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#JobSearch : 5 Hacks For Holiday Networking, Especially For Those Who Hate It. The Holidays Are the Best Time for Networking. Great REad!

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Yes, the holidays are a time of joy, peace and well wishes, but they can also bring stress particularly in and around the workplace. In addition to completing performance reviews and other year end activities, there are tons of social events and holiday celebrations as well. While this avalanche of quasi-coerced socialization along with pressing year-end requests can feel stressful, CEO and Founder of the executive networking and professional development group Athena Alliance, Coco Brown reminds us that this time truly offers a unique and valuable opportunity to take steps to position ourselves for stronger relationships and enhanced success in the new year.

“The holidays are the best time for networking since people are in a relaxed and festive mood, feeling more generous and sociable than normal,” explains Coco Brown. “Learning how to leverage personal connections, especially with people you don’t know that well, can help job seekers bring their careers to the next level.”

Break out of your bubble

While it may feel safer and easier to rely on your own inner circle, Brown warns against making that classic mistake. Instead, she suggests taking advantage of opportunities to spend time with people you wouldn’t normally connect with. “Often we lean into our closest friends or colleagues when we’re trying to network into a new job opportunity, but research suggests that doing the opposite can actually be hugely beneficial,” she explains. “The term for this is ‘the strength of weak ties,’ and taking advantage of our weaker social connections can be hugely advantageous when we’re looking to find our next job opportunity.”

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Article continued …

Share your gratitude – and your goal

As the year winds down, most professionals naturally begin reflecting on their goals. It’s a great time to take stock of where you are compared to where you want to be—to ask yourself if you’re really on the right track or just spinning your wheels. Brown suggests using this time to actively connect with professionals who are now where you strive to be.

“They’ve been in your shoes, are often willing to help, and have the network in place that made it happen for them,” she says. “Ask questions to learn from their journey, then clearly articulate your goal and make the ask. Do they have any tips or insights they learned on their journey? Do they have any connections who may move the needle for you? Do they know of any open opportunities that may be a fit?” Don’t be afraid to seize the opportunity to gain critical insight from those who have successfully blazed the path you’re seeking.

Know your value and lead with it

Brown reminds us to approach the holidays with a mindset shift, focusing on our unique value and leaning into that during networking interactions. “This isn’t arrogance, it’s knowing what you bring to the table and having confidence in your ability to execute it,” she explains. “Think of your value proposition like an elevator pitch… you should be able to convey it in 60 to 90 seconds: it should sound practiced yet natural, like something you can easily slip into a conversation between sips of egg nog. Be prepared with stories that speak to your leadership and how you’ve shaped the companies you’ve worked at.” It’s nice towards the end of the year to not just reflect on what you’ve accomplished but also who you’ve become and how you’ve grown. Take this time to become more comfortable amplifying the unique talents and abilities that you bring to any opportunity.

Think about what you can do for others

While it can be tempting to approach networking situations with a focus on what you can gain, it’s often more effective long term to also consider what you can give. The most reliable relationships tend to be reciprocal ones so spend some time thinking about how you might be able to be a resource or support system for others. “I guarantee that by focusing on how you can help those around you advance their careers or find their next job opportunities, you will be repaid tenfold,” she insists. “Plant the seeds of generosity in those around you and then sit back and watch them grow.”

Refresh your resume and LinkedIn profile

Thankfully, December usually brings some downtime as well. Things tend to be quieter since so many colleagues are on vacation, and there tend to be fewer meetings and deliverables so it can be a great time to focus on some of those “important, but not urgent” tasks that tend to get pushed aside during more hectic times. Brown suggests using this time to update your resume and LinkedIn profile. “Take a fresh look at your resume and your LinkedIn profile with your future goals in mind,” she suggests. “Spend some time connecting with new people on LinkedIn who work in industries that you’re interested in, even if they’re not industries you have firsthand experience in. Think creatively about how the experience you do have can lend itself well to the experiences you want and weave that into your resume.”

While the holidays can be stressful, the last few weeks of the year can offer a healthy opportunity to reflect, recharge and reconnect. Networking is so much more than showing up at an event. Use these tips to broaden and deepen your professional network and hit the ground running in 2023.

 

Forbes.com | December 9, 2022 | Dana Brownlee

 

#JobSearch : 3 Things Job Recruiters Wish You Knew. The Job Market is Still in your Favor for at Least the Next Few Months. A MUst REad for All!

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If you feel like the job market is shifting again, you may be right. Though job seekers have had the “upper hand” for a couple of years, the power is slowly reversing as the labor market stabilizes. In other words, now may be the time to leap—but not without a plan.

As a job candidate, you need to develop a strategy that allows you to quickly pull in offers. The last thing you want is for your search to become so scattershot that you have little leverage. Negotiating with potential employers is far easier if you have a bevy of choices on the table, and a solid job search plan will help you get there.

Where should you start when it comes to a modern job-searching strategy? Check out what professional recruiters are saying in industry publications, trusted news sources, and LinkedIn blogs. They know what it takes to succeed in today’s job market. After all, they’re involved in the hiring process every day. Here are three fundamental recommendations from recruiters to guide you as you look for your next position:

1. It’s your job to identify your career goals.

It can be tempting to jump straight into job hunting, especially if you’re burned out in your current position. However, this could add tons more stress to your life if you don’t set goals first. Think of your next career move as a destination. If you don’t know where you want to go, you’ll end up aimlessly traveling around.

