How to make it as an entrepreneur If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, gather a network of well-connected mentors who can teach and inspire you, John Boitnott writes. Keep your customers at the forefront of the business model, become savvy in analytics and learn to negotiate. Entrepreneur online (4/17)Be prepared for change as a leader Leaders should be able to show humility and be open to advice from others when unexpected changes occur at work, writes Cassandra Frangos. Ensure you understand an organizational shift fully, and acknowledge the potential effect on staffers. Forbes (4/16)
Cross-check what your boss has said to you by rephrasing it in your own words, Gwen Moran writes. Try to understand what the end goal might be to clarify what is expected of you. Fast Company online (4/12)
The Landscape
Report: Employers working harder to fill job openings A tightening job market is forcing employers to change the way they hire, with many turning to remote teams and relaxing education requirements to fill key roles, according to a report by The Conference Board. The report also says the US lags other countries in employing people older than 55. Associations Now online (4/13)
Your Next Challenge
Don't discount the importance of references Check with your references first before putting them forward to a recruiter, Hallie Crawford writes. "When it comes down to the short list of possible candidates, reference checks could be the deciding factor in who gets the position," she notes. U.S. News & World Report (4/17)Are you unhappy with your role or the company? Compile a list of your likes and dislikes of each of your job responsibilities to gain some insight into whether it is the environment or the job itself that is bothering you, writes career coach Aurora Meneghello. Ask yourself if you would like more autonomy, if you are learning new skills, and if you are receiving the right type of feedback from your boss and colleagues. Glassdoor (4/17)
The Water Cooler
Suspicious Wi-Fi network prompts police response in Mich. Police were called to a Planet Fitness gym in Michigan when a user noticed that an open Wi-Fi network in the area was named "remote detonator." A staff member called the police, who evacuated the facility and searched it with a bomb-sniffing dog out of caution, but found nothing. CNET (4/16)
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.
