Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 7 Ways You Haven't Tried to Save Money

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.

The video below from The Financial Diet describes seven ways we might not have considered to save additional money. Check out the video for more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 2 Questions You Must Ask in Every Job Interview

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!

• 2 Questions You Must Ask in Every Job Interview: "Think of someone in the organization who really represents the right attitude for this culture. Could you tell me about a time they did something that really exemplifies having the right attitude?"

• 6 Tips for Balancing a Successful Side Hustle: "This feels counterintuitive when you’re insanely booked and everyone needs something from you. But if you don’t step back, think, consider, plan, and evaluate, you won’t move forward."

• Why You Should Exercise Before Work Every Morning: "If you start your day with a physical activity that gets your blood pumping, your brain active, your mind cleared, your metabolism raised, and your endorphins flowing ... you feel far more awake throughout the rest of day."

• 10 Ways to Be More Productive Working at Home: "No matter what else you do, invest in a good computer, a good phone, and the most comfortable and ergonomically correct chair you can find. When you're uncomfortable, it's hard to stay focused and productive."
• The 10 Best Business Books of 2018:"For the entrepreneurs and executives on your gift list, here are 10 great titles to read by the fire."

5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Job Performance This Year

As the year ends your manager or supervisor should not be the only person evaluating your performance. Feedback is great but it’s also important to take time for self-reflection to consider how the year went in order to set goals for next year.

There are many questions you should ask yourself about your job and career (and ask throughout the year) but here are five to get the self-reflection started.

Did I feel energized and enthusiastic about my work experience this year? No one expects you to love your job at every moment but, in general, you want to work in a place that inspires you to give your best. You’ll likely feel more enthused about your career if you believe in the mission of your company and if you are able to implement your strengths and skills in the job.

What new skills did I gain or have an opportunity to develop? Take a few moments to consider the new expertise you gained, the training sessions you attended, and the skills you were able to develop over the past year. If you have difficulty identifying anything here, you might need to look at the opportunities your workplace offers and have a discussion with your supervisor about how to best develop your skills.

Is this where I hoped my career would be by year-end? If not, why not? If answering this question makes you feel stuck or dissatisfied with where your career is now, you might want to make some changes.

Am I in the job or career that I want to be in next year? There are many reasons we take on a job or pursue a career and we don’t always consider our current stop to be long-term. This is a good time to take another look at your career goals and determine whether your current situation best enables you to reach your goals.

What skills can I develop next year that will best help my career and what is the best way for me to obtain these skills? While you thought about the skills you gained in the past year it’s also important to think ahead to where you want to go and understand the knowledge and skills that will get you there. How can you obtain the knowledge, skills, and experience required? Develop a plan for acquiring the skills you need in the short and long-term.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 7 Habits That Are Destroying Your Motivation

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.

The video below from TopThink describes seven habits that hinder motivation, including the habit of perfectionism. Check out the video for more.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 10 Tips to Make 2019 Your Year

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!

• 10 Tips to Make 2019 Your Year:"In the YouEconomy, expertise is your chief commodity. Take an hour this weekend to list out all your areas of expertise, and brainstorm a few ways you can develop each of them further."

• What to do When You're Struggling to Get Motivated: "Instead, the problem usually boils down to confidence. For one reason or another, people don't believe they'll succeed, so they never get started."

• How to Deal with Office Conflict: "Addressing conflicts and working to find mutual goals, together, is the best way to handle clashes and even find ways to collaborate more deeply."

• 5 Books to Read if You Want to Be More Productive: "Sometimes the obvious solution is also the best: Delete the apps from your phone. If everybody did, we’d reduce an incremental creep that makes it harder and harder to resist social pressure."
• 5 Biggest Misconceptions about Remote Work: "the idea of remote work does not appeal to every individual and corporation, partially due to some persisting misconceptions about this kind of work arrangement."

5 Ways to Benefit from the Holiday Party at Work

It’s that time of year again and you’ve just been invited to your company’s holiday party. Before you hit that RSVP button develop a game plan for the event.

The party might seem to simply be a chance to unwind and relax with colleagues, but it can also be an opportunity to add some value to your career and make some headway at your job.

Go into your work party with few objectives such as the following:

Break out of your clique. As tempting as it can be to hang out with those you know, your closest colleagues, take a risk and get to know others in your company. It’s beneficial to know individuals in other departments or area and you never know when that new contact can come in handy. Also make an effort to interact with a boss, manager, or executive you don’t know well. This introduction can lead to a promotion or job move later.

Limit the cocktails. If you drink, set a limit. Don’t be the drunk one at the holiday party who everyone talks about later. Not only will you have earned a reputation you don’t want, and that can hinder future advancement, but the alcohol might induce you to say some things you might later regret. Stay sober and clear-headed and you just might have the types of conversations that demonstrate your competence and enthusiasm for your work.

Be a team player. If your company party involves games or other group activities be sure to participate and join in on the fun. Staying on the sidelines and avoiding the action can lead others to think you approach your work in a similar way and are not a team player or a leader. And as mentioned above, participate in the activity with some colleagues you’re unfamiliar with.

Get personal. Avoid talking about work at the holiday work party. Don’t talk shop. Get to know your colleagues by asking about their children, their hobbies, or their holiday plans. And be a good listener. Remember what you’ve heard and learned about your co-workers.

Go forth. Show up. Don’t blow off the party and dismiss it as unnecessary to your work or career. Others do notice who attends and it can send a message to your management that you are not fully engaged with your work or the company and that is not a message helpful to your career. So, put on that funky Christmas sweater and go have some fun.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 6 Ways to Make More Money

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.

The video below from Brian Tracy discusses six ways to make more money in order to take care of your family. Check out the video for more.