employees feel about you. When they don’t like you, there are consequences, he says. For instance, they’ll be less happy and more stressed (which affects things like their productivity and creativity); they may quit on you (which will cost you and your company time and money); they may give you bad reviews or complain to HR (which puts your job in jeopardy); and you’ll have trouble earning their respect, being viewed as credible, and getting them to listen to your opinions.

“Your goal as a manager is not to be liked by everyone; if it is, you won’t be making the best decisions for the company,” says Taylor. “But if you’re an insensitive manager, no amount of intelligence or business skills will ever take you far in your own career advancement. You will always need a strong team and following to thrive in your career.”

So to avoid having to deal with those consequences, among many others, you’ll need to recognize the signs and make changes to your behavior, attitude, and approach to leading.

Here are 14 subtle signs your employees may secretly hate you:

You’ve got a (bad) gut feeling.

Soon/flickr

“The very first sign that things are going awry in your relationships with employees is a general gnawing feeling that you can’t put your finger on,” Taylor says. “No manager can be liked by everyone, but there are far too many bosses who are not respected by enough of their staff.” If you’ve got that gut feeling something is off, be aware and start looking for other signs.

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They can’t maintain eye contact with you (but can with everyone else).

Bradley Gordon

It’s difficult for an employee who is angry to look you straight in the eye, says Taylor. “They’re afraid that you may be able to detect hostility, so the path of least resistance is for them to look away or avoid being around you wherever possible.”

They avoid you like the proverbial plague.

Andy Morales/flickr

If you notice they take the stairs every time you’re waiting for the elevator, or they manage their schedules in such a way that they rarely overlap with your primary work hours, that’s a good sign they’re avoiding you. And employees typically only avoid people who intimidate them or who they don’t like, says Kerr.

They call in sick a lot, especially due to stress-related reasons.

Flickr/Laura Taylor

Having an employee who goes on “stress leave” or constantly calls in sick could be a sign that they are not comfortable working under your direction, Kerr explains.

“Your employee(s) may not be showing up at work as often, may come to work late, leave early, or are just seemingly never at their desks, because of long, needed breaks,” adds Taylor. “Leaving the scene can take many forms — and it’s a common way that your staff copes with stress. A bad boss-employee relationship is a leading cause of stress and illness,” she says.

They don’t smile around you.

Flickr / Leo Hidalgo

We’re not talking about the occasional bad day or mood swing. If one or more of your employees seem to look miserable every time they’re around you — but you’ve seen them smiling while talking to others in the office — something isn’t right.

“It’s difficult for any employee to put on a happy face when they’re talking to someone they [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”][dislike],” says Taylor.

They stop laughing and bantering the moment you walk into the room.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

Not smiling when they’re around you is one thing — but clamming up when you step into the office kitchen or conference room is a pretty strong sign that your employees reallydon’t like you and don’t consider you part of their inner circle, Kerr says.

They seem less passionate about their work than they used to be.

Flickr/sunshinecity

You may not be the reason for this (so many things affect one’s level of motivation or enthusiasm at work) — but you could be.

“If their level of enthusiasm has waned, and you’re not seeing your staff jump at the opportunity to help out on new or existing projects anymore, it may be a sign you’re disliked,” says Taylor.

They never invite you to social events.

Flickr / beyrouth

If your employees don’t include you in any after-work social events or happy hours, it very well may be because they don’t want to spend any more time with you than they absolutely have to.

They communicate with you via email, when they talk to others in person.

Shutterstock

“Your unhappy employees may change the way they communicate with you, such as through email, voicemail, or IM, instead of in-person communications,” Taylor explains. “You may detect less personal contact, so that there is less of an opportunity for potential confrontation.”

They’re short with you.

Vancouver Film School/flickr

If you ask, “How’s it going?” and they always respond with “Ok” or “Fine” — or if their emails to always get straight to the point, and never begin with a friendly “Hello” or “Good afternoon,” this may be a sign they’re not a huge fan of you.

“If your employees are beginning to sound like your moody teenager, then that’s a pretty big red flag,” says Kerr.

They give off negative body language.

YouTube

Whether it’s a subtle eye roll or constantly assuming a closed-off position with arms folded across their chest, your employees’ body language will often reveal their true feelings towards you, Kerr says.

Their door is always closed.

A National Acrobat/flickr

“Many employees don’t have the luxury of their own office these days, but if they do, and their door appears closed more often than not, they may be commiserating with friends, family, or even other colleagues,” Taylor says. “They may be seeking advice, or worse, checking out greener pastures.”

They constantly disagree with you.

Leonid Mamchenkov/flickr

“Not all employees shy away from confronting the personality clashes as they pertain to business, thankfully,” says Taylor. “You may find that your staff seems increasingly more difficult and disagreeable, whereas before you were never questioned. This may be because before, they tolerated a more dictatorial management style — but now they’ve realized that they have nothing to lose by challenging you, in the hopes that they will see changes.”

