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.

Feeling Stuck How to Make Your Old Job Feel New

Feeling Stuck How to Make Yur Old Job Feel New According to a recent survey from Mental Health America (MHA) and the Faas Foundation, 71 percent of US workers are thinking about leaving their jobs or actively looking for new opportunities. An equal number of employees in the survey said they speak poorly about their company to friends and family.If youre feeling dissatisfied and frustrated at work, a common reaction is to start looking for new opportunities elsewhere. But what if it were possible to createa job anda life you love by simply tapping into a goldmine ofprofessional development opportunities right where you are?Such opportunities to make your old job feel new and to grow in the process are everywhere. It is only a matter of finding and embracing them. Moreover, looking for opportunities where you are is a wiser approach than looking for a new job when dissatisfaction arises.Doing so teaches you how to create your own sustainable happin ess by taking charge of your attitude, your energy, and your time. Youll gain a deeper understanding of yourself, and youll cultivate mora engagement wherever you are now and wherever you might go in the future.Take Lorelei, for example, whom I met while working on a study on the use of positive psychology tools to help healthcare workers deal with burnout. A mid-career doctor with young twins, Lorelei felt frustrated at work. A workload of 70 patients per day, patient satisfaction surveys, technology on the fritz, and insurance conflicts can leave a doc feeling like they are going through the motions.All the work bleeds together, Lorelei told me. More than that, part of feeling so burned out is that Im losing enthusiasm for my job.It was clear that Lorelei had lost her flow, that state of mind where you are energized by and completely absorbed in what you are doing. You experience flow when you are doing work that fuels your vision for what you wantin your career and life.To help L orelei re-ground herself, we began by focusing on her goal to reclaim the joy of her work that is, helping patients while taking charge of how she integrated her work and her life as a single mom.Lorelei was regularly bringing work home with her, which stole precious time she would otherwise spend with her family, use to exercise, or simply use to rest.To help Lorelei achieve this goal, we created a practice, which James FlahertysCoaching Evoking Excellence in Othersdefines as behavior done again and again with the zweck to improve. Insimple terms, a practice is a new habit one commits to developing when they want more joy from their life or work.At first, Lorelei was skeptical that she could commit to a regular practice. After all, she had no time or energy to begin with So, Lorelei started with three small but achievable practicesPausing as she worked with each patient to notice something positive she could admire about the person.Writingin a gratitude journal for a minute or tw o at the end of each day.Committing to a close out the day practice.After several months of these practices,Lorelei felt renewed satisfaction and even moments of genuine joy. For example, during a challenging conversation, Lorelei noticed that one patient had beautiful copper hair. This small observation humanized the person, putting Lorelei back into a positive mindset.Its pretty simple, but it helps me reclaim my energy during the day, she says.Another difficult patient spoke toLorelei gruffly about a scheduling and insurance mix-up. As her frustration welled,Lorelei realized she was assuming the patients gruffness was an excuse for the mix-up. She decided to ask questions of the patient instead of jumping to conclusions.I took it as a learning opportunity for myself when I realized that I could have helped prevent the situation, Lorelei says.Instead of bringing the negative energy home with her that night,Lorelei reflectedon her day in her journal.Maybe Lorelei will work for anot her organization someday, but if she had left her current employer when we met, she would have taken her unhappiness with her. No matter where you go, there will always be too much to do and too little time. By tapping into the opportunities to grow within your current workplace, you open yourself up to greater self-knowledge, more flow, and more engagement. You create your own greener pastures.Here are some tips for creating the work and life you love1. (re)Locate Your Flow by Practicing GratitudeMake your practice specific. Gratitude is a powerful medicine when you feel stuck. It is the strength most associated with life satisfaction, happiness, achievement, building better relationships, and improvements in psychological and physical health, according to The VIA Institute on Character.Lorelei didnt have much time to spare, but she took five minutes every day to write in her journal about three specific areas of her work life. This helped her focus on and benefit from her gratitud e practice. To follow in Loreleis footsteps, write about these things in your gratitude journal- One thingfor which you are grateful today-A specific interaction with a colleague, customer, or boss about which you feel good- One pearl of wisdom you gained today2. Choose How You Spend Your Time and Energy With IntentionSo many facets of work and life feel like they are beyondour control. When you take charge of how you spend your time and energy your two most precious resources you will boost your effectiveness, enjoy life more, and carve out the timefor yourself. Lorelei chose toset aside15-minutes at the end ofeach day to reflect and prepare for the next. What kind of pause would help you feel more in control?3. Never Leave a JobInstead, create and go toward your next opportunity. Make a date with yourself to write and dream about the life you want to create. This is the foundation of your personal vision, a picture of what you want that is so powerful you feel it in your gut.Whe n you feel stuck, look around your desk, your team, your department, and your organization. Identify an opportunity that would help the organization achieve a goal or solve a problem. What project or task could you take on tohelp the organization? How would that fit into your vision? To whom can you talkabout your idea?4. Look for Opportunities to Provide Valuable ServiceIf youre not getting enough career development, determine what you could do to help your manager or team improve performance. Look for the sweet spot between what you want to add to your resume and what your team needs.5. Focus on the FutureScan the horizon at your organization for what might be needed next, keeping in mind where you want to steer your own ship. Create your own opportunities for growth and development instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you.Lisa Prior is the founder of Prior Consulting and the author of Take dienstgrad of Your VIEW Career Advice You Wont Get from Your Boss (Nexus Impres s LLC, July 2017).

