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#JobSearch : How To Be Lucky In Your Career: 5 Ways To Create Good Fortune. The Vast Majority of the Time, Luck Really isn’t Luck at All.

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You’ve heard it plenty of times: the super-successful person who is interviewed and credits luck for her success, or talks about simply being in the right place at the right time. But if it’s just good fortune, what is there to learn? And how can you get access to the fairy dust that seems to have made that person’s career advance?

What is luck, really? The chances of finding a four-leaf clover on your first try are one in 10,000, but your odds of advancing your career are significantly better—when you take intentional and proactive steps.

While there may be some career successes for which pure luck was a factor, if you look more deeply, they are probably the rare exceptions. Luck is actually something you make for yourself and something you can prepare for—taking advantage of good work and intentional effort, which almost always precede the discovery of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Also consider that ascribing your success to simple good fortune undercuts your success. You’ve worked hard and done some great things—and deserve the kudos and credit that come from the results. Luck may be something, but great thinking, hard work and developing relationships are much more.

 

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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 …

How to Create Luck in Your Career

Here’s how to create the conditions for luck to be yours (and the efforts you can embrace and take credit for when you succeed).

Be Proactive

One of the keys to being lucky, is being ready and moving ahead based on a sense of what’s happening around you. Stay alert and read your context. If you sense your company is considering big changes in your division, have a strategy for your next steps. When you see your group may be reporting through a new leader, reach out and connect with them. Or when you see your customer needs are starting to change, be ready to recommend a new product, service or direction.

In addition, always be exploring. Be curious about your market and your customers, obtain certifications or additional credentials which match your interests and seek learning in new areas all the time. By staying attuned to the next things that interest you, you’ll be ready in case your present situation changes, and you need to make plans for the future.

Be Connected

Statistically, your next job or career step is likely to come not from your primary network, but from your secondary or tertiary networks. By definition, the people you’re closest to, probably have access to the same information as you related to new opportunities. But your more distant connections will have access to information about opportunities which you probably don’t. And this is a great way to ensure you’re “lucky” in your next steps—by staying connected to a network of people who will know about new possibilities.

Reach out to others and strengthen your network all the time—even when you’re not looking for a new role. Focus on building relationships, not just adding to your number of contacts in a transactional way. Seek to add value for others, and stay connected when you see people get promoted or change jobs. Send notes to wish people congratulations or forward articles which may interest them. Nurture connections on a continuous basis and in a meaningful way, and when you need some good luck to facilitate your next career step, you’ll have people to whom you can reach out and from whom you can seek support.

Be Brilliant

When you’re looking for the next opportunity, your past and current performance will be under scrutiny, and they will fundamentally shape your prospects. Consider the example of a woman who learned her husband was being transferred to another country. It was the right decision for their family to pull up stakes and make the shift. As a result, she had to give up her current role and seek a new role—and she hoped to stay within her global company. Because she had a great record of performance and good relationships, she was able to reach out to the leader of the new region and a position was adapted for her. While she could have attributed this to luck, in reality it was the result of her reputation and credibility based on her strong track record.

Performing brilliantly in your role today (even if it’s not your ideal position) is always one of the best investments in your role for tomorrow—and creates the “luck” which will be part of landing the next opportunity.

Be Flexible

Sometimes, when you need to make a shift, the perfect role may not emerge. In this case, it can be wise to take what’s available and know you can move on from there. You don’t want to settle for something drastically beneath your capabilities or for a bad cultural fit or a poor work experience, but if the role is close-to-right or requires you to compromise on things which aren’t core to who you are, then taking a less-than-ideal role can be a legitimate and smart move. It’s always easier to find a job when you’re already employed, and in the real world most people need to be employed to pay the mortgage and put groceries on the table.

So take the next step, even if it’s not your final step. Know you can learn from whatever you’re doing and trust your ability to grow and advance. Also be flexible with your partner and family. Sometimes your job will take priority and sometimes theirs will. The best partnerships acknowledge the dance of career ebbs and flows. Be flexible for the times when your partner’s job takes priority and be firm when it’s time for your career to blossom.

Be Brave

Career advancement often requires you to let go and take a risk. The next big-time assignment or the moment to leave an organization for a cool new job require you to go out on a limb. Be smart about assessing the opportunity and all that goes with it, and be diligent about determining whether it’s the right fit for you and your future. And when you determine it is, shore up support, take the plunge and make the decision which will pave the way for your future.

In Sum

The vast majority of the time, luck really isn’t luck at all. So put in the effort, do great work and flex toward the next new opportunity. And in the process, take credit for all you’ve accomplished and be confident about all the places you’ll go next. Now is a great time to explore, be proactive and build relationships which will move you positively forward.

Forbes.com | March 13, 2022

#YourCareer : The Psychology Of Persuasion: Get What You Want More Often. Communication is Critical to Successful Negotiations.

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Psychology has become increasingly mainstream in recent years, with enormous attention being paid to how our psychologies, often unconsciously, influence how we behave in professional spaces as well.

