High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 6 Steps to Landing Your First Job

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

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• 6 Steps to Landing Your First Job: "Take a limited time off. Sleep, drive around, meet with old friends. Decompress before you face the next reality: Life."


• How to Build a Substantive Network: "A substantive connection is one where you have actually spoken to or met the person you're connected to online. A friend of a friend or connection of a connection does not count. It actually requires that you have had some sort of interaction with the person."


• 5 Ways to Reduce Stress: "Will the effects of accomplishing this task make a positive, lasting impact in my life and the life of the business?"


• 10 Behaviors of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs: "Being a productive, unstoppable entrepreneur is about your body just as much as your mind and will. If you don’t take care of your nutrition and daily exercise, you aren’t going to be at your best."


• The Happiest Jobs for the Class of 2015: "Finding a career that provides joy and a paycheck can be challenging, particularly for graduates entering the workforce at a time when industries are evolving and the nature of employment itself changing faster than ever before."

4 Soft Skills You Need to Develop for Your Career

In surveys employers and businesses often note that many applicants are lacking soft skills they deem necessary. Even many job postings will note the soft skills an employer is seeking, in addition to the technical skills and mastery required of the job.

Below are 4 soft skills to develop and highlight in a job interview, along with several tips to improve these skills.

1. Communication. It's important to write professional emails, speak appropriately on the phone, and look people in the eye and shake hands firmly when meeting and speaking in person. Watch others who are good communicators and model their behaviors. Ensure that your emails include a greeting a and a closing. You might also consider joining a local Toastmasters to develop your communication skills.

2. Initiative. An effective way to develop initiative is to volunteer for new opportunities as they come up at work. An even better way is to suggest new processes or projects and take the lead in testing them out.

3. Team work/collaboration. A great way to develop team work and collaboration skills is to

volunteer with a local nonprofit or church organization and participate in planning an event or fundraiser. The more opportunities you have to work in collaboration with others the more you'll be able to improve your skills in this area.

4. Creativity. Everyone is creative in some way. Creativity is not just for artists and designers. Creativity enables you to look at problems in a different way and come up with unique solutions. It may even mean that you come to understand that the problem really isn't a problem after all. You can continue to develop your creativity by being curious. Don't stop learning. Meet new people and travel to new places. And don't neglect your personal passions. They can co-exist with your job.

Consider finding a mentor to support you in developing these soft skills and you'll find yourself improving in ways you never imagined.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 7 Sleep Habits for Successful Entrepreneurs

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below, Entrepreneur magazine takes a look at the importance of good sleep, how it relates to your ability to make good business decisions, and recommends seven sleep habits for successful entrepreneurs.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Keys to Being a Great Mentor

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 5 Keys to Being a Great Mentor: "The goal of coaching is to help your mentees build up confidence in themselves... most people do not succeed because they have a great deal of self-doubt and therefore they self-sabotage."


• The 10 Commandments of the New Economy: "We need to have a longer time-horizon than the next earnings call. The communities we live in and the earth we inhabit both demand our attention and investment."


• 5 Steps to Improve Your Networking Skills: "No matter whom you’re trying to build a relationship with, treating that person as a friend rather than a business contact will take you much further with the relationship. So, think about how you would approach a potential friend."


• How to Brag About Your Accomplishments: "What these results seem to suggest is that when deciding whether to (honestly) brag or (deceptively) humblebrag, would-be self-promoters should choose the former — and at least reap the rewards of seeming sincere."


• Sending Professional Emails: "Getting into the habit of writing business documents more formally – even if they are only emails – will help you establish a professional image in the long run."

Your Library as a Job and Career Resource

When looking for a job it's important to take advantage of all the tools and resources available, including online job boards, career blogs and web sites, and networking opportunities.

Be sure not to overlook one of the best resources in your community: the public library.

Photo credit: michael_d_beckwith / Foter / CC BY

Your public library likely has many resources to help you find a job, start a business, seek out educational opportunities, or advance your career. Below are a few of the resources you might find at your local library.

1. Digital career products. There are many subscription-based products (such as Gale's Career Transitions) available to library card-holders that provide a wide-variety of information and data for job-seekers.

2. Career books, ebooks, and audiobooks. There are many informative and inspiring books you can seek out at your library to help you give an edge in your search or in advancing your career.

3. Career workshops or networking opportunities. Many libraries offer free workshops on various career topics, such as job-hunting, resume writing, or networking.

Another great thing about the library is that many of its resources are available to you through your computer at home so you don't have to go to the library to take advantage of all it offers. But talk to the librarian at your library and you'll likely discover many more resources at your disposal.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 3 Daily Habits for Success

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below, Early to Rise editor Craig Ballantyne shares three daily habits for success, starting with "Plan tomorrow's workday today".

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Getting Where You Want to Go

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• Getting Where You Want to Go: "Failure is our greatest teacher. Yet the idea of failure paralyzes many us so we fail to take the risks that might spur growth.There’s no shame in failure. When you do fail, react quickly, learn from your mistakes, and move on."


• Influencing Others When You're Not the Expert: "If you’re a thoughtful curator of the best ideas in your field, even if you’re not developing them yourself, others will start turning to you for guidance."


• 7 Lessons from Working Moms: "I've found that it's really important to take time off, and I've found that sometimes you get really important insights by taking time off, too...I want people to realize that it really is ok, that you can have a family."


