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#BestofFSCBlog : #Recruiting – Are Boomers The Answer To The Great Resignation? Your Thoughts?? Great REad!

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Beginning in 2021 and continuing today, the term “Great Resignation,” was coined by Texas A&M professor Anthony Klotz, referencing the US employees that are quitting in droves. In fact, 47 million workers quit in 2021. According to Klotz, that trend is expected to continue well into 2022, albeit more slowly. Koltz predicts that flexible work arrangements will become the norm, and workers will compete for remote jobs – where digital natives have the advantage.

So, what does that mean for corporate America when working in-person is required for job function? 

Boomers may be the answer to the Great Resignation. 

The boomers make up the largest population boom in the history of the US. Boomers were born post World War II and the great depression between 1946 and 1964, meaning the youngest boomers will turn 58 in 2022.

During the pandemic, as with most recessions, older workers took a big hit. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College reported that during normal years, one in eight older workers leave their jobs. By April 2020, that figure was one in three, finishing the year as one in four. The number of workers over 55 that were forced out or left the workplace during the pandemic rose by a significant 7.6%. Between 2008, when the first boomers turned 62, and 2019, the retired population grew by 1 million retirees per year – during 2020 and 2021, that number increased to 3.5 million.

 

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

 

Article continued …

Interestingly, those forced into early retirement are not collecting social security. You must be 62 years old to collect social security early and at a reduced benefit. After reaching 66 or 67, depending on your birth year, you become eligible for full benefits. That leaves many workers between 55 and 66/67 who are “retired” due to circumstance, rather than choice. And many of those workers simply cannot afford to retire. That is where the gig economy comes to play. According to Pew Research, 20% of gig workers are over the age of 50 and a third of those are over 65. That same study shows that minorities make up most gig workers over the age of 50. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that older workers will participate in the labor force in increasing numbers now through 2030, with a predicted increase in workers 65 to 69 by 30%, that’s likely to be minority workers.

Boomers were the answer to the Great Recession, and their parents saved the post-war labor shortage.

As history has a way of repeating itself, the last labor shortages occurred post-World War II and after the Great Recession of 2008. In the post-war period, older workers fueled growth. By 1950, one in two men in the labor market were over the age of 65. Following the Great Recession, the economy took a nose-dive. The housing bubble burst, stocks plummeted, and the unemployment rate rose to almost 10% by April 2010. In 2008, the first boomers turned 62. However, boomers were needed in the labor force, much like they are now, only in 2008 boomers stayed employed out of necessity. Today, housing prices are through the roof and stocks reached record highs throughout the pandemic. The national unemployment rate dropped significantly.

However, according to another Pew Research study, retirees of today tend to be educated white US nationals. Today, 34% of the population is over 50, but less than a quarter of those are minorities

Nonetheless, unemployed or underemployed boomers are available to fill the gaps left in the wake of the Great Resignation. The bigger question is, will they?

 

Forbes.com – March 3, 2021

Forbes.com Author:  Ashley Stahl    – Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

#JobSearch : Crafting a “No Degree” Resume—Focus on Value, Metrics, Branding. No College Degree, No Problem! Great REad!

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A common concern I hear from clients is, “I don’t have a degree.”

May executive job seekers got started on a formal education, then got sidetracked and never finished. It’s more common than you think. Or many just never went the route of going to college. They headed straight into the workforce after high school and worked their way up the ladder. Both scenarios are VERY common.

We can argue the merits of a formal education versus clawing your way to the top through grit and hard work. But regardless of how you achieved your corporate success, when it comes to writing a resume for a new position, those without a college degree can find it a stumbling block and a challenge to know how to present themselves professionally without it.

What is important, regardless of education, is having a strategy to present your message. 

Here are a few things to consider:

💼 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚.

What departments have you built? How many people did you manage? What did you do to help the company grow? How did your contribution get them to the next level?

Also: What kind of a leader are you? What is the feedback you receive from your boss AND your team? How your team looks to you says a lot. Don’t be afraid to gather up testimonials from people who worked for you. If you built out an exceptional team, you could say something like:

“Led efforts to identify, secure, engage, and retain top-tier talent and cultivated a diversified entrepreneurial team to deliver optimal results; managed succession planning, attaining a 2% annual turnover rate across 102 employees.”

This bullet shows how this client built, grew, and led a team, ending up with very little turnover. He established a culture within the team that made it a place where people wanted to work–and they thrived.

 

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

 

Article continued …

💼 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙭.

