High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Why You Should Consider Freelancing in 2017

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!

• Why You Should Consider Freelancing in 2017: "One of the best ways to start freelancing is while you have a job. Begin taking on projects that are not a conflict of interest with your current employer."

• 5 Steps to Personal Greatness: "Self-affirmation is a matter of choosing what we focus on. If others talked to us the way we sometimes talk to ourselves, we would avoid them. It can become easy to degrade ourselves, sometimes subliminally."

• 8 Paradoxical Habits of Wildly Successful People: "Successful people seem to have limitless energy when it comes to doing the things they’re passionate about, but they aren’t frantic. They can keep that energy under control."

• 5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Getting a New Job: "If an employer isn’t on the same page as their new hire regarding what they’re expecting of him or her, that will certainly cause a rift in the relationship."
• 9 Ways to Kick Off the New Year With a Bang: "The New Year offers an opportunity to reboot, reorganize, start over, and do the things you’ve been putting off way too long. Be patient with yourself. You have all year to accomplish your new goals."

4 Things to Do Once You've Been Promoted

So, you got the big news: all the hard work has paid off and you've been promoted to that job you've been coveting and working toward for months. Now what? This isn't a time to kick back and relax.

Take the following steps to continue your career momentum:

1. Celebrate and be grateful. Yes, you certainly deserve to celebrate your accomplishment. Enjoy that night out with friends and family and be grateful. And then be grateful every day. You'll want to remember the importance of being thankful on those days you question if you really all the responsibility of this new job.

2. Listen and Learn. Begin to listen to others you'll be working with and for. Hear their frustrations in the job, along with the things they enjoy and the processes that are going well. Begin to understand your role and how you can best support those around you, in addition to considering how to best apply your strengths and knowledge to the new position. Learn as much as you can from others and seek to serve those you work with, particularly those who report to you.

3. Find an ally. Often when a promotion occurs it means that at least one other person you'll work closely with was passed over for the job. These can be tricky situations and so it's important to find someone to discuss issues and concerns with. Find an ally and a mentor to help you move through the transition to your new role, especially in those early months when emotions are raw and everyone is still finding there way around the new structure.

4. Give yourself some slack. You'll make mistakes. That is a given. You'll need to learn how to quickly move on from your mistakes, own them responsibly, and learn from them. Learning from mistakes does not mean that you spend hours dwelling on them in an attempt to get things right. A good leader knows that you need to let your decisions go and move on.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 15 Ways to Improve Your Work Ethic

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, Patrick Bet-David discusses 15 ways to improve your work ethic, starting with being predictable every day. Watch the video for the additional fourteen tips:

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: The Top 5 Ways Work Changed in 2016

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!

• The Top 5 Ways Work Changed in 2016: "In April, New York and California both enacted legislation to progressively raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next few years. That proposal gained prominent support on the campaign trail."

• 9 Things to Do When You're Feeling Burned Out: "Part of the high level of stress and burnout that we currently experience is the intense connectivity and demand for attention placed on us by the supercomputer in our pockets. By checking emails, social media and text messages every few minutes, it’s easy to burn out"

• 7 Ways to Live With Job Stress That Isn't Going Away: "Recognizing the first signs of on-the-job-stress is crucial to finding ways to cope with it. Focus on your core goals, organize yourself correctly and establish a routine of calming your nerves so you can be sure to keep anxiety in check."

• 3 Ways to Increase Productivity While On a Team at Work: "recognize that what feels 100 percent correct and true to you is no more important than what feels 100 percent correct and true to someone else – even (or especially) when the truths are not the same."
• When You Want to Be #Boss (and Beyond) Reach for These 10 Books: "But the thing I wish someone had told me sooner is that you can learn a lot about being a leader today from reading books."

4 Things to Bring to Your Next Job Interview to Set You Apart

You've been called in for that job interview you've been hoping for and have spent hours preparing for it. You've considered the questions you might be asked, identified your strengths, and role-played the interview with a friend.

Well, what else can you do to prepare and stand out?

Bring the following 5 things with you to your next job interview and you'll be sure to shine, even if you don't get the job.

1. A positive attitude. When you head out for the interview be optimistic and friendly. Greet everyone you meet at the company with a smile and a warm "hello". Meditate before the interview and repeat a positive mantra to yourself on your way to the interview, while you wait, and even during pauses in the interview. Simply repeating something simple like "I've got this" can boost your mood and help relax you for an effective interview.

2. Confidence. If you've spent some time preparing for the interview and you've brought a positive attitude then you should feel confident. Sit straight while waiting for the interview and don't fidget. Avoid staring at your phone or playing with a ring or other piece of jewelry. When in the interview room lean slightly forward to show interest in your interviewer and be sure to look them in the eye.

3. A compliment. Be prepared to share something you like about the company you're interviewing with. Demonstrate your knowledge of their work by complimenting a recent innovation, product launch, policy, or practice. But be sure to make it specific, accurate, and heart-felt.

4. Curiosity. Use this opportunity to learn everything you can about this possible employer. Pay attention to the place from the moment you arrive, observing the parking lot and landscaping. What does that tell you about the company? If they have a lobby, is there art work there or is it boring and sterile. Observe how the people dress and interact. You can learn a lot about a company by simply observing its employees converse and the design of the work place. Of course. bring your curiosity into the interview and ask relevant questions of the interviewer.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 5 Steps to Live a Life You Love

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 Brian Tracy, he shares five steps to living a life you love, starting with listening to your heart. Watch the video for the additional four steps:

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 4 Reasons You Hate Networking and What to Do Instead

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!

• 4 Reasons You Hate Networking and What to Do Instead: "see if you can find events in your area that pertain to your area of expertise or professional interest while combining a social or recreational element."