3 ways to have a life when you spend hours commuting daily

3 ways to have a life when you spend hours commuting daily3 ways to have a life when you spend hours commuting dailyIts easy to feel like you spend your entire life in the car, on a bus or on a train when it takes you hours to get to and from work each day. By the time you make it to where youre going, your energy is all used up. Too bad you cant use that feeling as an excuse when you make it work.This can have wide-ranging effects, in fact,research has found that adding 20 minutes to your commute is like getting a 19% pay cut.That being said, here are three ways to feel like you have a life when traveling to and from the office takes up too much of your time.Be spontaneous about your plans every once in a whileDont wait until the weekend comes to make plans. Sure, you might be a social schmetterlingsschwimmen outside of work and your lengthy commute on those days, but you might miss out on something fun if you always wait until Saturday or Sunday.So be the person who makes the plans for once. The next time you have to decline an after-work event with friends or coworkers, make sure to come up with another idea for getting together in the near future. Then, invite everyone and see who can make it.Work from home when youre able toThis can open up some free time to work out in the morning or during a break from work, but the saatkorn goes for when you sign off for the day. Working from home can also free up an evening for dinner with friends and/or family during the week.But dont let your living space hold you back - organize your home, work area in a way thatll boost your productivity.If you have to wait until the weekend, make it a fun oneWeekends are for catching up on rest and running a bunch of errands, but if you cant make weekday plans, you should give yourself something to look forward to when the work week is over. Do the heavy lifting early so you can do something else that you actually you enjoy.Soget back in touch with friendswho you havent seen in a while. Show them that youre still invested in the friendship you share. Theyll probably appreciate hearing from you. Plus, who knows? They may be feeling the same way, which is why you shouldnt be afraid to take the initiative.Doing something enjoyable on the weekend is another way to break up a monotonous, hectic week of commutes.