When you rose through the ranks, you increased revenue, your sales numbers skyrocketed, etc. Don’t be afraid to use numbers if you have them. Certain roles (like sales) usually end up with percentages or dollars. Don’t worry about how much or how little. Percentages and sales show your effort and growth. Like this:

“Developed a model to optimize short stay options across the residential portfolio to support a $200M regional capital project; negotiated the rental of 30 furnished apartments, expanded the model to 56 units, achieved 100% occupancy for 5 years, and subsequently transitioned the units to university housing with a 98% annual occupancy rate.”

This bullet is loaded with numbers, proves his success, and also grabs the eye. Numbers and percentages stand out, so add them where you can.

💼 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙.

What are you known for? What do people go to you for? What do you specialize in? This is a very common struggle job seekers struggle with, no matter their level. And often, it comes slowly, through time and experience.

For example, when I started writing resumes, I was writing every type of resume I could get my hands on, basically to gather experience. But as time went on, I noticed more and more finance and tech clients started finding me. This built my brand as a finance and tech writer.

Having a consistent brand in these fields is what eventually led to landing the Wall Street Journal contract as their resume writing partner. They heard about me and my team and what we specialized in (at that time), and my brand is what got their attention.

Once you have an idea of what you are known for, that is something you want to lead with on your resume. Make sure it stands out and is front and center. Don’t make hiring managers or recruiters look for it, because they won’t.

💼 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙨!

Are you listing your credentials or professional development? These all count in your skills section. Things like:

– Advanced training courses?
– Certifications?
– Did you write anything that became published in your area? White papers? Blog posts?
– What about presentations? Did you speak on your topic? Offer expertise in a podcast or interview?
– Lastly, any awards? If yes, list them.

There are plenty of ways to distract the reader from your lack of formal education and instead get the reader or hiring manager excited about your accomplishments and what you can bring to the role.

While college degrees are required for certain roles, many companies are simply looking for the best candidate for the job.

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

 

FSC Career Blog | February 25, 2022

#JobSearch : 3 Signs Hating Your Job Might Be Hurting Your Job Search. Is Hating your Job Might be Costing you Job Offers ?? Great REad!

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You might utterly dread going to work every morning despite having a decent job that looks good on paper. Or, even though you’re ready to land a new job somewhere else, you might hate your job some days, while other days aren’t so bad. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, hating your job might be hurting your job search and costing you job offers. 

             Hating your current job might be costing you job offers

Here’s how to know if your feelings about your current job are impacting your job search:

You can’t separate your skills from your experience.

When you’re unhappy at work, it’s easy to focus on everything that’s missing. Maybe your current company isn’t as up to speed on the latest technology as your previous companies. Maybe every new idea you suggest seems to fall flat because leadership likes doing things a certain way. Maybe your current team is known for starting but never finishing anything, and it makes you want to flip a table.

Still, while all of those things might be true, your dissatisfaction with your current job might be hindering your job search if you have a hard time seeing the skills you’ve gained and the results you’ve brought to the table in spite of your less than pleasant experience at work. You may not like how things have panned out, but if you’re an ambitious, driven high-achiever, then odds are you’ve found some way to make an impact and deliver great work. But, if you aren’t able to communicate that in your resume because of how much you hate your job, then it’s costing you job offers.

 

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

You don’t have high hopes for your next job

This can sometimes occur when you’ve been at the same company for so long you’ve forgotten better companies exist. It can also happen when you’ve worked at a string of companies that have repeatedly disappointed you. Either way, because companies have let you down, it can be tempting to assume that all companies are the same.

Of course, there are no perfect companies. Not to mention, there are plenty of companies that could care less about their employees. But, there are just as many companies that do care about their employees and that have healthy work environments their employees enjoy. However, if you let your poor experiences at past companies stop you from even trying to find a company that matches your values and career goals, then you’ll be stuck accepting opportunities that aren’t any better.

Your interview presence is giving it away.

By this point, you’ve likely heard of how unprofessional it is to speak ill of your current or previous companies, and you might do your best to not say anything negative about your current employer. Still, if you feel strongly about how much you hate your current job, your words might say otherwise, while your body language might show it.

On top of that, if you haven’t been able to acknowledge the skills you’ve gained while working there, then you may be tempted to brush over or downplay your contributions in your current role when you could be highlighting those skills to further add to why you’d be a great fit for the next position you desire. These mistakes aren’t necessarily detrimental, but it certainly isn’t helping you stand out ahead of other candidates who aren’t letting how much they hate their job get in the way of landing a new one.

You might not have even noticed that you were making any of these mistakes. But, as a career coach who’s worked with high-achievers in dozens of industries, it’s a common issue that tends to fly under the radar. To fix this, the first thing you need to do is make peace with how things have panned out at your current job. Then, decide not to let anything you’ve experienced stop you from getting a better job than the one you want to leave. Once you do, you’ll be in a better place to make better choices as you pursue the next opportunity in your career.