Set aside some downtime to write out professional goals that are a natural extension of your authentic personal brand, even if you plan to work with a recruiter rather than go through your search solo.

“Recruiters can only know your goals if you know them, so take some time to think about what your professional and career goals are,” says Marti Willett, president of Digital Marketing Recruiters, a leading digital staffing agency that aims to find high-quality candidates who will enhance a marketing agency’s culture and grow with them. “In other words, what is your dream job? What industry or niche is it in? What kind of company do you want to work for?Answering these kinds of questions will help you find the right recruiter that will be most beneficial to you.”

After taking this step, you should feel more invigorated and invested in your job hunt. You’ll also have a better idea of which jobs to apply for. Nothing’s more frustrating than discovering that you’ve been applying for positions that don’t align with your goals or abilities. Knowing what you want allows you to quickly identify which openings are meant for you.

2. Don’t be shy about connecting with recruiters and hiring professionals on LinkedIn.

It’s no shock that LinkedIn is the social site you can’t afford to ignore. According to the platform’s own statistics, 77% of recruiters use LinkedIn. Is it any wonder that eight people are hired off LinkedIn every minute? These mind-blowing facts indicate just how important it is for you to update and adjust your LinkedIn profile.

Is your profile really going to be viewed? According to a MyComputerCareer blog post, the answer is yes. “Every time a recruiter contacts you, you can be sure that they’ve looked at your profile,” the post explains. “Your LinkedIn profile will act as a validator in that you are a real person, and not someone whose cover letter or resume is too good to be true.”

To begin, polish your whole profile from top to bottom. Give it the spring cleaning it needs. When it’s brimming with the traits and achievements that distinguish you from the rest of the herd (see point #3 below), start following recruiters who work in the industry, market or position you’re targeting. Don’t feel bad if you connect and hear nothing in return. Recruiters may not reach out unless they have an opportunity ready to go. Remain active on the platform and have confidence that you’re on their radar. (And don’t forget to use this chance to update your other public social pages, too. Consistency is a key to effective personal branding.)

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

 

3. Self-awareness leads to self-fulfillment.

Do you know what the number-one leadership skill is? Self-awareness. When you are self-aware, you aren’t likely to start wavering. You know who you are, what your goals are, and how you plan to achieve them. When it comes to job searching, you know exactly what you bring to the table and how it can benefit employers.

Often, candidates fall into the trap of saying only what they think recruiters want to hear. They either don’t know or fail to bring up their individual attributes and abilities. Making this mistake can set you back. “Employers want to hire the crème-de-la-crème of the job market just like employees want to be the icing on the employer’s recruitment cake,” says Sophie Heatley, content writer for Perkbox.

So, think about what makes you unique, and ask for input from those who know you best. For instance, maybe you’re passionate about environmental issues and you started a podcast devoted to sustainability tips for families. Highlighting this would be great during an interview because it reveals your distinct passions and drive. Remember: It’s important to stand out, but not in disguise. You’ll undermine your path to success if you’re faking the traits that are getting you noticed.

The job market is still in your favor and will be for at least the next few months. If you’ve been hemming and hawing about testing the waters, put these three tips into practice to ensure smooth sailing.

Forbes.com Author:    William Arruda is a keynote speaker, co-founder of CareerBlast.TV and co-creator of the Personal Brand Power Audit – a complimentary quiz that helps you measure the strength of personal brand.

Forbes.com | December 6, 2022

#JobSearch : How To Manage Your Career Transition With Patience And Purpose. Be More Deliberate & Intentional. A GReat REad!

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Your career will inevitably go through transitions, some voluntary and others involuntary. Voluntary transitions could be triggered by a calendar year’s end, your desire for more flexible work, or the realization that the time has come for you to finally listen to what your inner voice has been telling you. Involuntary transitions may result from restructuring within your organization, getting laid off, or being afflicted with a sudden health issue.

Regardless of the cause, transitions often open up a mix of personal and practical challenges that range from clarifying exactly what’s next to rewriting your cover letter and resume. Successfully managing any professional transition involves first reflecting on where things stand in your career, then taking concrete action to make your professional ambitions a reality.

First, Assess Your Current Situation

Before you embark on any career change journey, take a moment to take stock of where things currently stand and what changes you want to make by asking yourself three questions.

1. How Satisfied Am I With My Career?

When you consider your current professional situation, rate your level of satisfaction across the various aspects of your job you consider most important. You could consider high-level job characteristics like location, industry, organization, function, role, and salary. You could also consider other factors that affect your daily satisfaction like pathways for growth, work-life balance, your manager’s supportiveness, engagement with your work, or opportunities to leverage your skills, interests, and strengths.

2. What Do I Want More Of?

After doing a situation assessment and identifying any outages, especially in areas most important to you, reflect on exactly what you want more of in both your life and career. Start with your life and consider domains like your relationships, physical health, emotional well-being, personal growth, family, or recreation.

Then, think about your career itself. What would you like to have more of in your day-to-day professional life? Consider both the practical and emotional aspects of your job. For example, on the practical front, do you want more people-management responsibilities? More opportunities to lead certain projects? Or more money? On the emotional front, do you want to feel more energized by your work? More alignment with your organization’s culture? Or just more interest in the product, service, or brand you’re managing?

3. What Matters Most To Me Right Now?

Well, it’s complicated. Often, when considering what you want for your life and career, competing interests can arise. Having more organizational responsibility may mean you’ll work longer hours, which could compromise your work-life balance. Doing work that aligns more closely with you values may mean walking away from your stable job in an established industry to work in a less predictable, but more energizing environment.