• 21 Things I Wish I Knew When I was 21: "It may not always be clear to you, but the people you meet can help you. Treat everyone like you’d like to be treated and be willing to make new friends. The world is smaller than you think. You’ll be amazed at who is connected to whom."


• Improve Your Online Visibility: "One way to help people understand what you're good at and what's important to you is to write about it. You can document your own stories as case studies, expand upon or add your opinions on thought-provoking articles others have written or highlight industry news."

5 Factors to Consider When Evaluating a New Job Offer

It can sometimes be difficult to know what to do when faced with a new job opportunity or a job offer. We can spend too much time trying to figure out the right course of action and be fearful of making the wrong decision.

If you have a new job or career opportunity consider these 5 factors when evaluating if it's the right move for you.

1. Managerial style. Do you know who you'll be reporting to? If so, you might already know something about this person's managerial style. Is s/he a micromanager or will you be left to make decisions on your own? The managerial style of the person you'll be working for can play a major role in your job satisfaction so be sure to consider this.

2. Salary increase? If the new position includes a salary increase you might think it's an easy decision.

However, sometime when we take a step back we realize that more money does not necessarily equate to more job satisfaction.

3. Work-life balance. Consider how the new position will impact your work-life balance. Will you be required to travel a lot, spending time away from family or do you have the flexibility to work at home if needed?

4. Career opportunities. Will this job lead to more opportunities for you to enhance your skills and develop your skills or will you feel trapped?

5. Location/environment. Are you moving out of state or just down the aisle? Is it a formal work environment or can you dress casually? You'll want to consider the location and work environment to ensure that you are comfortable in your new position.

Once you've taken the time to consider these factors (and others of importance to you) you can then feel confident you've made the correct decision for you and your career.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Tony Hawk on Using Twitter

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below, skateboard legend Tony Hawk talks about authenticity on social media and how he uses twitter.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Bust out of Your Comfort Zone

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• Bust out of Your Comfort Zone: "Exposing your mind and character to new people, places, and things is its own reward — it helps you become a more interesting (and interested) person. And it makes you more self-aware, which ultimately makes you more professionally effective."


• How to be Unforgettable: "When meeting for the first time, many people fill silences by talking about themselves; turn the conversation around and ask them about their interests. And once they’re talking, be engaged in what they have to say."


• 7 Ways to Succeed in a Video or Phone Interview: "Appearing on screen can feel awkward, so if you don’t regularly use Skype then have a few practice runs with friends to get used to it."


• Networking for Those Who Avoid Small-Talk and Strangers: "When you have a 'wingman' at your side to help highlight your accomplishments at networking events, it can give you the confidence you need to approach others and break into conversations."


• Developing Your Strengths at Work: "You can boost your levels of optimism and self-belief by imagining what might be possible in the year ahead if everything went as well as possible and you were using your strengths each day."

5 Tips to Leave Your Job on a Positive Note

Very few of us stay in one job during our entire working lives so we will likely go through the experience of changing jobs.

It can be important to your future career to ensure that you leave your current employer on good terms.

Here are 5 tips to leave your job on a positive note.

1. Give proper notice. Some companies require giving a two week notice when leaving a

job. Be sure to follow your company's requirement here and provide the appropriate notice when leaving your job. You don't want to quit suddenly and leave your employer in a difficult position. Your employer will be less likely to recommend you to a future employer.

2. Get a recommendation. While you are still employed ask your direct manager or someone else familiar with your performance to write a letter of recommendation for you. Do this while your skills and abilities are still clear in the mind of your manager.

3. Connect on LinkedIn. Make your LinkedIn connections with coworkers and managers before you leave the company.

4. Remove personal files. If you have a company provided laptop or computer be sure to remove any personal files on it. You don't want someone else reading about your personal life or seeing how many times you updated your resume while at work. The same goes for any paper copies of personal items.

5. Provide contact info. Be sure to let co-workers, managers, and customers know how they can reach you in the future.

Leaving a job positively can support future job opportunities and can pave the way for you to return to a company at a later time.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 3 Networking Tips

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below, Linda Spencer, the assistant director and coordinator of career advising at Harvard Extension School, provides important tips to build your network and advance your career.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Pursue Your Dreams While Keeping the Day Job

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• Pursue Your Dreams and Keep Your Day Job: "The people who build and actually achieve their biggest dreams aren't those that cut the cord rashly and irresponsibility. Instead, they're the ones you have the discipline and determination to use their current situations to support their ambitions."


• Networking at Large, Intimidating Events: "Your mission is to focus on making merely three solid contacts at this conference. You can make two of them by looking at the person to the right and the left of you once you sit down. Yes, it can really be that easy."


• Building a Mentally Strong Work Team: "Teach employees how to become mentally strong on an individual and team level.... Don’t be afraid to talk about issues like mental health, personal development and resilience in the workplace."


• How Attitudes about Work are Changing: "A third of workers worldwide agreed that it was okay to leave a job they weren't happy in within the first month, while two-thirds believed it would be better to stay for a year to avoid having a negative impact on their career."


• 6 Ways to Be Smarter in Your Job Search: "Not all companies will post opportunities to job boards, and aggregators don’t typically pick up the postings from company sites. It’s important to visit company career sites regularly to keep up with news and openings."