 

Forbes.com Author:  Adunola Adeshola coaches high-achievers on how to take their careers to the next level. She is the author of the guide How to Go From Zero Interviews to Dream Job Offers.

 

Forbes.com | February 16, 2022

 

#BestofFSCBlog : 10 Steps To Change Your Career Path At Any Age. Wondering To Make a Job or Career Change? Take a Free 60-Second Career Quiz and Find Out!

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The pandemic has changed workers’ professional expectations for the foreseeable future. According to Randstad’s latest Workmonitor Survey, employees feel empowered in new ways as they reassess their careers and the role of work in their lives. A stunning 81% of those surveyed say they have gained more clarity around their personal and professional goals over the last 12 to 18 months. As a result, they desire more training, work-life balance and, in many cases, a different career.

The thought of changing your career path may seem scary, especially if you are over 40. But it is not uncommon or impossible. In fact, the average American worker has 12 jobs in their lifetime with an average tenure of around four years with a single employer. Given the current hectic environment, flexibility, fulfillment, and work-life balance are taking center stage. That means more people are thinking about pivoting professionally.

The good news—the majority of older career changers are successful, based on a study from the American Institute for Economic Research. Changing your career path doesn’t have to be as overwhelming or difficult as you might think. These ten steps will give you the framework you need to come out on top.

1.      Upgrade your mindset

Ultimately, what you think, you become. Altering your career path means being open to the possibilities. Change your self-talk so that you can move forward despite your fears. Even simple mantras like “I can do this” or “I am fearless” really work.

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

2.      Take money off the table

One of the most common excuses for not changing career paths is money. Some common phrases are, “I can’t afford to change careers,” “I’m the main breadwinner, so I can’t take the risk,” or “What if I fail?” Of course, there are no guarantees in life. But who’s to say that you can’t earn a higher salary in your new career? It may not happen overnight, but it’s possible. Think of changing jobs as a calculated risk. If you plan for it, it will come.

3.      Focus on transferrable skills

Another common misconception is that changing career paths means starting from the bottom. Wrong! You already have an enormous number of transferrable skills. For example, if you are a lawyer, you have writing, speaking and research skills. As a marketer, you understand customer lifecycles and personas. Or maybe you are an accountant who is great with numbers and reporting. All of these are assets that can be valuable in almost any profession.

4.      Consider your why

Think about why you want to change your career path. Don’t change careers because you were passed over for a promotion or hate your boss. Make sure you are running towards something instead of running away from something. Let faith, not fear, drive your decision-making process.

5.      Identify the sweet spot

Find the intersection of the things that you enjoy and are good at. That’s the sweet spot. This exercise will help guide you towards career possibilities that align with your values and interests.

6.      Brainstorm new career paths

Make an exhaustive list of potential career paths. Keep an open mind! Defer judgment and try to have fun with this exercise. You can even throw an “idea party” where you invite friends to brainstorm different options.

7.      Research your new career path

Find people in the career you are interested in and ask them for their advice. That way, you can learn first-hand what it’s like to work in that field. You can also do research online and join professional organizations that will allow you to expand your network.

8.      Acquire new skills

Find out whether your new career path requires additional education or certifications. You could consider taking online courses or even find webinars, books and podcasts to hone your skillset. Think about how you learn best, and then set specific training and development goals.

9.      Test the waters

Try shadowing someone in your chosen profession. Create a side hustle that you can focus on in your spare time. You may even consider volunteering or working part-time to understand whether this new path may be the right fit.

10.  Develop an action plan

Once you’ve decided on a chosen career path, create an action plan. Your plan should include short and long-term goals along with specific milestones to hold you accountable. Think about how long it will take you to transition from where you are now to the new life you want to lead.

It’s never too late to change your career path. Whether you are in your 40’s or your 60’s, you can do it. The key is to have a plan and stick to it. Be fearless. Making a career change can be scary. But you know what’s even scarier? Regret.

Wondering if it’s finally time to make a job or career change? Take my free 60-second career quiz and find out!

 

Forbes.com | February 16, 2022 | Caroline Castrillon

#YourCareer : How To Find Direction In Your Job Search: The 3 Buckets Method. Great Way to Explore your Career Options/Direction.

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With unemployment hovering around 4% and a hot hiring market, one of the biggest challenges for many job seekers now is figuring out what they want. Often clients in this position are confused and paralyzed—they don’t know where to start. They may have no idea or lots of ideas but little direction. The title of Barbara Scher’s classic, “I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What It Was” sums up what keeps a lot of potential job seekers stuck.

