How to shift your job search for 2025 | Yes? No? Leaders need to be decisive despite uncertainty | The value of genuine decency in the workplace
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January 30, 2025
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Getting Ahead
Adaptability is crucial in the evolving job market -- with many of today's fastest-growing roles not existing 25 years ago. Job seekers should identify in-demand skills and industries, assess their transferable skills and explore opportunities in emerging fields to stay ahead, suggests LinkedIn career expert Catherine Fisher.
Full Story: Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (1/30) 
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Yes? No? Leaders need to be decisive despite uncertainty
(LaylaBird/Getty Images)
Leaders should project confidence even when they don't know all the answers to avoid coming across as tentative or indecisive, writes Joel Garfinkle, an executive coach who says hesitation can be perceived as a lack of leadership even if it stems from thoughtfulness. "Decisiveness isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present, intentional and willing to take action, even in the face of uncertainty," Garfinkle writes.
Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (1/29) 
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Tracking your accomplishments is a crucial step in refreshing your career, writes Téa Angelos, founder of Smart Women Society. Use a simple document or spreadsheet to record your achievements regularly. This practice boosts your confidence and provides evidence for promotions or job applications -- showcasing your value and growth.
Full Story: The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (1/30) 
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Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, emphasizes that character should be prioritized over skills when hiring. He argues that while skills and experience are important, character traits like decency and integrity are essential for team cohesion and a positive workplace.
Full Story: CNBC (1/29) 
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Making the Connection
Feedback is crucial for organizational success and building a culture of trust, and in a more day-to-day view, it also helps employees find deeper meaning in their work, writes Rachel Pacheco, an executive advisor and professor of management at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. Pacheco says feedback can help employees master skills, it offers insight into why the work matters and it helps employees feel seen.
Full Story: Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (1/24) 
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The Landscape
Federal workers offered buyouts in workforce shakeup
U.S. Capitol Building (Anadolu/Getty Images)
President Trump has offered federal workers who do not want to return to their on-site offices a buyout option if they resign by 6 Feb. Employees who accept the offer will receive pay and benefits through September 30. This move, which could save the government up to $100 billion annually, excludes military personnel, Postal Service workers, and those in immigration and national security.
Full Story: The New York Times (1/29),  Axios (1/28) 
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The Water Cooler
Super Bowl ad prices soar to $8 million for 30 seconds
(Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Super Bowl commercial prices have reached $8 million for a 30-second ad for the first time, driven by strong demand from tech companies promoting generative AI products and pharmaceutical brands. Fox Sports has sold more than 10 ads at this rate, with categories such as beverages, autos and quick-service restaurants maintaining a strong presence.
Full Story: Ad Age (link gifted) (1/29) 
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SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Actor-turned-race-car-driver Paul Newman's first professional win at the SCCA Class D level was in a car built by which manufacturer?
VoteChevrolet
VoteFerrari
VotePorsche
VoteTriumph
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I haven't the slightest idea how to change people, but still I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out.
David Sedaris,
writer, humorist
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