They resign for no good reason.

YouTube/Marina Shifrin

Scads of surveys indicate that “the boss” still ranks as a top reason for employees leaving a job. If they don’t provide a good excuse or reason for leaving, there’s a good chance it’s you.

Businessinsider.com | September 2, 2016 | Jacquelyn Smith

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#Leadership : 5 Keys To Managing A Mobile Workforce…Despite Worldwide Turmoil, Growth is still Very Much Happening on the Global Front. Companies are Expanding into New Regions & Deepening their Presence in Existing Ones. The Challenge is Building a Workforce Rapidly & Effectively.

May 28, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

The challenge is building a workforce rapidly and effectively. It’s never been that simple, but moving your talent where it’s needed the most adds far more complexity — and we’re in an era when competition for talent and skills is at its peak.

Add that all up and you’ve got a renewed mandate to focus on mobility as part of your talent strategy. Whether overseas or intra-national, the companies that mandate that mobility is part of their HR strategy are going to see the results . They’ll see the most growth, performance, succession and leadership development and — critically — retention. You might call it putting your money where the mobility is.

Five Keys To Consider:

Make it future-focused: An organization’s talent strategy should focus well into the future. Depending on what it does, are there plans to expand? Are there international markets to expand into? The failsafe should be to assume yes: You will need to move a workforce. It will likely involve an international assignment. Among those on the rise: the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as well as the UAE and Qatar. All are clearly hot spots for talent, and the trend is projected to not only continue but increase by another 50% by 2020.

Develop a local successor chain. What enables an organization to succeed in new locations isn’t just a matter of shipping a select group to the new office and putting them to work. According to a survey report from EY/ Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, the top benefit of having a global mobility strategy in place was being able to develop local successors — 55% of top performing companies who responded noted that. Also note that global mobility strategies had a clear positive impact on retaining talent, growing new business, and also financial performance for 65% of the companies surveyed.

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Cover the bases. Retention is a sharper issue still when factors include relocation. The challenge is not just to reallocate the workforce where you need it, but keep them happy as well. A drain of talent, particularly before contracts are up, could be devastating. Cover logistics and legalities (there may be different labor laws and regulations). Provide dedicated support: with visas; with finding safe, secure and comfortable housing and family support; with the host country’s customs, cultural differences and etiquette. There’s also the issue of the organizational culture, which may be different overseas, given the workforce. Enable everyone to embrace it, and (here’s a concept) make mobility and globalism part of its fabric.

Concentrate on the willing, ready and able. Not all are going to be willing or able to move overseas or travel frequently as they spearhead international efforts. PriceWaterhouseCoopers research of millennials found that 38% were interested in pursuing career opportunities with the firm overseas. But another PWC study found that 70% of millennials wanted or expected that they would take an overseas assignment at some point in their careers.

Make sure the door is open when they come back. Re-entry after an overseas assignment can be rocky to say the least. According to a survey byBrookfield Global Relocation, 38% of returnees quit within 12 months — and that figure hadn’t changed for three decades as of 2010. Your employee now has international experience and may well have outgrown their previous title, and the organization’s own expectations may not align with this increase in experience. Well before they are due back, start working towards facilitating not only their return, but retention. Capitalize on their professional growth with an appropriate position, or you may lose them to a firm who better recognizes their value.

The 24/7, hyper-connected and endlessly networked culture of the new workplace dovetails with the profound expansion into a global economy, which means that streams of talent are going to be moving back and forth as needed. In this situation, there’s one irrefutable bottom line: Yes, this is about mobilizing talent. But it’s also about altering the course and root of people’s lives. We’re all working to increase employee engagement and retention. It’s likely best to remember that.

Forbes.com | May 21, 2016 | Meghan M. Biro

#Leadership : What To Do When You Catch A Liar…Research Shows we Can only Spot a Liar 53% of the Time. Learn How to Handle that Tricky Moment When you Catch a Liar in the Act.

May 25, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

It’s a hard fact to accept, but your friends and coworkers lie to you regularly. The real challenge lies in how you respond once you catch someone in the act.

“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche

Even though most people lie a lot–roughly two to three times during a ten-minute conversation, studies show–you don’t catch them nearly as often as you might think. Researchers from the University of California analyzed the results of 253 studies and found that we only spot about half the lies we’re told (53% to be exact). In other words, we’re about as likely to identify a lie as we are to win a coin toss.

The scary thing is that people who are trained in detecting deception–judges, customs agents, law enforcement officers, and even CIA agents–don’t fare much better. They can only spot a lie about 60% of the time.

When you do catch someone lying to you, it’s usually a real whopper. These are the kinds of lies that are so insulting to be the recipient that it’s hard to think straight. In these moments, you want to keep the conversation constructive, without letting the liar off the hook, which is a difficult thing to pull off.