• 5 Tips to Create Your Best Future: "Gather your facts, balance short-term gains with long-term growth and make a call. Then live with the results."

• 9 Things Ultra Productive People Do Every Day: "In other words, they do the least appetizing, most dreaded item on their to-do list before they do anything else. After that, they’re freed up to tackle the stuff that excites and inspires them."

• Why More Millennials Are Choosing Blue-Collar Jobs: "Employment in the trades is booming, and might even offer better pay than some positions for which a college education is a prerequisite."
• Profit Sharing Boosts Employee Productivity and Satisfaction: "These feelings of reciprocity are often linked to perceptions of fairness and justice underpinning the exchange between labor and rewards, and they can generate organizational commitment and loyalty in a way that a simple bonus or raise cannot."

5 Ways to Use Twitter to Benefit Your Career

Social media engagement can offer excellent opportunities for finding a job or strengthening your career. You're likely familiar with using LinkedIn, and perhaps have even used Facebook to find a job, but Twitter also offers some useful ways to benefit your career.

1. Follow those you're connected to on LinkedIn. You can use Twitter to supplement your efforts on LinkedIn. Check the profiles of your most significant connections to see if they are on Twitter and, if so, follow them. You can even create a list specifically for your LinkedIn connections. Then engage with these people on Twitter: like their tweets, re-tweet them, and comment, as appropriate. 

2. Follow prominent leaders in your field. Seek out the thought-leaders and champions in your industry, follow them, and comment on their tweets. Not only will you learn more about your field, but you might just end up with a new mentor.

3. Share your knowledge. Become a resource for others by tweeting out articles of interest in your field, sharing your ideas and experiences, and engaging with your followers.

4. Search relevant hashtags. Stay up to date in your field by searching on topics of relevance or to be in the know about job postings. It's as simple as searching for #[industryorfield]jobs, such as #publishingjobs or #marketingjobs or #salesjobs.

5. Join a career-related Twitter chat. Search for career chats or hashtags on career topics to learn when a chat is happening and then join in to learn something new, contribute your expertise, and build your network.   

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 10 Tips to Manage Your Time

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 Entrepreneur identifies 10 tips for managing you time better, including blocking access to social media during parts of your work day. Watch the video for more great tips:

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Answer "What Did Your Last Job Pay?"

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!

• How to Answer "What Did Your Last Job Pay?": "You don't have to give up your past or current salary information to anyone during your job search, but in order to keep those details to yourself you'll need to be prepared."

• 3 Necessary Follow-Ups to Get the Job: "Here are some key things you need to do to keep your job search up to date and moving forward."

• 25 Best Habits to Have in Life: "The early morning hours are a time for peaceful reflection and ample productivity, where the world is still and asleep, allowing you to focus wholeheartedly on your long-term goals."

• The Stage in the Hiring Process When Job Seekers Have the Most Leverage: "Regardless, there’s generally a sense of urgency somewhere in the organization for the position to be filled. Someone is in pain because you’re not there yet."
• 10 Reasons Why Every Office Needs Plants and Flowers: "Although it is not the first thing that most people think of when looking for ways to improve efficiency and the quality of their work, plants can actually help to improve productivity levels."

5 Things to Do On Your Holiday Vacation From Work

The holidays are upon us and with it, if you're fortunate, will be a week or two away from the work place.

You should definitely use that time to unwind and relax, while avoiding any stressful thoughts of work or overdoing it with the eggnog.

However, time away from the job can provide an opportunity to evaluate where you are and where you're headed and prepare you for future success. If you'd like to relax on your holiday vacation and also be productive, here are five things you can do:

1. Work on developing a new habit now. Don't wait until January first to start your new routine, whether you want to do yoga in the morning, or go for a run. Get a jump on it and it will be part of your life by the time you return to work.

2. Read a good book. Check out a great read from your local library, perhaps something in a field you're interested in but no very little. This can help generate your creativity and spark ideas that you can take with you back to the office.

3. Connect with an old friend. It's fine to share Facebook posts or messages on twitter but make an effort to meet up with a friend in person, or over the phone if they live out of state. Reconnecting will boost your spirits, increase your energy, and might even lead to deepening your networking contacts.

4. Get a lot of sleep. This is likely on your agenda but sometimes the busyness of the holidays, with family and social events, can keep us running around and needing a break. Be sure to take some time for yourself. The holidays provide a great opportunity to kick back, sleep in, read a good book, or binge-watch that show you've been missing.

5. Set some goals. What do you want the coming year to look like? Take a look at your life and career situation and consider what changes you need to make in order to have a great year. Refer back to point 1 and implement a new habit now, rather than waiting until January 1st.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 14 Things Ridiculously Successful People Do Every Day

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 Entrepreneur identifies 14 practices that you can implement in your life that will lead to more success, such as focusing on one thing at a time or delegating almost everything. Watch the video for more great ideas:

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Personal Obstacles That Limit Your Success

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 Personal Obstacles That Limit Your Success: "You cannot wait until you have the perfect plan before taking action. You need to simply dive in and take a few risks."

• 3 Signs You May Not Be Open to Professional Feedback: "Maybe you already do know how to handle the task well, but if those kinds of responses are your standard regardless of the situation, you may make it hard for others to offer suggestions."

• 5 Ways to Become the Person You Aspire to Be: "Most people settle for less. And many of those same people will also convince you to settle for less."

• What Young Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Powerful Media Mentors: "Judith as my mentor has shown me, you need to take the time to develop your message, your goal, the results that you wish to expect."
• How I Use Facebook Groups to Grow My Business: "I try to stay in my lane, so to speak, and only engage on topics that are central to my business in order to effectively manage my time in the Facebook groups I've joined."