Having it all is nearly impossible. You have to decide which priorities you want to serve during this specific chapter in your life and career and which trade-offs you’re then willing to make. The reality is, you often need to let go of one thing to make room for something else more important to you.

 

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

Then, Act With Intention

After reflecting on where you are and what you want, you must eventually take action to open new opportunities for yourself. Start by taking these three actions.

1. Brainstorm And Identify Lead Options

When making a major move in your career, casting the net wide, at least initially, can often open your eyes to promising opportunities you could otherwise overlook. First, brainstorm all the possible paths you could take in your career without judgment. Consider your natural interests or something you’ve always thought about pursuing. Reflect on those activities you once enjoyed as a child before societal judgement and life pressures set in. Browse articles that highlight hot jobs, growing industries, or companies proactively hiring.

While no path may immediately jump out to you, focus on those that could broadly take your career in a more promising direction. If you struggle to narrow your options, try filtering your list by evaluating whether you can leverage any of your current skills, where you could add unique value, which organizations have people you admire, and of course, what path is financially viable. If the list is still too long, target those opportunities that could provide you with more of what matters most to you right now.

2. Update Job Materials

Creating precise job materials with a clear positioning is much easier once you know exactly which role or opportunity you’re targeting. However, even if you only have a rough idea of which opportunities may be interesting, you can reduce the friction of pursuing them by updating a few key job search materials.

First, create a cover letter template. While eventually customizing your cover letter is important, start by having a broad structure written out so you can more easily fill in the blanks later. Your cover letter template should include at least three parts: why you’re interested, what makes you a strong candidate, and administrative next steps.

Second, update your social profiles. You should assume hiring managers and recruiters will be Googling you online. On LinkedIn, update your professional headline, summary statement, featured content area, work history, and ideally, your recommendations section. On Twitter, update your summary description and ensure your publicly visible tweets align with your desired personal brand. On Facebook and Instagram, ensure your happy with how your bio, About section, and publicly visible content appear. Take a couple minutes to do a Facebook Privacy Checkup. Across all social platforms, ensure you have an up-to-date profile photo and header image featured at the top.

Third, update your resume. Your full work history should include your job responsibilities and key accomplishments, especially those that align well with your target opportunities.

3. Explore Potential Paths Proactively

In my ten years of working with clients and audiences navigating career transitions, the vast majority did not necessarily know exactly where to take their careers next. However, they embraced experimentation and exploration to illuminate potential paths forward. Engaging in the following three activities can help you understand where to take your career next.

First, reconnect with existing contacts in your network, which not only allows you to know you’re on the hunt but also enables you to be in the right place at the right time. Focus on rekindling existing relationships with key contacts including former managers, colleagues, recruiters, industry contacts, mentors, school alumni, and really anyone with whom you enjoy connecting.

Second, build new relationships. Conduct informational interviews to learn about a new sector, role, location, or company. Tap into online resources like EventbriteEB -4.9%, Lunchclub, Fishbowl, Hive Index, and TheOrg to uncover opportunities to virtually engage with new professionals and communities. Try to surround yourself with people you admire living the life you desire for yourself.

Finally, dip your toe into new professional paths you’re considering in a low-risk fashion. Upskilling through an online course or certification program can help you expand your skillset, bolster your credentials, and test how much you enjoy this new path. Attend an industry conference or talk. Volunteer your time.

Make Your Move Once You Feel Ready . . . Enough

At some point, the only way to really know whether a new career path can work for you is to go for it. To change industries, pivot into that other role, or move to a different organization. To take a sabbatical, shift to a different work arrangement, or focus more on your family or personal interests for a while. Or to start that business, launch that initiative, or finally follow up with that person who’s been trying to convince you to go for a certain opportunity.

Navigating any professional transition will always feel uncharted, unsettling, and uncertain. Making this effort to patiently assess what you truly want and then proactively take small steps to start the next chapter in your career will help you be more deliberate and intentional when you decide to make your leap.

 

Forbes.com | December 2, 2022  | Joseph Liu

 

#YourCareer : How To ‘Career Cushion’ Your Job During Challenging Times. Creating an Action Plan to Prepare for IF/When Things Take a Terrible Turn with your Current Position.

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“Career cushioning” is the newest job-related term added to the growing lexicon of the Great Resignation, acting your wage and quiet quitting.  According to LinkedIn career expert Catherine Fisher, career cushioning is creating an action plan to prepare for if things take a terrible turn with your current position. The onslaught of layoffs, hiring freezes and job offers rescinded calls for action, instead of waiting for the ax to fall.

“Think of it like an insurance policy to set yourself up for success,” Fisher wrote in her recent LinkedIn newsletter.

Like ghosting moved from the dating world to job interviewing, cushioning is derived from keeping an eye open for other options and suitors in case your relationship sours.

What You Need To Do Right Now

Start taking action. Hoping that things will improve is not a strategy. If you feel that your job is in jeopardy, immediately update your résumé and LinkedIn profile. Seek out recruiters who specialize in your field. Ask colleagues and former co-workers what headhunters they had success with and would recommend their services. Let the search professional know what type of company you want to work for, ask about compensation levels and the work style you prefer.

Start networking by reaching out to old friends, college alums, neighbors, co-workers, former colleagues and managers, members of your church, temple and other organizations and online connections. Be open and honest. Inform them that you are engaged in a stealth search and could benefit from their relationships. You need to be a little pushy and ask if they could make an introduction to human resources or hiring managers. To ensure that you don’t make a hasty decision in the job switch, boldly ask tough questions during the interview to understand what you are getting into.

