Top Soft Skills Employers Seek

Top Soft Skills Employers SeekThe experts at The Savvy Intern polled members of an organization calledthe Young Entrepreneur Council to binnensee what specific soft skills they look for in their team members and which traitsevery aspiring new hire should work to develop. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are the top results of their surveyCuriosity, Teachability, and DriveDavid Ciccarelli of Voices.com wants someone whos curious and hasa passion for learning.Motivation, Attention to Detail, and a Positive OutlookOrange Muds Josh Sprague says these qualities represent such potential for excellence, they can even vault a worthy candidate past the entry level gig they originally applied for.Communication, Adaptability, and a Proactive MentalityThe ability to express yourself, the flexibility to embrace new challenges, and a willingness to go above and beyond are what count at Recruiter.com, according to Miles Jennings.Energy, Positivity, and HeartObinna Ekenzie, formerly of the NBA and currently with Wakanow.com, looks for the same attributes in his employees as he used to see on the court. Youve got to want it and have the vitality to go after it.Empathy, Curiosity, and AttitudeFor Perks Consultings Lauren Perkins, its all about the willingness to understand other people, bring in your own perspective, and see opportunities where others see only obstacles.Comb through your job and life experiences to find anecdotes that illustrate your abilities in each of these soft-skill areas, and youll be an unbeatable asset to any company lucky enough to have you.

5 Critical Mistakes Most Women Make Before Going on Maternity Leave

5 Critical Mistakes Most Women Make Before Going on Maternity Leave Theres a lot to remember when planning for maternity leave. Many moms spend most of their time addressing the frontend of thingsthe tasks that must be done before we go on leave.We set a date (or let baby do it for us) and try to check off all the boxes on our to-do list. We leidify colleagues and clients of our impending absence. We write the transition memo. We leave notes in the calendar and on strategically placed Post-its.We work at rapid fire pace like college students burning through finals week to get to spring break. However, in all the excitement, there are some things that may fall by the wayside.Here are five mistakes most expecting moms make before takingmaternity leave and how to avoid them.1. They forget to divide commission.If any portion of your income involves commission, youll want to enkoranvers everyone is on the same page regarding who will be receiving what from the clients youve handed off whi le you are away.Much of this will depend on the arrangement you have you with employer. For example, if you are a personal injury attorney and have worked with a client for a year, you would likely feel invested in a case that closedwhile you were on leave and feel you deserve some compensation.On the other hand, if you had only worked on a matter for a few months and your replacement did all the heavy lifting on a trial win or settlement, youd likely feel less invested but perhaps still entitled to a percentage of the sum.Therefore, you should know what to expect regarding the division of commission while you are on leave. Speak with your employer about from your share. Dont pry regarding what percentage your replacement may receive for their work, but do learn whether your absence may affect your own.2. They forget to communicate the division of work upon theirreturn.Another thing you should do before going on leave is establish what your workload will look like upon your return. Will you receive all your assignments back at once? Will you want all of them back at once? Will you have a say regarding how slowly or quickly you receive your projects back?3. They forget to arrange lactation accommodations.If you plan to breastfeed your child and think you will need to pump at work, discuss this with your employer and arrange for lactation accommodations.Sure, there is a chance your plans to breastfeed may not pan out, but you will want to have these accommodations in place on your first day back if you do breastfeed. You wont want to worry about arranging them while you are home recovering from childbirth and learning how to take care of your baby, and you wont want to have to worry about it on your first day back.4. They forget to make flexible schedule requests.Many working moms find a flexible schedule useful during the early months following their return from maternity leave, and some enjoy the flex schedule even longer. Having a day completely off or workin g from home one or two days each week helps many working moms transition back into work.Talk to your employer about whether this could be an option for you. Even if your employer doesnt have an official plan in place regarding flex scheduling, having the conversation may help initiate one.Again, you may end up not needing it, but having the option available may help ease your transition back to work later.5. They lack communication with their colleagues.Establish expectations regarding the type of contact you expect to have with your employer and colleagues while you are on leave.If you plan to have visitors from work during your leave, you should make sure everyone is on the same page regarding acceptable work talk.Maybe youll want to hear all the latest office gossip or maybe you wont. Maybe youll want your colleagues to contact you with whatever questions theyhave in your absence or maybe youll want them to avoid you like the plague unless its an absolute emergency.You may even c hange your mind during your leave, but you should still set the tone before you go.In any event, be sure to take the time to focus on you and your new baby. The work will still be there when you return. Happy Maternity Leave--Candace is a practicing attorney, working parents advocate, freelance writer, and proud mom. Her legal practice focuses on workers rights. She can be found writing about law, motherhood, and mora on her blog as The Mom at Law.