Lane, a project and production manager for an advertising agency, was burnt out and wanted a more humane culture and work that was mission-oriented. She was open to possibility but uncertain. “I’m all over the map,” she said. “I know I should be networking and pulling together my resume, but I’m not ready to talk to anyone yet. What am I even looking for?”

It turns out that this question cannot be answered by analysis or even deep reflection and introspection. Instead, Lane needed to get into action before she was she knew what she wanted, before she was ready. As London Business School professor Herminia Ibarra points out in her terrific book, “Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career,” most people need to act in order to gain insight into what job or career path will suit them. Acting first and then figuring out what you want contradicts traditional career advice to ”follow your dream.” But Ibarra urges us not to expect that we should, or even could, know our desired destination until we have walked at least a few small steps down the path to see how it feels.

Ibarra’s advice is similar to the recommendations of Stanford Design School professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans’ book, “Designing Your Life: How to Build A Well-Lived, Joyful Life.” Burnett and Evans also take an action-oriented approach to career exploration, based on design thinking. Instead of Ibarra’s language of experimentation, they call this phase “prototyping.” Think of it as finding your own personal product-market fit.

 

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:

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

 

Article continued …

Whatever you call it, this time of exploration is about gathering data. First, you will need to identify options of roles to consider, which will function as your prototypes or hypotheses to test. Experimenting will help you to get the real-world data, information and experience that will help you identify what path you want to pursue.

One of my favorite exercises to use with clients is to brainstorm at least two possible jobs or roles within each of three categories or buckets.

  • Bucket 1: The logical next step. In this bucket, list roles that are clearly related to your current job and for which you have most of the skills and qualifications needed. For example, you could do the same role in the same industry but at a different company. You could stay in your company or organization and move to a different role that has some overlap with your current role. You could move up a level to be a manager or drop a level to being an individual contributor in the same function. In bucket 1, you have high confidence that you would be a strong candidate for the roles you list. If you were applying to college, bucket 1 would be your safety school.
  • Bucket 2: The stretch role. In this bucket, list roles or jobs that represent some degree of reach from your current role. You might consider an entirely different role or function where you hypothesize that many of the core competencies are similar. You might change industries or areas of expertise where there is an analogous or similar function. You might return to something you did earlier in your career and are uncertain whether your skills are up to date. In bucket 2, there is more uncertainty about fit, but also potentially more excitement and interest.
  • Bucket 3: The wild idea. This bucket is both the scariest and the most exciting. Here you want to list ideas that intrigue you even if they seem implausible. Roles in this category would represent a big shift and  involve some uncertainty or risk. You might even feel embarrassed to tell your friends. Perhaps you have dreamed of becoming a travel writer, starting a business, running for office, or going to medical school. Your bucket 3 ideas may seem outlandish or impossible. They also offer clues to what elements you find missing in your current life. And even if you can’t get a job now, they might represent an interest or skill area that you want to cultivate for a later chapter in your career.

If you have trouble making your lists, try asking a friend or colleague to brainstorm with you. Once you have at least 2-3 (or more) roles in each, review them and notice which ones are of interest. Do you observe any themes or commonalities? Do any make your heart sing (or sink?) Pick two—from different buckets—to explore and experiment with. For each idea, identify a few experiments. Your experiments should be easy, low-risk, and cheap. These could include: reading a book or article on a topic; taking a class; having an informational interview; writing a blog post; volunteering; attending a meet-up or conference.

Be clear about the hypothesis you are testing. For example, Lane’s bucket 1 hypothesis was that she might be happier at a mission driven ad agency and her bucket 2 hypothesis was that her project management and production skills from advertising would be transferable to the non-profit or museum sectors. She arranged informational interviews with various colleagues who had taken those paths. These conversations helped her to refine her hypotheses and continue her exploration. She was on her way!

If you are having a hard time knowing what you want or where to start, try it. The 3 Bucket Exercise can help you get unstuck and take action to explore and iterate—or prototype—your next career move.

 

Forbes.com | February 16, 2022 |  Hanna Hart

#JobSearch :How To Use Keywords To Strengthen Your Personal Brand. Recruitment is Changing as Employers Continue to Scramble for Employees. Great REad!

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Recruitment is changing as employers continue to scramble for employees, in-person networking is still a thing of the past, and in-person interaction is just now slowly making a comeback. Recruiting trends are focusing on the candidate experience while streamlining the hiring process.

What does that mean for job hunters? 

Used by the majority of the Fortune 500, a key 2022 trend is the increased reliance and use of more advanced applicant tracking systems (ATS). ATS filters resumes and cover letters based on keywords, decreasing the time-to-hire by as reported by 86% of recruiters, and this improves the bottom line. But this is not without consequence to job seekers.

