Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The Importance of a Positive Work Environment

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 Jason Balin and Chris Haddon from Hard Money Bankers discuss the importance of a positive work environment.

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."

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.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Positive Work Environment, Women and Careers

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!

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• Be the Architect of a Positive Work Environment: "Always start from a place of trusting that your colleagues are capable and competent. Have faith that they will support you as much as you support them. In most cases, people will rise to meet your expectations and trust will continue to blossom naturally."

• 5 Ways Employees Should Prepare for the Workplace of the Future: "Make sure that your social media profiles reflect the best professional version of you, and that your social network reflects your real network."                                                        
• How Women Can Use Friendships to Boost Their Careers: "Friends who are in the same field or are members of a professional organization would be ideally suited to make introductions to other members and professionals, like executives."


• 7 Simple Tips to Grow Your Social Network: "[I]t is not enough to simply create a great profile, you have to join the party and interact with people. The best way to do this is to produce regular up-dates (initially maybe once a day or a few times a week)."


• The Graduation Advice We Wish We'd Been Given: "A great way to be more resilient is to stop comparing yourself to other people, and compare yourself to your own past performance — last week, last month, last year. Are you improving? That's the only question that matters."