You may love working remotely, but go into the office five days a week. The proximity bias is real, and it favors people who are visible. It’s not just putting in facetime. You must be productive, exceed expectations and make yourself indispensable to your boss. These actions will increase your chances of being saved from layoffs.

Get A Vibe Check From Your Boss

Before you do anything rash, request a meeting with your boss to find out what the firm plans to do in this new uncertain environment. It may be uncomfortable, but ask your supervisor about your job’s status and whether there are plans to make job cuts. Be proactive and inquire about goals and objectives that you need to hit and how you can achieve them. If you walk away from the conversation feeling that your manager couldn’t provide any comfort or safety, it’s time to either start searching for a new job or try to move internally to a division that is doing well.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

Develop A Job-Search Strategy

The goal is to find a new job. You need to put a game plan into place to achieve your mission. Think of what you want to do next. Make a list of target companies that you want to work with. Dedicate a certain amount of time every day to focus on your job search.

You can break it down to searching for jobs online, getting in touch with people in your network, reaching out to human resources and managers at the companies you desire, tailoring your résumé for specific roles, practicing your elevator pitch and roleplaying interviewing. Stay in touch with your recruiters and consider investing in hiring a career coach and résumé writer.

The landscape has changed. The high-flying, sexy tech and startup companies are not doing as well as they fared in the past. There have been nearly 140,000 layoffs in those sectors. Therefore, conducting due diligence is important before you interview at a company.

Read articles about your target company to ascertain if there are any red flags. Look to see if the organization has been laying off workers or plans to downsize. Check out the company’s stock performance, its financial health, the management team and if its products and services are needed in this current environment.

See if you know anyone who currently or used to work at the company you’re interested in. Ask for their honest opinion about joining the firm, and if it’s safe to work there. Investigate LinkedIn profiles of people in your space to see if you have a similar background. Sleuth around to see if there is a pattern of people leaving and the roles are not being refilled.

How To Find Hidden Jobs

Companies don’t publicly post jobs when they are discreetly trying to replace a manager, attempting to first hire from within, waiting to receive employee referrals or not wanting to share salary ranges that may upset their employees when they find out the newcomer will earn more than they make.

In these situations, businesses rely upon recruiters to conduct secret searches, as discretion is required in sensitive situations, such as looking for an outsider to run a department instead of picking an internal employee.

The recruiter will clandestinely contact on-target people with the right background for the role. They’ll tell the candidate that the job is confidential and the applicant needs to keep the information to themselves. If the executive recruiter has a solid reputation, the person will understand and comply. Some people will feel uncomfortable and politely bow out of contention.

You want to stand out on the social media platforms that cater to your job and career. LinkedIn is the right platform for you if you are a white-collar professional. Send LinkedIn “InMail” messages or invitations to people who look like they’re involved with hiring roles in your area of expertise to get on their radar screen. Create posts, interact with other people in your space, upload videos and write articles. This will position you as an expert in your field. Recruiters, hiring managers and corporate talent scouts will start reaching out to you.

Hiring managers covet referrals from employees. They feel that if an internal worker strongly recommends someone, they must be good. Some companies offer incentives, such as a financial bonus, if the referral joins the company. If there isn’t a current employee with the right experience for the job and you are able to find this out, you could send an unsolicited résumé. Since no one from the outside knows about the opening, you’ll stand out.

Smile And Bide Your Time

Most people are obvious about their unhappiness and disengagement from work. They’ll practice quiet quitting, act their wage and coast through the day, doing the bare minimum. This is not a winning strategy. You want to come across as positive, motivated and enthusiastic. Act as if everything is fine. Your contrarian demeanor will separate you from the herd and earn everyone’s respect.

Instead of making a rash decision to quit without another job secured, take a smarter approach. In tough job markets, you need to cultivate a coping mechanism to make it through the day. Adopt the mantras “one day, I’ll leave and be in a better place” and “until that time, I’ll make the best out of a bad situation.”

Go about your daily routine as if everything is fine. Be respectful to your boss and everyone around you. Ignore the gossipers and rumormongers. Since you know that you’ll eventually find a better opportunity elsewhere, it’s not worth it to allow certain things to impact your mental health and emotional well-being.

People will notice that you stand out by staying cool under pressure. Your boss will be impressed by your motivation and positive attitude, while everyone else is complaining. Ironically, your new “it is what it is” mindset may lead to a promotion, raise or higher bonus.

Forbes.com | November 30, 2022 | Jack Kelly 

#BestofFSCBlog : Over 14K Reads: 5 Reasons To Job Search Over The Holidays. Wait until Jan? Very Bad Idea. MUst REad!

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Many people assume that the holidays are the worst time of year for a job search. Actually, the opposite is true. The holidays may be the best time to look for a new role if you approach it the right way. Why? Because while hiring may slow down over the holiday season, it doesn’t stop. That means you shouldn’t either.

Here are five reasons why it makes sense to look for a job over the holidays.

Less competition

Because there is a misconception that end of the year is a bad time to job search, there tends to be less competition. That’s a good thing if you’re a job seeker. When companies have fewer resumes to sift through, there’s a greater chance that yours will stand out.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

Great time to network

The end of the year is a great time to meet as many people as possible in a social setting. Prepare an elevator pitch so you can present yourself in a compelling way. You never know when you might meet someone who can introduce you to a recruiter or hiring manager. It’s also a good time to send a holiday card or online message to valued contacts so you can stay top of mind.