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And what about the times when you have a nagging sense that you’re being lied to but aren’t certain and don’t want to come across as paranoid or accusatory? While too much skepticism is never healthy, a small dose can be a very good thing, especially since we’re so poor at recognizing lies.

The question always becomes, what do you do with a lie? If you think someone is lying to you, do you call them on it? Do you tell someone else? Or do you just go along to get along?

There are actually several things you can do, and the right one, or the right combination, depends on the situation.

First, make certain you understand the rules. Before you decide what course of action to take, check the employee handbook and consider the recent history of similar situations. If you’re going to call someone out, you need to know what you’re getting yourself and the liar into. Know the severity of the consequences for lying, and make certain you follow proper protocol for addressing it, or the entire thing could backfire on you.

Option #1: Do nothing.

Nobody likes being lied to, and the natural reaction is to call the liar out, but that’s not always the smartest thing to do, especially at work. Before you do anything, ask yourself, ‘What’s at stake besides my ego?’ Carefully weigh the pros and cons before you take action. Consider who, if anyone, should know about the lie and the implications it has for the company. Sometimes, the animosity you avoid by staying silent is worth more than the satisfaction you receive from speaking out. Other times, the lie is serious enough that people have to know.

Option #2: Deflect with humor.

Some lies are too big to ignore completely, yet too small to make a big deal out of. When this happens, you can always make a joke of it. Playful comments that acknowledge the lie will usually do the trick. Whether it’s “Hey, I think I just saw your nose grow a little bit” or “I need to get my prescription checked. When I looked at the scorecard, it said you shot 112,” this strategy gives the liar a chance to admit their slip-up without fear of reprisal. The key to making this tactic work is to give the impression that the other person was kidding around or intentionally exaggerating and never expected to be believed.

Option #3: Play dumb.

Another way to let someone save face–and this is particularly appropriate for group settings–is to play dumb. Pretend you suddenly suffered a memory lapse or are confused about the facts. Ask lots of follow-up questions. The more details you request, the more likely it is that the truth will come out. Drawing it out gives the liar a chance to admit that they “misspoke” and correct themselves without being called a liar.

Option #4: Call them on it.

In situations where doing nothing isn’t a good option, you can always call the liar out. You just need to think carefully about the best way to do this, and impulsively bashing them is never a smart move. You may choose to have a conversation with the liar in private or with others whom the lie affects. In either case, it’s important you have evidence that backs up your claim, or you very well may be called a liar yourself. Just make certain you are honest and direct with the person who lied. Don’t go to others with the lie when you know it’s better handled privately between you and the liar.

There are many times when reporting a lie is the right thing to do, both ethically and practically. Sometimes, not reporting a lie can cost you your job. However, there are a few things you need to think about before you take that step. First, question your motives. Are you thinking of telling someone about the lie out of concern that either another employee or the company could be harmed, or are you just mad? If it’s the latter, you run the risk of making yourself look petty; if it’s the former, stick to the facts. Don’t offer any hypotheses about why the person may be lying because that’s just supposition on your part. Stick to what the person said, what the truth is, and any proof you have collected.

Not optional: Protect yourself. Whether you decide to call a lie or to let it go, once you know you’re dealing with a liar, it’s critical to take steps to protect yourself. One way to do that is to have a witness attest to what the liar said. Failing this, interact with the liar via email or text, both of which create a written record. Though if you’re dealing with a particularly savvy liar, they’re not going to commit to anything in writing. In that case, document the conversation yourself: who, what, when, where, etc., and cap it off by sending your lying colleague an e-mail summarizing the conversation. That’s not as good as having proof in the other person’s words, but at least you’ll be able to make the argument that your colleague had the opportunity to correct you.

Bringing It All Together

Some people tell infrequent lies to make themselves look good or to protect themselves. Others are pros. They’ve been doing it their whole careers, they’re good at it, and they’ve learned how to avoid getting caught. That’s why there’s no single solution that works in every situation. The best thing to do is to carefully consider your options, thinking through the pros and cons of each course of action.

How do you handle liars? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

PUBLISHED ON: MAY 25, 2016

Inc.com |

BY TRAVIS BRADBERRY

Author, ‘Emotional Intelligence 2.0’@talentsmarteq

#Leadership : 5 MindSets that have Helped Successful People Bounce Back from Failure…Success often Results after Several MisFires. We make Many Mistakes Along our Personal & Professional Journeys. If we Learn from our Mistakes, Life Does make Allowances. However, If we Wallow in our Mistakes, they Can Consume Us.

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

Who doesn’t love chocolate? And we all know Hershey’s — but perhaps we don’t all know the story of the famous chocolate company’s founder, Milton Hershey. Milton Hershey was a ‘nobody’ who, according to Biography, became the American manufacturer and philanthropist who founded the Hershey Chocolate Company and popularized chocolate candy throughout much of the world.

