The New Roles of the Human Resources Professional

The New Roles of the Human Resources ProfessionalThe New Roles of the Human Resources ProfessionalSome industry commentators call the function of Human Resources the last bastion of bureaucracy. Traditionally, the role of the Human Resource professional in many organizations has been to serve as the systematizing, policing arm of executive management. Their role welches mora closely aligned with rollenel and administration functions that were viewed by the organization as paperwork. This is because the initial HR functions needed, in many companies, came out of the administration or finance department areas. Because hiring employees, paying employees, and dealing with benefits were the organizations first HR needs, bringing in finance or administration staff as HR staff is not surprising. Administrative Functions and Executive Agendas In this role, the HR professional served executive agendas well but was frequently viewed as a roadblock by much of the rest of the organization. S ome need for this role remains- you wouldnt want every manager putting his own spin on a sexual harassment policy, for example. Nor can every manager interpret and implement the employee handbook as she chooses. Payroll and benefits need administration, even if they are now electronically handled. The administrative functions of the HR department continue to need management and implementation. These tasks are not going away anytime soon. In this role, employees regarded HR as the enemy and going to HR was the kiss of death for your ongoing relationship with your own manager. Employees believed and were often correct, that the HR function was in distribution policy solely to servethe needs of management. Thus, employee complaints often fell on deaf ears in an HR department that existed to serve managers needs. They criticize everything from their education to their professionalism to their support for employees. More importantly, they accuse HR professionals of misleading employees, failing to keep employee information confidential, and exhibiting poor practices in areas such as investigations, benefits options, and hiring employees. In some cases, HR is held in such disrespect that you may want to understand why your employees hate HR. Part of it is, of course, that employees dont always understand what the HR department does. Transformation If the HR function in your organization is not transforming itself to align with forward-thinking practices, executive leadership must ask HR leaders some tough questions. Todays organizations cannot afford to have an HR department that fails to contribute to lead modern thinking and contribute to enhancing company profitability. In this environment, much of the HR role is transforming. The role of the HR manager, director, or executive must parallel the needs of his or her changing organization. Successful organizations are becoming more adaptive, resilient, quick to change direction and customer-centered. Three Ne w Roles Within this environment, the HR professional, who is considered necessary by managers and executives, is a strategic partner, an employee sponsor or advocate and a change mentor. These roles were recommended and discussed in Human Resource Champions, by Dr. Dave Ulrich, one of the best thinkers and writers in the HR field today, and a professor at the University of Michigan. The HR professionals who understand these roles are leading their organizations in areas such as organization development, strategic utilization of employees to serve business goals, and talent management and development. Lets take a look at each of these roles and their impact on HR functions and practices. Strategic Partner In todays organizations, to guarantee their viability and ability to contribute, HR managers need to think of themselves as strategic partners. In this role, the HR person contributes to the development of and the accomplishment of the organization-wide business plan and object ives. The HR business objectives are established to support the attainment of the overall strategic business plan and objectives. The tactical HR representative is deeply knowledgeable about the design of work systems in which people succeed and contribute. This strategic partnership impacts HR services such as the design of work positions hiring reward, recognition and strategic pay performance development and appraisal systems career and succession planning and employee development. When HR professionals are aligned with the business, the personnel management component of the organization is thought about as a strategic contributor to business success. To become successful business partners, the HR staff members have to think like business people, know finance and accountingand be accountable and responsible for cost reductions and the measurement of all HR programs and processes. Its not enough to ask for a seat at the executive table HR people will have to prove that they have t he business savvy necessary to sit there. Employee Advocate As an employee sponsor or advocate, the HR manager plays an integral role in organizational success via his knowledge about and advocacy of people. This advocacy includes expertise in how to create a work environment in which people will choose to be motivated, contributing, and happy. Fostering effective methods of goal setting, communication and empowerment through responsibility builds employee ownership of the organization. The HR professional helps establish the organizational culture and climate in which people have the competency, concern, and commitment to serve customers well. In this role, the HR manager provides overall talent management strategies, employee development opportunities, employee assistance programs, gain sharing and profit-sharing strategies, organization development interventions, due process approaches employee complaints and problem-solving, and regularly scheduled communication opportunitie s. Change Champion The constant evaluation of the effectiveness of the organization results in the need for the HR professional to frequently champion change. Both knowledge about and the ability to execute successful change strategies make the HR professional exceptionally valued. Knowing how to link change to the strategic needs of the organization will minimize employee dissatisfaction and resistance to change. Organization development, the overarching discipline for change management strategies, gives the HR professional additional challenges. Consciously helping to create the right organizational culture, monitoring employee satisfaction, and measuring the results of organization initiatives fall here as well as in the role of employee advocacy. The HR professional contributes to the organization by constantly assessing the effectiveness of the HR function. She also sponsors change in other departments and in work practices. To promote the overall success of her organizatio n, she champions the identification of the organizational mission, vision, values, goals and action plans. Finally, she helps determine the measures that will tell her organization how well it is succeeding in all of this.