Use your downtime wisely

You will inevitably have a few breaks during the holidays when you can focus on your job search. That’s the perfect opportunity to work on things like your personal brand. For example, look at your LinkedIn profile to see how you can improve it. This is also an excellent time to list your key accomplishments for the year, update your resume and schedule calls with friends and acquaintances you haven’t been in touch with for a while.

Keep the momentum going

If you’ve already jumpstarted your job search, it makes sense to maintain the momentum. Even if you slow down a bit, you can still take small steps to stay on track. If you stop your job search altogether, it will be that much more difficult to get motivated in January. Plus, securing a new job before the start of the year can give you peace of mind.

Companies are still hiring

While some companies slow down on hiring during this time, they don’t stop. In fact, some organizations must complete the hiring process by the end of the year because of budget constraints. Other companies may need to find a new employee who will be in place and ready to begin work in January. This is also a time when many employers hire temporary employees. The good news is that if you make a positive impression, they may keep you on permanently. In addition, the additional income will come in handy during the gift-giving season.

Looking for a new role might not be the first thing on your holiday list, but prioritizing it is a good idea. Even if you only focus on the job search for an hour or two a week, that’s time well spent. If nothing else, you’ll start the new year well-organized with a top-notch personal brand and a resume that positions you for that next incredible opportunity.

Forbes.com | November 27, 2022 | Caroline Castrillon

#JobSearch : Long Gaps Between Jobs? Answer The 4 Interview Questions Employers Won’t Ask. Question #1: Why should I Interview you Over other Candidates without a Gap?

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When you have long gaps between jobs (unemployment) or a series of part-time or short-term jobs with no clear career progress (underemployment), these gaps will slow down the momentum to your next job. Employers see a gap as a big unknown and may not fill in the blank with positive assumptions. As the job seeker, don’t get defensive and don’t give up.

Instead, be prepared. Address potential objections when you present your background, skills and motivation for that next job. You’ll have to anticipate these objections, and preemptively answer.

Start with these 5 questions employers are probably thinking but won’t ask:

1 – Why should I interview you over other candidates without a gap?

This is a question that arises in the application stage, well before an official job interview. It underscores why answering job postings when you have a hurdle in your background is a losing proposition. Sure, you may be able to convince employers to interview you with an exceptionally persuasive cover letter, but many employers don’t read cover letters. By all means, include a cover letter with your application (you can write cover letters quickly). When employers do read it, it can help immensely. But you can’t assume it will be read.

You’ll need a strategy for getting in front of your target employers beyond your unsolicited resume. This involves reaching out directly – tapping friends for warm introductions or making your own introduction (i.e., cold calling). Make introductory connections on LinkedIn, or perhaps you can meet via a professional association or conference. Slowly deepen the relationship by focusing on mutual point of interest, even helping the other person, well before jumping into what you need. Yes, this is an investment of time and effort on your part, but if you’ve been unemployed or underemployed for this long, what’s another few weeks to lay down a proper foundation for your networking?

2 – If you’re so good, why hasn’t anyone hired you?

When you do get that job interview, the question of why you haven’t been hired yet is the elephant in the room. Whatever the interviewer asks you, your ultimate answer needs to assuage any concerns about your qualifications. You have to sell your skills, expertise and personal attributes to such an extent that the employer considers themselves lucky to have found you before someone else snaps you up.

Focusing on your qualifications neutralizes the negative effects of the gap. Ultimately your gap is inconsequential — the employer is hiring your ability to help them, not your life story — so don’t spend a lot of time explaining your gap. Be concise, and speak in a neutral voice devoid of frustration, anger or defensiveness. Whether you stopped working entirely or worked less than you would have liked, give an overview without a lot of details – “I was tending to a family issue”, “I was on sabbatical”, “I was experimenting with several different interests”. Always bring the conversation back to the employer and why the employer is hiring in the first place.

 

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

3 – Do you really want a job?

Even if you’ve done a good job selling the employer on your qualifications, they may still question your motivation. If you’ve been able to survive this long without a job or with a less taxing job, why not just continue as you were? Employers may see your gap as something you deliberately chose, which calls into question your work ethic.

Just saying you have a strong work ethic won’t be enough because past experience speaks louder than promises in the hiring process. However, you can make a compelling case that now is a different time by redirecting the conversation to the employer, what they need and why you’re so excited to help with that. You’re not just excited about getting back to work – you’re excited about specifically working there.

4 — Why should I invest in you so you can just leave?

Focusing on your genuine interest in the employer you’re speaking with and not just any job, not only deflects objections about your work ethic, but also addresses another hesitation employers have about long-term gaps: you are looking for any job to jumpstart your career and will leave at the first sign of a better offer. The employer might think you can help, and they might believe you have the work ethic to stick to your career, but they fear being the rebound relationship.

If you are interviewing for a job that is not a long-term fit, be careful about making promises related to how long you’ll stay. Instead, outline what you’ll accomplish. This doesn’t guarantee that the employer won’t still be upset if you leave before a full year, but you can at least point to specific contributions you made while you were there.

Plan your next career move, not just your next job

If your career hurdle is unemployment or underemployment, be careful about joining a company where you’re not willing to stay. If you need to take on work strictly for the money, then that’s about your bank account, not your career, and you can keep those for-the-money jobs separate from your overall career-specific experience. (If these stopgap jobs are somewhat career-related, group them as consulting or freelancing when you include them in your profile or pitch, so there is some continuity.) Otherwise, invest in clarifying your long-term career goal, so you’re not just finding your next job but taking a strategic next step in your overall career.