He started three separate candy ventures before he found success. None of them worked out the way he’d hoped, but eventually he started the Hershey Chocolate Company, which made him an industry leader.

Success often results after several misfires. We make many mistakes along our personal and professional journeys. If we learn from our mistakes, life does make allowances. However, if we wallow in our mistakes, they can consume us.

Using Hershey’s life story, allow me to share five mindsets that help people bounce back from failure — something I know well from my own journey.

1. Nothing is constant

“When you go through a hard period / When everything seems to oppose you … When you feel you cannot even bear one more minute / NEVER GIVE UP! Because it is the time and place that the course will divert!” — Rumi

Milton Hershey dropped out of school at the age of 14 and began apprenticing with a master confectioner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Four years later, he borrowed $150 from his aunt and set up his own candy shop in the heart of Philadelphia.

After five long years of hard work with little success, he had to close up shop. He joined his father in Denver and found work with a confectioner. It was in Denver where he discovered caramel and how fresh milk could be used to make delicious candy.

Just because you haven’t found a way of doing something yet, it doesn’t mean that you are a failure. When you view yourself as a failure, you perpetuate a vicious circle of negativity that can effect your future actions.

In any outcome, there is often a percentage of external influence. Viewing failure as a temporary event helps us take practical and non-emotional steps to address it.

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2. It’s disappointing, but I’ll take it on the chin

“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” — Chinese Proverb

Even though you are able to acknowledge that you are not a failure, it doesn’t make failure any less painful. Resilient people develop a mental capacity that allows them to adapt with ease during adversity, bending like the green reed instead of breaking like the mighty oak. They accept, adapt, and move on.

Entrepreneur Milton Hershey started all over again, first in Chicago and later in New York City. He failed in both cases, but his setbacks never held him back.

In 1883, he started the Lancaster Caramel Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, convinced he could build a successful candy company. Soon he had a thriving business shipping his caramels all over the country.

When we have the confidence and the experience of bouncing back from failure, taking on future challenges does not seem so daunting. It is about deciding to put oneself on the obstacle course in the hope of success.

3. What can I learn from this?

“To change and to change for the better are two different things.” — German Proverb

We should never start anything without the belief that we can be successful, but it is commonly understood that mistakes are an essential part of any journey to eventual success. Learning does not come from doing everything perfectly — the best learning happens when we crash and burn.

In 1893, Milton Hershey got an up-close look at the art of chocolate making at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This deeply inspired him to start Hershey Chocolate Company despite his recent success with his caramel business.

He wanted to redefine how milk chocolate was made. Milk chocolate was then largely considered a Swiss expertise. Hershey wanted to find a new formula to mass-produce milk chocolate candy accessible for the masses.

Milton Hershey sold his Lancaster Caramel Company for $1 million in 1900 to start Hershey Chocolate Company.

In 1905, Hershey Chocolate Company began production and set a new course for the candy industry. Milton Hershey took over three years to envision and plan his modern candy-making facility following his exit from Lancaster Caramel Company.

As Biography writes, “quickly, the Hershey Chocolate Company’s success far exceeded that of its founder’s previous venture. His winning ideas included the Hershey Kiss in 1907, which the company’s founder named himself. The trademark foil wrapper was added in 1924”.

4. If people criticize, that’s OK

“Criticism is just someone else’s opinion. Even people who are experts in their ﬁelds are sometimes wrong. It is up to you to choose whether to believe some of it, none of it, or all of it. What you think is what counts.” ― Rodolfo Costa, “Advice My Parents Gave Me: and Other Lessons I Learned from My Mistakes”

The greatest fear when we make a mistake is that others will judge us negatively. Others often use criticism out of their own insecurity. It says more about them than it does about us.

Take a look at this NY Times article critiquing Hershey and his chocolate:

“Hershey’s candy making genius was hardly consistent. He spent years trying to figure out how to ‘mix turnips, parsley, celery and even beets into chocolate.’ Even his signature product had — and still has — its critics. Compared to Swiss chocolate … Hershey’s ‘carries a single, faintly sour note,’ the result of the fermentation of milk fat, a side effect of using liquid condensed milk rather than powdered milk. This edge came to ‘define the taste of chocolate for Americans, who would find harmony in the sweet but slightly sour flavor.’ Like his candy, Hershey, who died in 1945, was flawed.”

The harshest critics are often those without the courage to put themselves in the firing line — often living their lives gloating at the mistakes of others to raise their own self-esteem.

When we take on a difficult task, we have to ensure that we are doing it for ourselves, not for the approval of anyone else. In that case, failure is far easier to deal with.