Keywords are vital in today’s job search – not only in your resume and cover letter but across your social platforms and networking sites. Keywords help increase your visibility and improve your chances of landing your dream job. Today, you need a personal SEO strategy.

According to Job Hunt, there are three areas where to focus your keywords: personal, professional goals, and work history.

Personal Keywords:

Your personal keywords include your name, target location, languages you speak, and education. Your name needs to match on all your social platforms (especially LinkedIn) and resume. Use your full name online unless you use an abbreviated name on your resume and all other printed materials you use such as business cards. Also, include your full name as your signature on email.

Also make sure you use the English version of languages you speak: ie. “Spanish,” not “español,” if your profile is written in English. This ensures the proper keyword would be discovered by recruiters.

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:

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

Professional Goals Keywords:

Choose keywords for the position you want. Include industry keywords as well. Here’s where a few hours exploring job posting will pay off. What words are recurring for the positions you want? Research industry keywords to include.

Work History Keywords:

Most of your keywords will be used here. Again, make sure you’ve done your research and know what keywords employers are using. You need to be truthful when using keywords. The trick is using the words employers use to describe work you do.

If the company you work for uses puns for job titles like Marketing Guru, change that to read Marketing Manager – if the title matches what you actually do. Where you have a lot of liberty is hard and soft skills. There are a lot of ways to say you have rock-solid communication skills including problem solving, confident speaking ability, active listening, and collaboration to name a few.

Use enough keywords when describing your experience, skills, certifications, and job-specific tools and techniques without overstuffing. Your LinkedIn profile, resume, and cover letter need to be readable.

Think like a recruiter. If you submitted a cover letter and resume, the recruiter is definitely going to search your LinkedIn profile. But recruiters also search LinkedIn for viable clients even when they haven’t received a resume. In fact, 95% of recruiters say they search LinkedIn to find candidates for open positions. LinkedIn reports that 70% of the global workforce is made up of passive talent not actively job hunting.

Your keywords need to be an exact match. Job Hunt uses the example of a job description requiring “Microsoft Word” experience. If your resume states “highly skilled with Microsoft Office products” it will not meet the search criteria. You may be well versed in Microsoft Office but if the majority of job postings are only asking for Microsoft Word, you need to include Microsoft Word.

How do you apply keywords to your other social channels? Use your full name or the variation of your name that appears on LinkedIn and your resume. On Facebook you can add keywords to the “about” section of your profile. Instagram allows a short description below your name and title. The same is true for Twitter.

Consistency matters. Your resume and social profiles should paint a picture of who you are, what you do, and where you want to go. Spending time quing into keywords will pay off in spades.

 

Forbes.com – February 11, 2022 – Ashley Stahl

#JobSearch : 5 Ways To Make Your LinkedIn Profile Pop In 2022. A MUst REad!

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It’s a new year…and already whizzing by as we’re moving through the shortest month on the calendar!

Now is a great time to give your LinkedIn profile a facelift. In fact, more than 95% of recruiters search LinkedIn to find candidates to present to their clients. LinkedIn is also the largest professional network in the world with nearly 800 million members.

At a minimum, your profile should include a quality photograph, LinkedIn summary, work history, and education. But there are definitely some tricks to getting noticed on LinkedIn. Here are some LinkedIn hacks to put your best foot forward.

1. The photograph. In a survey by Passport-Photo Online, over 80% of recruiters said a LinkedIn photo was an important ranking factor and 8 out of 10 agreed a candidate’s LinkedIn profile picture was used as a way to get to know the person better.  Even though respondents agreed 82% of the time that you should not judge a book by its cover, it happens. Job seekers can get rejected for their LinkedIn profile pic – as much as 70% of the time.

Your photograph is your first impression online. It needs to be professional yet show your personality. If you work from home in your pjs, that’s not going to be a good look. But if a power suit is not your bag, don’t wear one in your LinkedIn photo.

Here’s some quick tips:

  • You need to appear approachable.
  • Make sure your face is clearly visible.
  • Wear your usual attire (not the pjs or the power suit).
  • And, under no circumstances should you have someone else in your photo!

Pro tip: Using your mobile device, create a 30-second video to add to your profile pic. Use this to show off your personality – in a professional way. You can shoot the video outside or in your office. Just be sure you mitigate distractions.

 

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

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

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

Article continued …

2. The LinkedIn headline. This is arguably one of the MOST important parts of your LinkedIn profile. It’s that 120-character description directly under your name. The summary shows up on your profile page, but it also appears every time you engage on LinkedIn. Be specific. List hard skills and job titles. Use keywords for the position you want.