Forbes.com Author:  Caroline Ceniza-Levine  Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com | November 25, 2022

#JobSearch : 5 Ways Job Seekers Can Keep In Touch With Employers Who Rejected Them. The Holidays are The Best Time to Network. Great REad!

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I’m going to a networking event hosted by an organization I applied to about 1.5 months ago (haven’t heard back, assuming I didn’t get the job, ha!) . Do I mention this if / when I meet people who work with the organization? Not sure the best way to navigate this. I want to ensure that they know I’m open to other opportunities and am overall interested in staying in touch. – Christina

Kudos to Christina for doing several things right that other job seekers overlook. First of all, she’s networking, which is the number one source for timely job openings (a lot of job postings aren’t current or accurate). Secondly, she’s thinking about how she’ll talk about herself as she meets people – we’re all multifaceted, so be selective about what you talk about, to whom and when. Finally, she’s thinking even more specifically about how she’ll talk about her job search – people aren’t mind-readers, and you need to be explicit about the help you need.

The holidays are a great time to network, and chances are you’ll be in Christina’s situation — running into people you previously connected with on your job search. Some people may not be responsive or have even rejected you outright for a job. Here are five best practices for following up specifically with target employers in your job search pipeline:

1 – Continue to follow-up regularly

Attend that networking event. Follow and comment on social media. Stay connected to individuals you met during your research or even from meetings that didn’t lead anywhere specific. A rejection for one opportunity doesn’t necessarily mean rejection for the next opportunity (see three reasons why a well-qualified candidate still doesn’t get the job). The best follow-up keeps you top of mind for the next opportunity (and the next) because circumstances change, and the better fit for you might be another role, another time or another market environment.

 

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

2 — Don’t make every point of follow-up about any one job

While Christina did lots of things right, one adjustment to make is to stop assuming she didn’t get the job because she didn’t hear back. No decision is not enough information to presume a No or a Yes. If she’s still interested in that job from six weeks ago, she should continue to try and get an interview for it – until she hears that No.

There are people you meet at an event that are clearly connected to the very job you want, it makes sense to mention your interest in it since it’s a prime opportunity to get more accurate and updated information about the job. A relevant person may be able to direct you – “oh, that job was filled weeks ago but we haven’t announced it yet”. Or, “we decided not to hire for the one, but there’s another similar one you should look at.” Or, “gee, you would be perfect for that one – let me make sure I get your stuff in front of the right person.”

Don’t harbor any assumptions – positive or negative – about the decision on your current application. Continue to network, and discuss a particular job with people connected to it. Otherwise, keep the conversation open-ended – about your job search overall if people already know you’re looking, or just about getting to know each other as people if you’re meeting for the first time.

3 – Mix up your topics

There is so much to talk about that isn’t about your job search, but still moves the conversation forward. Send holiday wishes – this deepens your rapport. Send congratulations if the person or their company has announced a recent win – this shows you’re thinking about them and that you’re staying on top of the news in your field. Send a status update about something, other thank your job search, that you’re working on – this shows that you’re staying busy and keeping your skills and expertise up-to-date without making the other person feel like you’re only reaching out because you need something.

At a networking event, get the other person talking. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the company and what the company needs. You may uncover enough information that you can pitch a job for yourself, or at least, know exactly what skills and expertise you have that meet an urgent need for that employer.

4 – Mix up your media

Showing up at a networking event is just one way to keep in touch. You can also email, post on social (yes, you can build genuine relationships on LinkedIn) or mail a holiday card. If you know someone well and they like to text, then text. People have different habits when it comes to keeping in touch, and what’s important for follow-up that works is that you meet other people’s preferences and not your own. You might prefer 1:1 meetings, but other people just don’t have time. You might not be active on LinkedIn, but if you’re trying to develop a relationship with someone who is active on that platform, it could be more expedient to take your communication there – at least with that person.

5 – Aim for clarity – which could be a decision, or something else

In all of your follow-up, look for signs that the relationship is going somewhere or that the person wants you to back off. For an open job, this means getting a decision about whether the role is still available, whether your status has been decided, or if not, what is the next step and timetable you can expect. Until you get that clarity, keep working on that job and other relationships within that company. Keep trying for new leads all this time, since you can’t control when you’ll get that clarity.

If there isn’t a specific job that’s open, look for the quantity and quality of response from people you’re networking with. Do the responses take a long time and are cursory with little or no opening to continue the back and forth? That could be a sign that the person would rather back off – or, it could be a busy time overall and not you specifically. Slow down the communication (every other month instead of week, for example). Focus on other contacts until you’re clearer about the viability of this one.

Employers should stay in your network as long as you are still interested in them

Whether or not you get a job there is not 100% in your control, but the pace, quality and consistency of your follow-up is. Put in the work to stay top of mind and to develop a relationship built on something more than any one job. This keeps you in consideration when potential opportunities do arise, while also fostering a genuine connection that’s sustainable rather than transactional.

 

Forbes.com | November 21, 2022 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine

#YourCareer : Facing A Tough Career Decision? Here’s How To Make The Right Choice. GReat REad for All!

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If you’re struggling with a big career decision, your underlying challenge likely involves either: a) properly evaluating the risk associated with a specific action, b) identifying and narrowing down a long list of options, or c) choosing between two or three good options.