5. OK, what’s next?

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance. The third step is action.” – Nathaniel Branden

The biggest threat of any mistake is not the immediate ramifications, but the longer-term effects on our behavior. If we take a mistake to heart (especially when we could not have done anything to influence the outcome), being able to take the next step seems that much harder.

Why dwell on failure when it is in the past? If we don’t take a positive next step, we risk being caught in an emotional loop of failure. Start the next project to occupy your mind. Don’t just sit in your room waiting for the world to swallow you up. Perhaps that’s the biggest lesson from Hershey’s story.

Serial entrepreneur and author Faisal Hoque is the founder of SHADOKA and other companies. Shadoka enables entrepreneurship, growth, and social impact. He is the author of “Everything Connects: How to Transform and Lead in the Age of Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability” and “Survive to Thrive: 27 Practices of Resilient Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Leaders“. Copyright (c) 2016 by Faisal Hoque. All rights reserved. Follow him on Twitter@faisal_hoque.

Businessinsider.com | May 24, 2016 | Faisal Hoque, Contributor

Your #Career : 7 Valuable Skills You Can Learn in Less Than a Day…If you Really want to Add to your Personal Value & Become More Attractive on the Job Market, You can Learn Some New Skills. And There are Many of them That you can Get Under your Belt in a Relatively Short Period of Time — Even in Less than a Day.

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

You may find yourself with some extra time on your hands throughout the day. Perhaps you’re a fast worker, and play ‘run out the clock’ at the end of each work day? Or maybe you’re a student, with more time on your hands than you originally budgeted for. Either way, if you have some extra time, you should be putting it to work, rather than watching reality TV or playing Fallout 4 (though nobody would blame you for playing Fallout 4).

There are many ways to put yourself to work. You can exercise, which has been shown to improve cognitive function and productivity. You can catch up on some reading, and finally tackle that stack of classics that’s been collecting dust. Or you can get some sleep — that’s never really a bad idea.

But if you really want to add to your personal value and become more attractive on the job market, you can learn some new skills. And there are many of them that you can get under your belt in a relatively short period of time — even in less than a day.

We’ve listed seven of those skills below. Some will take more effort than others, but making the decision or commitment to learn any of them will leave you better off when you go to sleep tonight than you were when you woke up this morning. And if you have some extra time to spare, learning these skills can be as solid of an investment as there is.

1. Becoming a search master

Here’s a little secret that most of us are privy to, though we may not be aware of it: you can solve almost any problem with your smartphone or laptop. Seriously. All you have to do is Google (or Bing!) the issue. Odds are, a million other people have faced a similar dilemma, and there will be resources available to either walk you through it, or develop a strategy to tackle it.

The real skill here is in learning how to manipulate the search engine. Simple searches will get the job done nine times out of ten, but for very specific searches, learn to use advanced tips and tricks like quotation marks, site queries, etc. There’s a lot more to Google, Bing, and Yahoo! then meets the eye. Dig in and learn to use the depth of the algorithms to your advantage.

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2. Financial literacy

Hate thinking about money? Scared to look at your bank account? Do terms like “401(k)”, or “stock options” get you frazzled? You may want to take gauge of your level of financial literacy, and if need be, give yourself a crash course. This is something that you could literally do in a day by spending some time going over personal financebasics, poking around financial websites, and reading some financial news. Financial literacy is a fairly big problem in the U.S., and making sure you know the basics can be invaluable.

3. Investing basics

Once you have some basic financial literacy, you really should learn the basics of investing. It’s not nearly as scary as you think, and the sooner you make the effort to learn, the better off you’re going to be in the future. You don’t need to go too in-depth either — just reading up on the basics of stocks, bonds, and basic investment strategies is enough to get you started. You can even talk to your employer about retirement plans, and head to your bank or credit union to see what investment products they have available. Within one day, you might be able to set yourself up for a glowing future.

4. Simple coding

You know you should learn to code. It’s becoming a fairly ubiquitous skill, particularly among the younger generations. It can give you an edge on your résumé, and help you work out simple computer issues — even help streamline your thinking patterns. And it’s not terribly difficult to do.

Use some spare time to work through some coding tutorials, like HTML or Python — whichever may be more useful to you. There are tons of options out there, from Codeacademy to Code School. You may literally walk into work this morning without a clue as to how your computer functions, and walk out with the ability to actually do a bit of coding.

5. Charisma

It’s hard to understate how important a sense of confidence is, especially in the workplace. It’s something a lot of people struggle with, but can make or break someone’s career. A big part of becoming confident is appearing confident, and having charisma can make all the difference. If you find yourself with some spare time, work on your charisma. It can be as simple as walking over to the coffee pot, or engaging a coworker in conversation. Pay attention to your posture, and speak with authority.

Before you know it, you may have planted the seeds for a new, confident you by the time you head for the parking lot.