Pro tip: You can now add a short audio introduction. You need to use your mobile device to add the audio intro. Select the pencil to edit your profile. Where it asks you for your name pronunciation, record your intro. You have 10 seconds. Say hi, tell people what you do, and ask them to connect.

3. The LinkedIn summary (about). Don’t skip this section. If you need help, hire a writer but include a summary. The summary section offers a lot of freedom but here’s a surefire 8 paragraph formula to standout according to LinkedIn expert Mindi Rosser.

  1. Ask a question based or make a bold statement that entices the reader to continue.
  2. Show your target you have the solution to fix their problem.
  3. Showcase the depth of your experience.
  4. Elaborate on your areas of expertise by providing tangible examples.
  5. Talk about your superpower.
  6. Publicize your accomplishments and accolades.
  7. Tell them why you’re passionate about your work.
  8. Give them a call to action.

Pro tip: Write this section for the position you want. Show career progression. Use keywords commonly found in job descriptions of the jobs you want to have.

4. Your work experience and education. This part is your LinkedIn “resume.” If the company is not well known, include a brief summary of what the company does, list your job title and bullet points highlighting your responsibilities. This is a great place to add keywords. Since LinkedIn doesn’t have a robust “keyboard,” use this hack: type one hyphen followed by the greater than sign on your keyboard to form an arrow to use as a bullet. Show career progression but keep it to 3 or 4 main points.

Unfortunately, ageism is real. When listing your education, you’re not required to put dates. So, if you graduated from college in the 1990s, skip the dates! Include position-relevant certification courses in your education section.

Pro tip: Use company and school names. When you do, a thumbnail image will appear on your profile. Not a biggie but aesthetically it looks nicer – and, unfortunately, books are judged by their covers.

5. Once you have your profile up, go through it once more to add the right keywords. Recruiters begin with a keyword search to find viable candidates. Do a quick job search for positions you want. Identify keywords by reading the job requirements. Include hard skills and soft skills – only if you have those in your repertoire. This is also a great way to see if you need to upskill to make yourself more marketable.

Be honest and authentic. If you have the skills, don’t be timid – show off but do so authentically, not in a hot-headed manner. Always include the basics including the best way to reach you. Customize your URL to your name: www.linkedin.com/in/YourName. Finally, engage on LinkedIn.

 

Forbes.com |  February 9, 2022|  Ashley Stahl

 

 

 

#YourCareer : How To Prepare For An Effective Meeting With Your Manager (Promotion or Raise). Great REad for All!

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Do you dread one-on-one meetings with your manager? One-on-one meetings should be something we look forward to, but all too often, we avoid them. Maybe you have a performance review coming up, or you want to discuss a promotion. Whatever the case, you want to ensure that you have a productive meeting. Because if done well, effective meetings are an opportunity for coaching and feedback. They’re also a chance for you and your boss to build rapport and strengthen your professional relationship.

But what constitutes an effective meeting? Let’s start by looking at why preparation is so important.

Why prepare for meetings with your manager?

I’m sure you will agree that our time is more valuable than ever. By preparing in advance, you increase the productivity of the meeting. This approach also lets your boss know that you are organized, professional and thoughtful. Also, if the topic of the discussion involves a sensitive subject like a promotion or raise, it will give you more time to organize your thoughts.

What is an effective meeting?

Effective meetings require structure and allow you to showcase your leadership skills. They also help you build a stronger relationship with your manager. By establishing alignment around key topics, you and your manager can make faster decisions. Effective meetings also improve engagement, facilitate innovation and promote collaboration.

How to prepare for an effective meeting with your manager

One-on-ones are meant to address important topics and maintain a productive working relationship. But preparation is essential. Here are five ways to ensure you have an effective meeting with your boss.

 

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

Article continued …

Go beyond an agenda

While an agenda is valuable, it doesn’t do a good job of communicating your key points. Don’t just outline what items you want to discuss. Also, think about what ideas or challenges you want to bring up. Ask a lot of questions to get to the heart of your concerns.

Prepare an update on your projects

One-on-ones are an excellent time to provide your manager with a progress update. Since you are working remotely or in a hybrid situation, it’s best not to assume that they know the status of each project. Be transparent and ask for support or advice if needed.

Come with solutions

Coming to a meeting with a list of problems means you run the risk of appearing incompetent. Don’t use it as a complaining session. Running effective meetings with your manager means coming to the table with solutions to problems. Even if you don’t have all the answers, it indicates initiative and leadership potential.

Ask for feedback

Based on research, leaders who rank at the top 10% in asking for feedback were rated, on average, at the 86th percentile in overall leadership effectiveness. One of the most powerful ways for you to grow personally and professionally is to ask for feedback from your manager. It will give you more control over the conversation and likely result in valuable insights.