While each of these challenges requires a different approach to get to the best decision, they all share the same first step: offloading the decision-making criteria in your brain onto a spreadsheet or sheet of paper, to ensure you’ve captured and accurately weighed them all.

The following techniques will help you to choose the best option when facing any of the scenarios described above.

How to properly evaluate risk

Perhaps you’re thinking of making a risky career move, such as quitting a job before finding another one, going for a new job or promotion that could lead to dissatisfaction, going back to school, retiring early or addressing a difficult situation with a colleague. To properly assess the risk, ask yourself these questions:

  • How likely is it that the thing I fear will happen?
  • If the fear materialized, how damaging would it be?
  • Can I do anything to mitigate the risk?
  • What’s the risk in NOT taking action and how likely is it to materialize?
  • If I do take action, how likely am I to receive the benefit?
  • If I do take action, how big will the benefit be?

In his Ted Talk, Tim Ferris describes an exercise he calls Fear Setting which enables you to score the answers to each of these questions. You can also download a template that facilitates this Fear Setting analysis.

 

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

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

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

Article continued …

One client was contemplating leaving her job without having another one lined up. She was very unhappy in her current role, had no time to find something else, and severance wasn’t an option. Yet she was reluctant to leave because of concern about both income loss and finding another job quickly. Doing this exercise led to her decision to quit, and she’s happily employed now. She realized:

  • The negative impact that staying in this role would have on her family was too great.
  • She could mitigate the possibility of her not finding another job by growing and leveraging her network and joining a professional association.
  • Her worst-case loss-of-income scenario wasn’t that bad; she might have to postpone retirement for two years, which she could live with.
  • The likely benefit of landing the right role was huge and potentially life transforming.

How to narrow down a long list of career options

In this situation, you’re unclear about the solutions to your career dissatisfaction because you don’t know all the options or which ones to pursue. Here’s what to do:

  1. Develop your decision-making criteria. You can use this post as a guide. Include the things you enjoy doing that you do well, your work-related values on which you don’t want to compromise, and your vision for your life.
  2. Brainstorm many career options. Keep in mind that the key to effective brainstorming is being open – you can always cross out items later. List these options in rows on a spreadsheet, or down the margin of a sheet of paper. If you need help coming up with ideas, ask people in your network, scan job postings, and check out these online resources.
  3. Add some very simple weighting to each of the decision-making criteria. Don’t make this overly complicated as the point is to quickly narrow down options. For example, start off by giving all your criteria an equal weight, say “1.” If a criterion is truly a deal-breaker if not met, then give it a large weight, say 10. For example, if you can’t take a job you would love because it pays below a certain level, then earning at least this amount would get a 10.
  4. Narrow down the list of options by scoring each of the job targets in the rows against your decision-making criteria in the columns; add up all the 1’s and the 10’s in that row.
  5. Focus on the highest-scoring items. To confirm their priority, do additional research or apply additional weighting as described below.

How to decide between two or three good career options

Once you’ve narrowed down a list of many options to just two or three, you can now more precisely weight your decision-making criteria to make your final decision. Add two types of weights:

  • How important the criterion is to you (scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the most important)
  • How much of the criterion is present (scale of 0 to 3, where 0 is not present and 3 is fully present).

Score each option you’re evaluating by multiplying the importance of each criterion by the presence of that criterion. Then add up the scores across all the criteria to get a total. The table below shows how a client evaluated two job offers.decisionmaking table

Job Offer 2 got the higher score of 86, vs. 67 for Offer 1, because the opportunity to work virtually, higher salary, flexible schedule and opportunity to advance outweighed the drawbacks of a longer commute, less enjoyable colleagues, and less autonomy.

 

Forbes.com | November 16, 2022 | Robert Hellmann

#JobSearch :How to Write a Thank-You Email After a Job Interview. “A Properly Prepared Thank-You Email, it Just Sets you Apart”. Great REad!  

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Some experts say the thank-you email after an interview is as important as your cover letter, so don’t waste this important opportunity to finalize your pitch—especially now that you know so much about the company, the role and your interviewer.

            Question: How do you stand out?

“A properly prepared thank-you email, it just sets you apart,” says Paul McDonald, senior executive director at recruitment agency Robert Half. “It shows that you care and it restates your interest in the position.”

Most HR managers say they consider thank-you messages when deciding who to hire, but they only receive notes from nearly a quarter of applicants, according to a survey by Robert Half. So don’t miss out on this chance to stand out, in a good way. 

Send your thank-you email as soon as possible.

Aim to send your thank-you note as soon as you can after the interview. This gives you an opportunity to seal the interviewer’s good impression of you immediately after your initial meeting, while their memory of you is still fresh, recruiters say. If you interviewed with more than one person, you should email each one separately.

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

Reiterate why you are interested in the role and why you would be a great fit.

Now that you have had a chance to meet the interviewer and you have asked all the right questions, you know more about the role and can make a stronger case for yourself. While you were preparing for the interview, you probably didn’t have access to as many details about the job and employer as you may have now that you have met the hiring manager.

In your thank-you email you can:  

  • Briefly address any pertinent new facts you gleaned about the role during the interview and bring the point back to how your experience or skill set aligns with it.
  • Include examples that demonstrate how you would be an asset to the company.
  • Include relevant samples of your work, particularly if you discussed any during the interview.
  • Provide a suggested solution to a challenge your employer faces that may have come up during your interview.
  • Bring up any insights or examples that highlight your suitability for the role that you might have forgotten to mention in the interview.