6. Spreadsheet functions

If you really want to impress everyone, learning some fairly basic Excel functions and commands can go a long way. Excel and other spreadsheet software is often intimidating to a lot of people, but once you get over the initial anxiety, mastering it isn’t nearly as hard as you’d think. Take an hour or two and watch or read through some tutorials, and practice throughout the day. You could go home being the office’s ‘Excel wizard’ before you know it.

7. Healthy eating habits

You may not think that eating is a skill in itself, but you’re mistaken. How, when, and what you eat can have a big impact on your day, your levels of productivity, and even your mood. If you can take some time to put together a meal and snacking plan, or even just give some thought to your own eating habits, you could make a big impact on your daily routine.

If you need evidence that dietary selection is a skill, just keep an eye on your coworkers — watch how their diets affect their output. Lots of sugar, soda, and junk food? Probably not a recipe for success. If you have some spare time, do some reading, and put a plan together for yourself. It can make a lasting difference.

Follow Sam on Facebook and Twitter @SliceOfGinger

CheatSheet.com | May 24, 2016 | Sam Becker

Your #Career : Friends With Benefits: Befriend Your Co-Workers to Make More Money…The Easiest Ways to Make your Way to the Top, Or at Least make More Money, is to Know the Right People — so, Making Nice with your Professional Colleagues Can Be Very Important.

May 23, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Wondering how to make more money? You can gun for a management position with your company, or even work on some of those intangible skills that could lead to a raise or promotion. The truth is, there is a multitude of ways to improve your productivity and job performance in order to work your way up the ladder. But one of the easiest ways to make your way to the top, or at least make more money, is to know the right people — so, making nice with your professional colleagues can be very important.

It may be more important than you realize. Many people despise their co-workers (often justifiably), but new evidence shows the friendlier we are with our work mates, the more productive and efficient we become at our jobs. So, if you’re looking to make more money by getting a promotion or raise, working on those relationships may be the key.

While it may be intuitive to think the friendlier you are with your co-workers, the less work you’ll get done — you’ll end up spending time gossiping and goofing around, after all — new research seems to suggest otherwise. “Multiplex relationships,” a study published in the journal Personnel Psychology says, can actually make us more productive and increase our job performance.

“In a study of insurance company employees, we found that the number of multiplex workplace friendships in one’s social network is positively associated with supervisor ratings of job performance,” the study says. As for what, exactly, a “multiplex relationship” means, the researchers define them as “multifaceted relationships that superimpose friendship with work-focused interactions.”

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So, while the research did show that these relationships can lead to positive outcomes in terms of performance and ratings, there were a couple of caveats to note. “However, we also found that there is a negative indirect effect on job performance through emotional exhaustion, which is offset, in part, through enhanced positive affect.” Also, while looking at workers in the restaurant industry, the researchers found there was some lost productivity in that these relationships required effort to maintain — that is, we have to engage our friends at work, detracting from our professional duties.

The researchers call these multiplex relationships a “mixed blessing,” but the positive implications here are pretty clear: The better we get along with our co-workers and colleagues, the more we’re going to benefit in positive feedback and ratings. There’s also a “greasing of the wheels” sort of effect at play — where we have a better idea of how to read and anticipate our co-workers’ thoughts or actions, and can increase or productivity through that anticipation.

Making more money

So, how can this research and the knowledge generated from it actually serve you? As mentioned, if you can manage to really kindle some strong relationships with your colleagues, then it should pay off in a number of ways. You’ll have more people looking out for you (as opposed to those looking to potentially sabotage you), and you should be able to get more work done. Employers want to see more getting done and increased productivity, and when they do, it’s typically grounds for a raise or promotion.

It’s also never really a bad thing to be on good terms with your superiors in management. After all, they’re the ones who will ultimately make the call during a salary renegotiation, or when promoting someone.

But you also need to make the effort to keep track of what you’ve been doing, and make sure that your relationships with co-workers are symbiotic and reciprocal. If your co-workers are going to be helping you out, you need to be there for them as well. If you can work together, you’ll all be better off in the end. And make sure you’re keeping a tally of your accomplishments, or making note of how your work performance has improved. You can use it when asking for a raise or promotion, and if all else fails, show it to other prospective employers.

It all comes back to building strong relationships, though. You may get annoyed with your colleagues, but being on good terms with them can make a huge difference when push comes to shove. And if you are serious about making more money, strong relationships could be the key.

Follow Sam on Facebook and Twitter @SliceOfGinger

CheatSheet.com | May 23, 2016 | Sam Becker

Your #Career : How to Be a Fearless Networker…You aren’t Just Hunting for Favors & Begging for Advice & Advancement Opportunities. Besides, the People you Meet & Get to Know while Networking are Just That — People. They have Families, Obligations, Fears & Strengths — & they Spill Mustard on their Shirts just Like You.