Share the positive

Managers get tired of having difficult conversations and putting out fires all day. Use this valuable time to share the details of your favorite project and why you enjoy it. Also, highlight what you are grateful for and, if appropriate, thank your boss for their support.

The more effort you put into the planning process, the more productive the meeting. Look at it as an opportunity to create a better relationship with your boss and improve the work environment around you. By committing to effective meetings, you will accelerate your career growth and increase overall engagement in the process.

 

Forbes.com Author:  Caroline Castrillon

Wondering if it’s finally time to make a job or career change? Take my free 60-second career quiz and find out!

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Forbes.com – January 30, 2022

#JobSearch : Critical Job Interview Mistake You Cannot Recover From. A MUst REad, Do NOT Go Into an Interview Until you REad this First!

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I talked to a couple of HR directors, and we got to talking about serious mistakes individuals make in the job interview. When I pointed out one of the errors I saw, everyone in the group said, “Yes, that’s the one you can never recover from.” With so many people getting job interviews right now, many people are not preparing properly. They certainly don’t roleplay before the interview and script out how they’ll answer the employer’s questions. Since most of the time these days interviews are held over video calls, job hunters approach their interviews very casually. After all, it’s just on Zoom—they can wing it. That may explain why they are making this critical error.

The fatal mistake happens when you are asked about your former or current company and one of your worst bosses. You may think these are easy questions to answer, but they are not. If you bring anything negative, it can torpedo your chances. For example, I was working with a CEO, interviewing professionals for a director job. When I asked Rick, “tell us about your worst boss,” this candidate certainly got our attention. He said, “That woman had Satan in her,” and then off he went complaining about how truly terrible this former boss was. In his mind, Rick was vindicating himself. But that is not how the CEO saw it. He wrote “Satan” in large letters across Rick’s resume. The CEO reacted strongly when I stated that I couldn’t believe how Rick had answered. “Neither could I,” he said, “and I will never hire that guy. If he talks that way about his former boss, that is how he’s going to talk about me if he comes to work here.” The CEO reiterated that speaking badly about a former boss or employer was a critical error that no one can recover from.

 

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

Article continued …

How to handle the worst boss question the right way

When asked, “Describe the worst supervisor you’ve ever had,” this situational question requires a precise answer. As much as you want to tell the truth and criticize an old boss and point out that person’s faults, reconsider. As this CEO and the HR directors stated, being negative will reflect poorly on you and eliminate you from consideration.

Here is a better way to answer that question. Find something that you can say that doesn’t overly criticize in a very negative way. Try this: “One boss didn’t give me very much feedback. I only heard from him when there was a problem. Months might go by without any feedback or idea of what he was thinking. Although I don’t like to have someone standing over my shoulder, I do like feeling I’m part of a team. I want to collaborate, have input, exchange ideas, and feel that my work is in line with my boss’s and the company’s goals. Open communication, I guess, is what was lacking. I think that’s important to have with a supervisor.” This answer demonstrates a positive response concerning the importance of teamwork and the desire for collaboration—two things most employers want in their employees.

Answer to why do you want to leave your job 

Everyone will be asked, “Why do you want to leave your present job?” Companies want to hear that you seek more challenge, more advancement, a promotion, more growth opportunities, and in some cases, more financial reward. You can also leave to shorten your commute, want only remote work, or because your company is unstable. Try: “I have learned so much working for my current company, but there are no promotional opportunities. I enjoy challenges, learning new skills, and improving my old ones. Therefore, I am seeking a new position at this time that has upward mobility options.” Here’s another: “I noticed that your company had an opening I qualify for. I’ve been happy at my present position, but the option to move to a good company, such as yours, along with it being a remote job is very appealing to me. Also, I want a position with more responsibility, so I to have an even greater impact on the end results.”

Maybe you are unemployed right now. The question you’ll be asked is, “Why did you leave your last job?” I guarantee that you’ll get asked this question, so having an appropriate, acceptable answer is a must. Good reasons to depart include relocation, layoffs, reorganization, or downsizing that affected your duties. A reasonable response might be, “The company went through a downsizing; that’s why I’m available.” Maybe you have just moved to the area. Try this, “We’ve just relocated to this area to be near our family, and that’s why I’m available.” It shines a better light on you when “that’s why I’m available” is a part of your answer. It also signifies to the employer that you are a perfect candidate to consider.

Did you leave to care for your children and now wish to return to the workplace? If you have been gone more than a year, you’ll need to explain why you left and how you have stayed current during your time off. A good way to reply is to state that you kept your skills up to date. For example, say, “I’ve taken several courses and even completed a couple of new certifications. I’m involved in the professional association and groups too.” By demonstrating how you have been able to stay current, you reassure the employer that you still have the skills to perform the job now.