3 Resume Best Practices

3 Resume Best Practices3 Resume Best PracticesWith the advent of modern technology, job seekers in todays day and age are leaps and bounds beyond the old school, type-written resume. The limitations of the tools of the past may have made formatting a breeze, but they didnt exactly allow for personalization or that little bit of flair when applying for the job of your dreams.A quick Google search for resume templates will pull up more options than a have-it-your-way hamburger joint. While the wealth of resources to start your resume journey may be tempting, this is one of those instances where getting back to basics will serve you better. Read on as we discuss the fundamental three best practices to help set yourself up for job-hunting success. Focus on AccomplishmentsLets face it, the hiring manager or resume screener is going to have a plethora of options for each and every open position. If youre a savvy candidate, or simply someone who likes being employed, its in your interest to put the best foot forward and talk about the strengths and accomplishments that set you apart from the crowd.When discussing your prior experience, focus on the goals that youve hit, the milestones achieved and the major projects youve aced. If youre in a sales industry, mention how you led your district or consistently overachieved when it came to hitting your numbers. In a similar vein, provide real data on items such as the number of team members you managed, clients you facilitated or percentage of increase in growth during your tenure.Tailor Your ResumeAnother core quality of a successful resume that stands out is a thorough review of the job description, role, and company before submitting. Tailoring your resume for each individual position youll be applying for will allow you to make the pitch to vermgen employers that youre the exact right candidate for this specific role. You dont have to start from scratch altogether, either. Even small, nuanced changes in language or a f ocus on one specific set of skills called for in the listing can make all the difference when your prospective employer is reviewing dozens or hundreds of other applicants.ProofreadWhether you choose to go for the old school chronological format or spice things up with a more narrative approach, one of the quickest way to see your resume, and candidacy, end up in the recycling bin is the inclusion of grammatical, spelling, formatting or other errors and mistakes. Give your resume a solid twice over before hitting that send button. Better yet, ask one or two trusted friends or professional colleagues to help put a fresh pair of eyes on the document. This will not only eliminate costly mistakes, but it could also provide substantive feedback on how a third party views your skills and qualifications.While the interview room is where youll eventually win or lose the job of your dreams, its the resume that is your first introduction to a potential employer. Following these three resume b est practices will help you ensure that youre invited to the dance in the first place and are solid pieces of advice, regardless of job industry or resume style.

Susan Kendzulak - The Balance

Susan Kendzulak - The BalanceSusan Kendzulak - The Balance

Do You Meet the Requirements to Be a Police Officer

Do You Meet the Requirements to Be a Police OfficerDo You Meet the Requirements to Be a Police OfficerBefore you fill out that application to be a polizze officer, there are a lot of things to consider. Besides the important questions of whether or leid this may be the right career for you or whether you can handle the emotional, mental and physical rigors that come with a day on the job, theres one important question on which your entire career hopes will hinge are you qualified to be a law enforcement officer? Few would disagree that not just anyone can be a cop, but what exactly are the qualifications you have to meet before you can become a police officer? Reasonable Regulations In the United States, each state sets its requirements that prospective police officer must meet to be hiredor even to attend a police academy. The reason is to ensure - as best as possible - that the right people are doing the job. Considering that officershave the authority to make arrests and use f orce, not to mention the fact that they have access to large amounts of sensitive and private information, naturally, the public has a vested interest in making sure that the people holding these positions be trustworthy. To the extent possible, state requirements for law enforcement officers are designed to provide a minimum baseline that departments must follow in hiring officers. So What Are the Requirements to Be a Police Officer? Specific requirements will vary from state to state, but they generally follow the same pattern. Typically, to qualify to be a police officer in the United States you must Be at least 19 years old (some states and individual departments may require you to be 21 or older)Be a United States citizen (either born or naturalized)At least a high school graduate and often have some collegePrior military service, a college degree or other relevant work experienceHave a valid driver licenseNot have been convicted of or plead no contest to a felonyBe of good moral characterBe physically capable of doing the jobBe fluent in the English language What Do the Requirements to Be a Police Officer Mean for You? Most of the standard requirements to work in law enforcement are objective and easy to interpret for example, you either are or are not old enough, or you either have a driver license, or you dont. On the other hand, there are a couple of requirements that may leave you wondering still whether or not youre qualified for the job. About determining whether you are of good moral character, states dont usually have a list of behaviors that are or are not okay. Instead, they rely on general principles, such as your past criminal history, defaulted loans or other debts, or previously undetected crimes (crimes that you committed, but werent caught). Individual law enforcement departments are usually left to make the determination on whether or not your moral character is up to their standards, which is why they conduct such stringent back ground investigations and may require a polygraph exam and a psychological exam to determine your suitability for law enforcement. With regards to whether or not you meet the physical requirements for the job, the first step to finding out is by seeing a physician and getting a physical exam. You can also learn about the specific physical testing employed by your department of choice - whether a physical abilities test or a physical fitness assessment - and see how you measure up. That can give you an idea of where youre at, as well as where you need to be to get qualified. What If You Dont Meet the Qualifications to Be An Officer? Law enforcement isnt for everyone, but that doesnt have to mean that youre out of options. Depending on why you dont qualify for a job as a police officer, there are many other career options within criminology and criminal justice for you to choose from. With a little research and solid effort, you can find the right criminology career for you.