May 22, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

You’re standing face-to-face with a professional in your industry who can help you advance your career. This is your chance to wow this person with a strong handshake, bright smile and direct eye contact, followed by a witty comment that initiates a loud fit of laughter.

However, you can’t communicate well or make a good first impression when your mouth is dry, your palms are sweaty, your thoughts are scattered and you’re blanking on that pitch you prepared.

Here’s the good news: These nervous feelings and anxious thoughts are completely normal (and, in fact, very common), and there are ways to overcome them. Before you know it, you’ll be shaking hands and expanding your network with ease and confidence.

Here are some networking tips to put to use when you feel intimidated.

1. Forget about the business side

Remember that engaging in a professional relationship is not an immoral practice founded on dishonesty. Job seekers should focus on maintaining a casual mentality and they should approach networking with a genuine curiosity instead of a fear of failure (or the more complicated fear of success).

In order to develop a relaxed mindset, job seekers should remind themselves that they are building a social network that is founded on mutual respect, genuine interest and a clear understanding of reciprocity.

In other words, you aren’t just hunting for favors and begging for advice and advancement opportunities. Besides, the people you meet and get to know while networking are just that — people. They have families, obligations, fears and strengths — and they spill mustard on their shirts just like you.

Once you remind yourself of the dynamics of a professional relationship, you can initiate conversations with confidence. Use a warm smile that says, “I’m approachable, and I’m excited to meet you.”

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2. Nail down your pitch

According to a recent survey conducted by the University of Phoenix School of Business, 15% of working adults surveyed say they don’t have enough experience to make networking worthwhile. Don’t fall victim to missing out on a great opportunity just because your resume isn’t robust. This is where preparation comes in.

Preparing a pitch can be tricky because it can sound like a sales tactic.

Preparing a pitch can be tricky because it can sound like a sales tactic. Avoid clichés and slogans so the listener knows that you’re sincerely presenting actionable solutions and not blowing smoke just to get a new job. Ultimately, a pitch should be a clear expression of your purpose and intentions. Here’s how to prep the perfect pitch:

Self-reflection: The first step is to really think about your goals. What is your purpose for speaking with this person? While the end goal is to advance your career in some way, your real focus is keeping the listener intrigued. You want him or her to be hooked and listen to your entire story.
Tell your story: Write a clear introduction that describes who you are, what you do and how you plan on helping the listener. Identify the problem that he or she has and show how your solution is the best one. This is where storytelling abilities come into play. Introduce a challenge, describe how you solved it and explain what you learned.
Integrate a call to action: Finally, leave the listener with something actionable. This is where you schedule a follow up, such as grabbing a cup of coffee or going out to lunch.
Practice makes perfect: Once you have this pitch written, read through it and practice several times. This is a great method for learning what you need to cover, but don’t try to memorize and recite it word for word — your delivery shouldn’t feel contrived. You want to hit your strong talking points and deliver your pitch from a place of sincerity and confidence.

After the pitch and before the follow-up, send a quick email expressing your appreciation for their time. Finally, connect online through LinkedIn, and maintain an ongoing relationship with this contact and their network: Share information, join industry-related organizations, comment on relevant posts, and even contribute content to message boards.

3. Relax and stand tall

All of these networking tips are only effective if you feel relaxed. People project their emotional states more than they realize through nonverbal cues. For example, crossed arms communicate resistance and a sense of defensiveness, whereas open arms make you appear more approachable.

Body language is more than just a representation of our emotional state

Body language is more than just a representation of our emotional state. It can even affect our mentality. A September 2014 study conducted by researchers at the University of Auckland and published in Health Psychology found that standing up straight reduces stress. Upright participants said that they felt less fear, higher self-esteem and an overall better mood. Be mindful of your posture and how your body language is being presented when you’re approaching people to network with. They’re reading you before you have a chance to speak.

There are several other simple techniques that can help reduce stress and put you in a relaxed mindset. Certain stretches can provide stress relief, such as ear-to-shoulder stretches, spine rotations and toe touching. Astudy published by Oxford University Press in June 2014 found that regularly practicing yoga and other physical activity provided evidence of stress relief.

Also, practicing mindfulness through exercises like meditation, yoga and tai chi can increase self-awareness and build skills to manage stress. These exercises can also reduce negative emotions. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study in May 2014 providing evidence suggesting that consistent meditation practice improves a person’s quality of life and general mental health. While incorporating practices like meditation into your daily routine would be the best practice, you should at least perform them leading up to a networking event or professional interaction.

Positive affirmations are a great way of shifting a negative mentality to a positive one. You can write your own by choosing a negative thought about yourself and writing the positive opposite that counteracts that belief. For example, if you’re thinking, “I don’t deserve this opportunity,” you can write an affirmation like, “I deserve this, and I am excited to succeed.” Affirmations like these are realistic and achievable perspectives that you can develop through repetition.