The moral of all this is always keep your answers positive. I highly recommend that every job candidate do a thorough interview preparation, including role-playing, before you ever talk to an employer. Any mistakes you make will be during those practice times, as you can draft the very best answers to impress the employer when you face them.

Forbes.com Author:  Robin Ryan
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com | January 25, 2022

#JobSearch : Resume Refresh And Tips For Job Seekers. Landing your Ideal Job Starts with a Solid #Resume & Outreach Plan.

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With the U.S. having more job openings than any time in history it is a great time to go after the role you’ve been dreaming of. You have far more power to transition careers or level up with your current title or even ask to amend your tasks to be geared towards what you love doing. More and more people are able to take the bull by the horns and advance their career in the direction they choose.

There are tons of general formatting resources available online. This article provides insider tips to help you stand out amongst candidates and to make your career search easier and more fruitful.

Include Keywords

It is important to reflect back to recruiters the keywords used in the job description. When creating your resume, research listings for the job you want to find and apply repetitive keywords that mirror what employers are looking for. For example, if I saw “problem resolution” in five job posts, I would include that exact wording on my resume. Big companies sometimes run the first round of screening through computers that check for words that match the job description.  If you are applying to similar jobs the same knowledge, experience and skills will be needed and you won’t need to customize your resume. However, if there is a job you are excited about you may want to tweak your resume to include the exact terms that are in the job post.

 

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

 

Article continued …

 

Keep It To One Or Two Pages

The general rule of thumb is that resumes should be a single page if you have less than ten years of experience. Ten years of experience or more, a two-page (and sometimes three-page) resume is acceptable. The reason for this is that hiring managers on average spend seven seconds reviewing a resume, so you want to provide them with the most relevant, impressive and succinct information.

Add Quantifiable Results 

Add facts that are measurable. For example, the amount of people you helped on a daily basis, money you saved the company, the number of people you trained, how many impressions from an ad campaign, etc.

Use Power Words/Action Verbs 

These are the words at the beginning of each bullet point on your resume that describe what tasks you did, such as “increased” or “trained.” You can Google “power words for resume” to find an abundance of resources.

Get A Proofreader

Make sure you get a second pair of eyes on your resume. You don’t want to submit a resume with mistakes. There are free resources available to help with catching errors, such as grammarly.com and hemingwayapp.com.

Add Relevant Experience 

At the end of your resume include other experiences that would make you a good candidate. For example, volunteer work, leadership experience, hackathons, certifications, different languages you speak, etc.

Keep It Simple

Do not use a bunch of fonts, and typically avoid graphics/pictures – unless  you are applying for design-related work. If you are applying internationally, research the resume format for that country – international resume do tend to include pictures.

Pursue Many Opportunities

Having a number of options that you are pursuing gives you more power and confidence. If you only have a few options, you may end up feeling anguish because you are more dependent on landing that job. Hiring managers will pick up on your confidence or your desperation. Being confident can lend itself to higher chances of getting the job. Exploring lots of opportunities is also beneficial to you, because you will have more room to evaluate whether the job is truly the right fit for you.

Make A Human Connection

After you have submitted your resume send a note to the recruiter for each job you have applied for. This will make sure your application doesn’t go unnoticed and makes you stand out as a candidate. Reaching out on LinkedIn is recommended so the recruiter sees your profile and you’re able to build a connection for future opportunities.

Stephanie Heath founder of SoulWork & Six Figures adds, “if a personal note is not included they run the risk of only relying on the ATS system to get their resume through. A lot of candidates get burnt out this way. Sending a short message on LinkedIn also helps cut down the time for the recruiter to see their profile and ensures they get an immediate yes (interview request) or a no (the recruiter sees the message, visits their profile and gives radio silence).”

When you send a LinkedIn request make sure to add a note! Stephanie suggests to send a casual note saying something such as, “Hi ____, I am reaching out regarding the ____ position at ____. I sent over an application today and just wanted to check in to see if the role was still available? Thank you for your time. Please have a great day! (your name and email)”

Other Important Information

  • Be willing to submit lots of resumes before landing a job.
  • Have patience. Getting hired takes time. If you are burnt out, future employers will sense your frustration and it will lessen the odds of you landing the job. If you feel like you are beginning to get burnt out, take a pause for self-care or try refreshing how you are approaching the process. For example, turning the interview process into a sociological experiment where you get to learn about the company’s culture and people.

 

Happy job hunting!

Forbes.com Author:   Nicole Serena Silver 
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com – January 28, 2022