Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Advice for Making Networking Events Less Awkward

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

In the video below, Rich Bellis from Fast Company shares tips for making networking events less awkward.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Learning from Failure and One Strategy 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 and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below from Entrepreneur, author, Navy SEAL and editor of SOFREP.com Brandon Webb tells about learning from failure and shares the best business advice he ever received.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

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

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• How to Lead Like Abraham Lincoln: "Historical figures like President Abraham Lincoln prove that compromise can be gained in the workplace even in the most difficult of circumstances."


• What to Expect for Your First Job: Fact vs. Fiction: Here are the "most common rumors about your first job and let you know whether they’re fact or fiction."


• 1/3 Work in Fields Related to Their Childhood Dream Jobs: "LinkedIn surveyed professionals globally to find out the most common childhood career aspirations and how many professionals currently have their dream job."


• 10 Bits of Career Expert Advice You Want to Ignore: "While we all heed advice from time to time to learn and grow, it is good to be reminded that not all 'expert' advice is good."


• The Lessons I Learned from My Favorite Boss: "We asked workers to share stories about the best bosses they’ve ever had and what they learned from those leaders that still influences them today."

Where Good Advice Should Come From

Wednesday morning I was in the gym on a rowing machine, going through my repetitions, when I was approached by a woman. She approached me because, she said, she noticed some errors in my form; specifically, I was putting all of the work in my arms and flailing my elbows out from the sides of my body. She recommended that I keep my elbows in, and work harder to pinch my shoulder blades back to really focus on my back. I thanked her and told her I appreciated her advice. She smiled and went on her way.

The woman who spoke with me didn't look like Jillian Michaels, Denise Austin, or any other female health guru that you might have heard of. She was actually older (about a grandmother's age), short, and-to be completely honest-slightly plump. You wouldn't expect her to know much about exercising, let alone how to properly row. But she did, and after I made the adjustments that she suggested, my back muscles were burning in a way that I didn't expect.

We have the notion that good advice-espeically career advice-has to come from a source that meets some kind of visual, experiential, or aesthetic standard. Those who look thin and healthy are the best at giving health advice. Those with PhDs are experts in their academic fields and the best at dispensing advice in those areas. A government agency-like the Food and Drug Administration-is the highest authority on what do eat. 

But, oftentimes, we can dismiss good advice because it comes from a source that judge to be unworthy: an annoying coworker, a younger person, a neighbor, or someone outside our career field. The "package" that the advice comes in supersedes what is said…and we miss lessons that could propel us ahead much further than we had anticipated.

This week, challenge yourself to open up to new sources of advice or guidance. We are being sent messages all the time, important messages that can significantly shape our careers. What messages did you receive? Please share them in the comments below. 

Post Grad Advice: You Need Your Own Ride to Land Your Own Job

Being a post grad is tough. Whether you have a job or are still searching for one, you need a vehicle to get around. If you don't have reliable transportation, you won't be able to land or keep a job. Yet how do you go about getting a car with a limited income? Coming right out of college, you probably borrowed a car or used your parent's cars. You probably didn't even need a car if you lived on campus. Yet now you're faced with loans and car payments and scary "real world" problems.

Recently, my father gave me a deadline of sorts. I must get a new car by June. It doesn't matter if it is a new, used or leased car, I just have to do it. Even though I've lived in an apartment away from my parents, I've graduated college, I work, this seemed like such a big adult step. A post grad first of sorts. I had been dreading shelling out all that money, doing the research and honestly I had no idea where to start. I didn't know all the steps involved and I didn't even really want to think about it. Now that I've done it, here's what I learned, which any post grad can relate to:

1. Figure out your "must haves". This can be different for everyone. For example, I know many people who work for Chrysler so I wanted to have an American-made car. I wanted a car with better gas mileage because I drive a Jeep and feel like I'm constantly blowing money at the gas station. You may want other things, such as a certain color or heated seats. Decide what options are non-negotiable and which ones you can forget about due to cost.

2. Take a look at your options. First you must decide how much you can realistically spend on car payments each month. You may pay rent or still live at home. Take a look at your income and expenses each month and determine a number you'd be comfortable paying each month for a car. Don't forget about insurance costs, taxes and gas too!

3. Research the differences between buying a new car, buying a used car and leasing a car. Determine the best option for you. For example, if you choose to lease, you can get a new vehicle every two years but you have to be extra careful and keep it very clean and you never own it. A new car versus a used car is obviously wear and tear and cost.

4. Once you decide, go to a dealership or ask around to see if you know anyone selling a car. Try to go to a dealership when they are closed at first to take a look at the vehicles you may be interested in without a salesperson hounding you. Write down a few vehicle numbers and look them up online as well if you are able to find out more information or cost.

5. If you want to buy new or used, visit your bank or credit union to talk about a loan. Sometimes they can tell you how much you would be approved for and at what interest rate before you decide on a specific car. If you've decided what car you want, fill out an auto loan application, most of which you can do online these days. Make sure you set up some insurance before you buy as well. You can get auto insurance quotes on most insurance websites to shop around.

6. Once you're approved for a loan or decide on a lease you can afford, visit your dealership. It is a good idea to bring a parent or family member you trust that has experience buying cars. They can help you haggle a lower price or just give you advice so you don't get screwed over by a pushy salesperson.

7. When you get your car, be proud of yourself that you figured it all out! Take good care of it and pay your monthly payments on time each month to establish good credit as a young adult.

8. Now that you have your own ride, you can feel more comfortable about being an adult and keeping or finding a great job!

What advice do you have for post grads looking to get a new car? Please comment on this post below!