4. Schedule the follow-up

Now that you’re relaxed and armed with an awesome pitch and confident mindset, you are able to apply these networking tips. You have a great opportunity to seize or squander — don’t do the latter. Make sure that once you shake hands, introduce yourself and nail that pitch, you schedule a follow-up.

It’s important to be clear about your intentions for a coffee or lunch meeting. For example, explain how you hope to discuss how you can be an asset to your contact’s company in a more detailed way. Also, use this first follow-up to further your rapport.

After the pitch and before the follow-up, send a quick email expressing your appreciation for their time. Finally, connect online through LinkedIn, and maintain an ongoing relationship with this contact and their network: Share information, join industry-related organizations, comment on relevant posts, and even contribute content to message boards.

These networking tips and relaxation techniques are realistic and effective methods for success.

This article is part of DBA, a series on Mashable about running a business that features insights from leaders in entrepreneurship, venture capital and management.

VAL MATTAVal Matta is the vice president of business development at CareerShift, a comprehensive job hunting and career management solution for university career centers that gives students and alumni complete control…more

Mashable.com | May 11, 2016 | BY VAL MATTA

Your #Career : 7 Ways To Make Your LinkedIn Profile Job Search/Contacts Ready…There’s a Lot of Great Advice Out there on Using LinkedIn to Find Jobs/Networking. This Post is Different because I Include Actions to Make your Search so Fruitful that the Jobs/Contacts Find You.

May 22, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Here are your 7 Ways:

1. Get Your Headline Right

Although the search algorithm at LinkedIn is a closely guarded secret, one thing many experts agree on is that the words in your headline play an important role in how search results are ranked and displayed. That means you need to make sure the most important words hiring managers and recruiters would use to find are included in your 120-character headline. One way to identify all the right keywords is to go to indeed.com, put in the title(s) of the job for which you are searching and look for the words that come up over and over among the job listings.

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2. Grow Your Network

It’s as simple as this: The more connections you have, the more frequently you show up in search results. This makes some people nervous – connecting with people they don’t know. Let me allay your fears. LinkedIn provides a way for you to remove, block or report a connection if they become a problem. So the risk of accepting connection requests from people you don’t know is low. You also get to see the full profiles of first- and second-level connections. The more connections you have, the more full profiles you will see – making it easier for you to check out hiring managers and others you will meet before those interviews!

3. Follow Desired Companies

Get clear about your ideal employers and follow their company pages in LinkedIn. This keeps you up-to-date on what they are talking about – giving you great fodder for your interview. Some of their posts can also include the names and other information about your potential hiring manager or others who could help you open doors in the company. And LinkedIn allows you to follow 10,000 companies – that’s probably a lot more than your full list of targets.

4. Use the Alumni Feature

Including your education in your profile does more than show potential hiring managers what degree you earned from what school. Perhaps more importantly, it gets you on the radar of hiring managers who are your fellow alumni. But the alumni search tool works both ways. Get familiar with this extremely valuable feature. It is one of the best ways to find warm leads inside companies. By searching on your alma mater, you can find people who also went to your school. Then you can reach out, asking them for an informational interview or finding out if there is someone in the company to whom they can connect you. It’s the antidote to cold calling.

5. Add AKA/Common Misspellings

Save some of those 2,000 characters in your summary for a section called AKA/Common Misspellings and include all the different ways people may spell your name, your nicknames, maiden or married names, etc. That way, people can find you whether or not they know exactly how to spell your name.

6. Get Your Skills In Order

Literally. Sure, LinkedIn endorsements seem silly. Most of us have been endorsed for skills we don’t want to be known for – or we don’t even possess. The challenge is that even though we roll our eyes when we think about endorsements, they matter. A New York Times article underscores this, quoting Bill Peppler, a managing partner at the staffing firm Kavaliro. He seeks out the most endorsed person with specific skills in a particular city: “It’s hard to know how meaningful that will be in the long run, but to me, it makes them one of the most influential people in that region for what they do.”

7. Be Redundant

Take every opportunity to repeat all the keywords for which you want to be known. Make a list of them. Then prioritize them and add them to all parts of your profile. Make sure they are in your headline, summary and all relevant experience sections, too. Include an additional section at the bottom of your summary called Specialties. Repeat your keywords there, separated by commas.

These easy-to-implement actions will help you get found and make you more attractive to the hiring managers and recruiters who hold the key to your ideal next job.

William Arruda is the CEO of Reach Personal Branding and host of the Reach Interview Series. His full podcasts are available here.

Forbes.com | May 18, 2016 | William Arruda

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

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

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

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

When to omit a job from your resume

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

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Could an omission land you in hot water?

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

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

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

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CheatSheet.com | May 20, 2016 | Sheiresa Ngo