The relevance of psychology to negotiation is especially important. On the surface, it may appear that we are negotiating prices, terms and conditions but it really all comes down to the need for both parties to come to one shared opinion or solution. That said, in negotiation it’s critical to understand the psychology behind opinions. This can form the foundation for a successful outcome.

Understanding Attitudes

In the research, psychologists will often refer to opinions as “attitudes.” In this context, an attitude can be anything from a strong moral conviction around a particular social issue, to a preference for one brand of coffee over the other. Attitudes are important for two reasons: they can be durable and they influence behavior.

Sticking to the coffee example, generally speaking people tend to have fairly strong opinions about the beverage. Usually, people either love it or hate it, and coffee drinkers typically have a preference for a particular blend or brand. A daily Starbucks drinker may have a particularly durable attitude, meaning it could be difficult to persuade them to switch to McDonalds or Tim Hortons on their morning commute. Similarly, there may be hints of influence as well. When out of town or traveling, they may find themselves seeking a Starbucks or even purchasing Starbucks brand instant coffee at the grocery store.

 

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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 …

Why Strength Matters

Not all opinions or attitudes are equal. While a particular attitude can influence behavior, it’s the strength of the attitude that will determine how much influence it will ultimately have.

Politics is a good example. If a citizen has a strong attitude in favor of a candidate, there is a higher chance that they will actually vote for them. If their attitude is weak, they may show a preference in conversations (or on surveys) but not actually take the action to vote that candidate into office.

This thought process applies to almost all attitudes, so in negotiations it’s important to uncover your counterpart’s attitudes and the strength of each one. This information can help negotiators identify which opinions are flexible and can be addressed and which should be avoided due to their durability.

Using the Right Language

Communication is critical to successful negotiations, and using the right language is equally important to navigating attitudes and opinions. Talking the same “language” is necessary to reaching an agreement. This means looking beyond the superficial opinions on a topic, and finding the underlying attitudes that align.

For example, let’s say two people sit down. One chooses to consume dairy as a part of their diet and the other person does not. On the surface, it may appear that they disagree. That said, perhaps there is a shared attitude around the importance of health and feeling good. Person A avoids dairy because it makes them feel bloated and ultimately they don’t believe it’s healthy for their system. Person B consumes dairy because they see it as a nutritious and healthy part of a diet that will keep them strong.

Talking the “health” language may help bring these two individuals to a common resolution, as opposed to focusing on the surface topic of dairy—where they disagree.

Incorporating Empathy

Empathy is a super-power, and using it to understand attitudes in negotiation will almost always improve outcomes. Once again, it all starts with asking questions to identify what attitudes and opinions your counterpart possesses, and how strong each of those attitudes are. Core attitudes are more durable, so it may not be worth attempting to dissuade people away from them; however, it’s still possible to demonstrate empathy for why they feel so strongly. For weaker opinions, in the process of moving towards a common resolution, incorporating empathy can be key. Allow empathy to help you explore your counterpart’s perspective and what they are truly looking to accomplish through these negotiations.

Attitudes and opinions play a huge role in the everyday behaviors of individuals, making them necessary to consider for successful negotiations and conflict resolution. Begin by asking questions and taking time to understand where your counterpart has strong attitudes and where there may be flexibility to begin moving toward a common ground.

 

Forbes.com | March 13, 2022 | Kwame Christian

#Your Career : When a Change in Times Means a Change of Plans. One Thing is Certain: Many of Today’s Changes we are Seeing in the World Today are Here to Stay.

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Most would agree that present-day living looks a lot different from what it used to be before the pandemic. While some would say it is for the better, others may be finding the drastic changes we’ve experienced throughout the pandemic unsettling, to say the least. But wherever you are on the spectrum, from loving it to loathing it to at least tolerating it, one thing is certain: many of the changes we are seeing in the world today are here to stay.

Here’s how to make the most of it and embrace the unknown instead of looking ahead with apprehension. 

 

Doing more of what you love

Adjusting to a new way of living has meant for many a change in lifestyle. And if you’ve found that you haven’t been able to adapt to these changes as easily as you had hoped and you want to find new meaning in the days that lie ahead, the solution is simple – find ways to do more of what you love. You’ll not only be happier for it, but you’re sure to experience a level of contentment you might never have known otherwise.

You can start by focusing on how you can grow and strengthen aspects of your life, whether it be health-wise, reaching your fitness goals, or even new career goals. Speaking of reaching new professional heights, perhaps you’ve had the novel idea of starting a business yourself as a result of your newfound passion. 

In which case, you could start with looking into an LLC as a type of business worth pursuing if you are a solo entrepreneur. Do I need an LLC to start a business? If you want to start off small with a company with fewer requirements, specific tax advantages, a lot less paperwork, and flexible enough to accommodate your changing needs, an LLC could be the ideal business solution for you. A formation like ZenBusiness can help you make quick work of this task. 