Three examples of highlighting qualifications in a thank-you email: 

  • “With my experience focusing on the intersection of retail, customer experience and technology, I am in a strong position to help the company with its e-commerce launch.”
  • “Since you mentioned that the company is currently struggling to establish a business model that embraces technology, I wanted to offer a few ideas that I think might help.”
  • “You’ll find a link to a recent UX design study I conducted at the bottom of this email.”

If there was an anecdote or a shared interest that both you and the interviewer seemed to connect over, you may briefly nod to that in your email, but only if it feels natural and appropriate. This makes for a more personal letter that feels organic and authentic to you and to the relationship you began to forge. If you interviewed with multiple people at the company, adding a personal detail allows each email to feel unique. This also helps your thank-you email stand out.

Three examples of framing a personal detail in your thank-you email: 

  • “On a personal note, it was lovely speaking to you about your recent experience on safari. It inspired me to look into taking a trip like that someday.”
  • “I took up your suggestion to try that oatmeal-cookie recipe, and it was a hit with the kids. Thanks so much for the tip.”
  • “I very much enjoyed talking to you about your home-renovation project. If you have a link to that blog you mentioned, I’d love to take a look. I’m eager to try something similar in my home soon.”
Offer to answer any questions and bring it back to your application.

Bring it back to the hiring process at the end of your email. Gently raising the prospect of the next steps in the process makes it clear you are keen to progress and reminds the interviewer that they should come back to you without being too pushy. Offer to answer questions to give the employer an opportunity to clear up any possible doubts they may have about hiring you. Such an offer also promotes interaction between you.

Here is an example of how to end your thank-you email:

  • “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, and to explain the company’s needs. I look forward to hearing from you about the next steps in the application process, and welcome any questions you may have about my fit for the role.”

 

WSJ.com | April 9, 2021 | Deborah Acosta

#YourCareer : The Dream Job Eludes 90% Of Workers – 4 Steps To Improve Your Career Odds. Nine Out of Ten American Workers Report not Working in their Dream Job.

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Nine out of ten American workers report not working in their dream job, and seven in ten say they’re not on track to land their dream job. JobSage, an employer review site, surveyed 1,200 Americans currently in the workforce, and the findings paint a pessimistic view, even into the future – only 47% of respondents considered their dreams realistic in the current economy.

Even though the odds seem long, with proper career planning, you can be in that 10% of people who are working in their dream job. You don’t even have to leave your current job to start working towards your dream:

1 – Keep your dreams top of mind

Working on your belief and confidence that your dream job is attainable isn’t just for warm and fuzzy, motivational reasons. Practically speaking, if you don’t think your dream job is out there or attainable by you, then you won’t get started and you won’t see the opportunities all around you to move along the path. Therefore, keeping your dreams top of mind is the very first step.

In the JobSage survey, the top dream industries included technology, entertainment and art & design. Top dream companies included Google, Apple and a university or school. Whatever your dream industry or company is, bookmark relevant articles for ongoing reading. These articles don’t all have to be about your dream targets – read about people who have made career pivots of all kinds, and they can serve as prototypes for what you’re trying to do. Talk to people who work or worked at your dream places or who have successfully made big changes. Put a Google Alert on dream industries, and follow dream companies on LinkedIn. All these small actions set up an environment where you surround yourself with information about your dream targets, which makes them more familiar to you and therefore more attainable.

 

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

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

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

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

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

Article continued …

2 – Start with activities outside the work day

You can change your career while still keeping your job. The reading, talking and research listed above can all be done outside the work day. As you get more excited about the possibility of landing your dream job, you can increase the activity – more in-depth research and more in-depth conversations, perhaps even attending meetups or conferences.

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile in advance of a more active job search. Volunteer to get more hands-on experience. For example, if your dream company is a university, volunteer with your alma mater or a local college where you live. If your dream industry is technology, take on a tech role (e.g., social media manager) for a non-profit. These more targeted steps still can be managed outside the work day and don’t have to impact your current job at all.

3 – Choose DIY learning and short courses over formal certificates and degrees

Respondents in the JobSage survey worried that the cost of grad school would keep the dream job at bay. However, graduate school is not necessarily a prerequisite to making a career change. You can opt for a certificate over a degree, a course over even a certificate or DIY learning options such as free online classes and lectures.

Hiring managers and recruiters care about what you know in terms of how it will enable you to be productive from day one. That knowledge could come from a variety of sources and be demonstrated in a variety of ways – a graduate degree is but one form of proof. As you learn more about your dream area of expertise, blog about it so you have a paper trail of your findings and insights. Or pull together a panel for an alumni event at your alma mater, and be the moderator.

4 – Negotiate the job you already have to better match your dreams

75% of survey respondents wanted more hybrid work, and 67% wanted to travel more for work. These are aspects of a job that you can negotiate right where you are. Put in a request for a change in schedule, location or both. If your role doesn’t lend itself to travel, look for lateral opportunities, where you can move within the same company to a different role that might involve more travel. If you work for a large enough company with offices in other locations, negotiating your responsibilities so that you work with those other places might enable you to build travel into your work.

Itemize what aspects of your environment, work arrangements or scope of responsibilities you would like to change. Prioritize and then negotiate for the ones that will make the most impact in improving how you feel about your job. You might find that your current job becomes a dream job. If not, you’ll at least get much-needed negotiation practice for when you actively look for the dream job elsewhere.

 

Forbes.com | November 14, 2022 |  Caroline Ceniza-Levine