High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Tips for Networking Your Way to a Job on LinkedIn

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!

• 5 Ways to Instantly Connect with Everyone You Meet: "It doesn't matter your title or experience, if you want to connect with someone or influence them, you must make them feel valued."
• 4 Rules for Making a Flexible Schedule Work: "Most of us have trouble sitting still and working for eight hours at a stretch without taking some kind of break. That holds true, even if you’re working from your couch."
• How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking: "Nothing helps you feel more confident than thoroughly preparing for your presentation. When you know the subject matter well, you'll feel more comfortable and confident."
• 9 Tips for Creating a Stress-Free Work Environment: "If your workspace stresses you out, it might help to add personal items to your desk, cubicle or office that have some special meaning to you."
• 5 Tips for Networking Your Way to a Job on LinkedIn : "Start connecting with classmates, alumni and professors, plus former bosses, supervisors and colleagues. Then branch out to less obvious potential connections, like your neighbors."

4 Things to Do for Your Career Before Year-End

It's almost November and with that we head into holiday season and the weeks seem to speed up. Before we get to the end of the year there are a few things you should consider doing for your career in order to get 2016 off to a good start.

1. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. You've accomplished some great things and learned new skills this year so be sure to document it by making the necessary changes to your resume and LinkedIn profile. It will also help you be ready in case you decide to start the new year off with a job search.

2. Evaluate your performance. If your employer does not conduct formal reviews or evaluations at this time of year ask your supervisor or manager for feedback on your performance. Get a sense for the things you did well and the areas that need improvement. This will provide you with a clear road map as you enter the new year.

3. Check in with your network. Before everyone gets busy with the holidays take a few minutes to check in with some of your key contacts, including your mentor if you have one. Make sure you are continuing to develop the important relationships in your life and career.

4. Set preliminary goals. Now is a good time to begin to set some goals for 2016. Is it time to look for a new job, find a mentor, or take some classes? Consider what you can do next year to strengthen your skills, increase your knowledge, build your network, and improve your life and career.

Do these things now, enjoy the holidays, and enter 2016 feeling confident and focused!

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 5 Tips to Ace a Job Interview

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, Harvard career services adviser Linda Spencer provides five tips to ace your next job interview.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: What You Need to Succeed

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!

• 8 Tips to Resign from Your Job Gracefully: "If your manager has a track record of taking feedback gracefully and generally makes it safe to be honest, you might consider sharing the factors that led you to look for another job."
• Why You Don't Need to Be Smart or Talented to Succeed: "You don't need to focus on padding your resume or hiking your GPA, you need to focus on understanding and improving yourself."
• Two Things You Should Do After Getting Fired: "Use the experience to learn how to change some workplace behaviors, whether [they're] personality-driven or communication-driven or something else."
• 7 Secrets to Entrepreneurial Success: "Jump past barriers and countless years of indecision by hiring a business partner that gives you the kick you need to stay motivated or a sales representative to get your product out in stores."
• Be Your Own Best Advocate: "So we all need a strategy for everyday negotiations that will allow us to come away not only successful but also still held in high regard by bosses and colleagues."

5 Tips to Work More Effectively and Productively

If you find that your days seem to run into each other and you're constantly working on yesterday's to-do list, here are 5 tips to manage your work day more effectively and productively.

1. Start the day with a tall glass of water and some energizing food. You need energy and strength to be at your best and so it's important to hydrate with water when you awake and to eat something high in protein and low in sugar, in order to avoid a crash later in the morning.

2. Identify your top 3 tasks the night before. Your day should start the previous night or afternoon. At some point in your day identify the top 3 tasks you need to complete tomorrow and write them down.

3. Ignore email and complete your most important task first. Avoid getting bogged down by email early in your day. Save the email for the afternoon and attack your most important task of the day first. Once that is completed you'll experience a great surge of energy and pride in your work.

4. Work in 45 minute bursts followed by a short break. Allow yourself to focus more efficiently by working hard but briefly on your tasks and then allowing time for a short break. If you work for 45 minutes and follow that with a 10-15 minute walk you'll return to your work with more focus.

5. Eliminate everything in your in-box before the day ends. Attack your email and clear out your in-box in the afternoon, once you've completed your most important tasks. Respond to necessary emails and file away those you need to save. Stop working with an in-box empty and you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment and won't spend the evening worrying about the items you need to deal with.

Implement these 5 tips and your work day will be much more efficient and productive.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 3 Resume Myths You Shouldn't Believe

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.

The video below from Fast Company tackles three resume myths that should be discarded.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Steps to Get Promoted Faster

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 Steps to Get Promoted Faster: "If you want to get promoted, then associate with those in your field who have been promoted. They’ve done something right. Habits rub off."