Or maybe as the pandemic has progressed — we are a year and half into this thing after all! — you’ve been able to grow a business and now you’re ready to take it to the next level. You can take advantage of the many folks looking to change careers right now by looking into freelancer sites to find the right people to help you make your business bigger and better than ever.

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 …

Show your support

If anything, the pandemic has taught us the steadfast resilience of humanity and how important relationships are in the broader scheme of things. As everything shut down, many of us found new ways we could connect with friends, loved ones, coworkers, clients, and more virtually. For many, it led to the revelation that we are all connected to each other in some way and that we need assistance and support from one another to reach our goals–and we’re the better for it.

So if there are people struggling in your community as they try to come back from the devastation that the pandemic has caused, why not lend a helping hand to those in need? And if you find yourself needing help, well, then gladly accept it. 

 

Revel in nature

Spending time outdoors and reveling in the beauty that is nature is beneficial for your overall physical and mental well-being. And as much as nature is something to truly behold, it also deserves our respect. We need to tend to it well, and to acknowledge our dependence on our earth that gives so much to us and expects little in return. 

When change is a good thing

Indeed, change can be unsettling and can even seem a little frightening. Still, it can also be exciting and liberating, freeing us from stale mindsets that need to be readjusted to see the beginnings and promise of a new dawn. And if change is inevitable (as it most assuredly is), then we may as well do our best to embrace it! 

 

FSC Career Blog Author: Ms. Gloria Martinez . You can reach Gloria @  g.martinez@womenled.org

 

FSC Career Blog – March 9, 2022

#YourCareer : Intimidated To Engage On LinkedIn? Here’s Some Advice. Great REad!

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Before corporate and intellectual property attorney Lacy Bell graduated Emory Law School, she created a LinkedIn profile to facilitate easy networking with law school colleagues and hopefully help secure employment post-graduation. Later, as she launched her own law firm during the pandemic, she created a LinkedIn profile for her business as well. She certainly understood the importance of maintaining a presence on the largest professional social media platform, but she also faced a challenge—her own intimidation about actively engaging on LinkedIn.

“Like most of my peers, I had not engaged much on LinkedIn because it is a professional workspace and can be intimidating when you’re at the early stages of your legal career and trying to walk the line of being an individual with your own opinions and views, but also understanding that past employers and future employers are watching and have access to anything you post,” she explains. “Unfortunately, it can be intimidating and just feel like more work outside of work.”

Bell certainly isn’t the only professional to feel anxious about diving into the powerful LinkedIn ecosystem. Early career professionals in particular may have anxiety around figuring out what to post, what not to post, how often to engage, who to tag/hashtag, etc. As someone who posts on LinkedIn regularly, I’m surprised how often I encounter posts that start with some version of “I’ve been wanting to post on LinkedIn for a long time, but I was too nervous to do it.” Like Lacy many of these timid posts are authored by successful, accomplished individuals who still feel like a bit of an outsider on the platform. While starting to engage on any new social media platform can feel awkward, the stakes may feel even higher on LinkedIn as the site is often mined by employers and recruiters for valuable opportunities.

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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 …

 

Global Creator Programs Lead at LinkedIn Callie Schweitzer insists that it’s perfectly fine to observe initially but also cautions against overthinking it. “If you’re just starting to get more active on LinkedIn or interested in upping how much you’re posting or how involved you are, just start commenting,” she suggests. “Follow people you’re interested in, connect with people, and start pursuing different areas. Build who you are and your presence that way.” She also urges newbies to experiment by engaging with different content types and learning from a range of creators.

One great way to explore a range of content types while also learning about the creator journey may be by following participants in LinkedIn’s new Creator Accelerator Program. It’s a 10-week incubator-style program designed to support creators on LinkedIn through coaching, recognition, and resources. Among other support, LinkedIn provides a $15,000 grant to help creators build engaged communities, spark productive conversations, and connect to meaningful opportunities. “I’ve loved following  Creator Accelerator Program participant Elizabeth Leiba as she shares how she’s learning to use and love video even though writing is her ‘safe space,’” explains Schweitzer. Indeed, following some of these creators may be a great way to learn alongside them and build your confidence muscle at the same time.

Follow people you’re interested in, connect with people, and start pursuing different areas. Build who you are and your presence that way.

Before long, attorney Lacy Bell took the plunge and crafted her first post, and she has no regrets. “It felt good to share my content and officially introduce my firm on LinkedIn,” explains Bell. Posting about her selection to Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 in Georgia by the National Black Lawyers last year, she explains “I was initially hesitant to share it, but I am grateful for all the overwhelming support and impressions that post received.”

As for those who professionals who are still terrified at the prospect of dipping their toe into the waters of the most recognized social media platform for professionals, founder and managing attorney Lacy Bell implores them to just do it. “If there’s something positive or otherwise in your professional career that you want to share with your network, try to put your fears aside and do it,” she insists. “LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with other professionals who can support and assist in so many different ways.”

Forbes Author:  Dana Brownlee       Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com – February 28, 2022

#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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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 …

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.

 

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, 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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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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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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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 …

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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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