• 5 Ways to Amplify the Good Life: "Really think about and visualize what you’re grateful for. If you write down 'my spouse,' for example, remember a great meal or activity you shared together recently."


• A Simple Formula for Changing Our Behavior: "Practicing a new behavior, showing up in a new way, or acting differently, feels inauthentic. Changing a dance that’s been danced many times before will never feel natural."


• How Successful People Keep Track of Their Best Ideas: "I have a seven-second rule in my home ... I have to be able to reach a working pen and notepad or I risk being distracted and forgetting."


• 5 Mistakes to Avoid as an Entrepreneur: "Customers should be treated with honor and respect, but sometimes they are just wrong."

10 Thoughts to Stay Motivated at Work

We all have those days when getting up for work is difficult. There are many reasons for this: lack of
sleep, too much fun the night before, procrastination on an important project, we're in the wrong job, etc.

So it can help to find some motivation and inspiration to get after it. Below are ten quotes to help inspire you to have a great day at work. Print them out and place them somewhere you can view them every morning.


1. "Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work." --Booker T. Washington

2. "The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today." --Elbert Hubbard

3. "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt

4. "There is no substitute for hard work." --Thomas A. Edison

5. "Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart." --Rumi

6. "To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness." --John Dewey

7. "To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth." --Pearl S. Buck

8. "There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something." --Henry Ford

9. "Work is love made visible." --Khalil Gibran

10. "Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work." --Horace

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 8 Daily Habits That Will Raise Your Game

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.

The video below from Entrepreneur reminds us that it is important to take the time to do the little things, such as reading every day and practicing gratitude.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 6 Ways to Conquer Self-Doubt

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

• 6 Ways to Conquer Self-Doubt: "No matter how you may feel on a given day, believe that you are a professional with a contribution to make."


• How to Get the Most Out of Your References: "Your references can't help you if they aren't in the loop. Once you have received the green light that it is okay to use your reference you need to prep them."


• 5 tips to Accept Constructive Criticism: "Demonstrate with your words and manner that you’re sincerely open to feedback, and people will tell you what you really need to know."


• 30 Second Habits to Boost Your Career and Finances: "As soon as you pour that cup of morning joe, pinpoint your top three—and only three—most crucial to-dos for the day."


• 4 Ways to Satisfy (and Retain) Millennial Employees: "If the employee is working every weekend, it’s time for a bonus. If you really can’t afford a pay increase, look for other ways of rewarding their efforts."

5 Ways to be a Success in Your Career (and Life)

There have been many books and articles written about how to be successful in your career. You could spend the next few years reading through them all but if you put into practice the following principals you'll be well on your way to career and life success.

1. Control your speech. In other words, learn to avoid speaking to others when you are angry or

frustrated. If you receive an email that is hurtful or offensive take some time before crafting your response. It can be very difficult to repair a relationship that has been damaged by careless words.

2. Be humble. Few people want to work for, or spend time with, a boastful individual. Let your accomplishments and successes stand on their own and speak for you. This does not mean that you keep silent about them. They should be noted on your resume and personal web site and you can discuss your successes and strengths with anyone you seek to humbly lead, serve, and support.

3. Acknowledge others. You did not arrive at your successes on your own. Be sure to recognize those who help and support you in your work and life.

4. Be kind. Similar to what has been mentioned so far, kindness toward others will strengthen relationships and enable you to lead effectively. For some encouragement in this watch George Saunders' remarks about kindness at Syracuse University.

5. Make others a success. If you apply your strengths and skills to making those around you successful then you will achieve great things and others will seek you out. You will likely discover that you have many more opportunities than you imagined and others will take note that you work on successful projects. This also applies to your friends and family. Work to make others successful and you will be a great success in life and in your career.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Two Things to Remember for Your Next Job Interview

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, Kate Davis from Fast Company provides two pieces of advice to remember for your next job interview.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Essentials for Thriving in Business and Life

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 Non-negotiables for Thriving in Business and Life: "All great leaders and visionaries have realized that being fearless is part of the recipe for success."


• The Two Types of People in the Work World: "There are only two types of people in the world. People who do what they say they’re going to do when they say they’re going to do it, and people who don’t do what they say they’re going to do when they say they’re going to do it."


• 5 Ways to Make Your Workplace More Efficient: "Unless it's a necessary client meeting or important brainstorm session, nine times out of 10, meetings don't accomplish what they were meant to achieve."


• The Right and Wrong Way to Network: "While we build networks by forming authentic relationships; we nurture them by providing value to others."


• 3 Tips to Make Your Lunch Break Revitalizing: "While building my business, I thought I had to be chained to my desk during lunch. I feared a disaster would occur and it’d serve me right for not being there."