How to Make the Move From the Big Four

How to Make the Move From the Big Four How to Make the Move From the Big Four You landed a prestigious job with a Big Four or another accounting firm right out of college. Its not only been exciting to work with other top accounting professionals, but youve also learned a lot about your field - and youve seen a lot of the country while working with various clients.You knew you might leave public accounting eventually, and now youre thinking a move to corporate accounting is right for you.Finding the courage to leave is a challenge for people who have worked for the one of the largest accounting firms in the world, said Ky Kingsley, Robert Half Finance Accounting vice president.They are leaving a prestigious, professional work environment that offers challenging work and a structured career path that includes growth, along with a great network of mentors and peers, she said. It almost seems crazy to leave However, grueling hours and a desire for work-life balance often leads them to look for other opportunities.Striving for work-life balanceIts no secret that corporate accounting jobs typically offer better work-life balance - and that more professionals are expressing a commitment to their personal lives. In fact, more than half of the professionals in a Robert Half study say they have increased their commitment to their personal life in the last year.In industry, compared with Big Four accounting firms, theres less overtime and not as much travel. Some corporations have even started to introduce flexible schedules and work-from-home arrangements for their finance and accounting employees.Other motivations for a changeMany finance and accounting professionals say they are eager for the career opportunity to build their skills outside of public accounting, Kingsley said.Taking the leap from public to corporate accounting can give your career a boost down the line, too When companies are searching for a new controller or chief financial officer, they often loo k for someone with both public accounting and industry experience.If youre ready to make the transition in your career, Kingsley offers the following four tips to ease the career switch1. Time it right and take the right steps Most accounting and finance professionals recommend making the move after two to four years with an accounting firm. Thats when its easiest to jump from staff to senior accountant, or senior accountant to accounting manager.As a first step, many candidates reach out to their own personal network of colleagues and previous supervisors who have already secured positions in private industry, Kingsley said. Sometimes they connect with a trusted recruiter who was probably referred by one of their peers. When working with a finance staffing agency, establish a relationship before you launch your search. The recruiter can provide insights on potential opportunities, be on the lookout for jobs that are a fit and help with timing.Of course, once you identify a great op portunity, you may encounter some challenges.Although most public accounting professionals have excellent presentation and communication skills, Kingsley said, many havent interviewed since college, and they have to balance their extreme workload to find time to interview.2. Call on your experienceWhile working at a Big Four firm, youve had exposure to many different companies and industries. Theres a strong chance youve assisted clients in real estate, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, technology and more. Good news Firms in all of those sectors, among others, are actively seeking accountants.So when looking for a corporate position, first think about your past clients. Take note of the companies where you thrived, enjoyed the work and fit in well with the corporate environment. Then target your job search in those industries.3. Be ready to stretchUnlike public accountants, who work on projects for several different clients, corporate accountants have just one client the org anization they work for. That means they need a much more in-depth look at a companys infrastructure and inner workings.When you work for a company, you dont just focus on tax and audit. You also work on a variety of business strategy issues outside of typical accounting, like budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, and collaborate with the operations and business management teams. While this can be a mountain to climb when you first make the switch, it can be extremely rewarding in the long run You can make a real difference in the companys direction and bottom line.Companies like to hire accountants from public accounting firms, because they have a strong work ethic, expert technical abilities, good presentation and communication skills, and a good deal of flexibility and adaptability. All of these characteristics make for top performers in the corporate world.4. Prepare for salary discussionsResearch prevailing salary ranges for the position you want to move into, taking into account local pay variances and added value your public accounting experience may provide. Look at resources such as Robert Halfs Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance and other industry reports for the latest benchmarks.Also consider the perks offered by the company. Find out if the organization will provide the support, financially or otherwise, you need to earn the CPA (and other relevant certifications) and keep up with continuing professional education (CPE) demands.When you let your firm know youre leaving, do so gracefully and be prepared for the counteroffer discussion. Its generally best to decline the counteroffer. Money likely isnt the primary driver behind your career move, and it wont make up for the reasons youre looking to transition into industry the manager also may simply be biding his or her time until hiring your replacement.Your experience at a Big Four or other public accounting firm can be invaluable, so keep honing the skills you learned there. Theyll give you a leg up as you navigate your new workplace.SEARCH FOR PRIVATE ACCOUNTING JOBS Ky Kingsley Ky Kingsley is vice president of Robert Half Finance Accounting, North America. She joined Robert Half in 2007 and is an expert on career growth and development, hiring trends, and the use of social media in recruitment. She is based in the Los Angeles area.

How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it Burn

How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it Burn How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it Burn How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it BurnHow do forest managers and firefighters decide to fight a wildfire or let it burn?At a time when wildfires have run wild across western North America, the question seems almost irrelevant. In 2018, the Carr fire in northern California engulfed more than 1000 homes and killed three firefighters, while a complex of three fires around Mendocino burned even larger. Together, those two fires consumed almost as much land as the entire state of Rhode Islandand there were many more fires in Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington.The devastation and destruction may bedrngnis end soon. Fire season is getting longer and neighborhoods increasingly stretch into wild land. Yet fire is not inherently bad. Fires are natures way of disposing of dead and rotting trees and clearing brush so that new trees can take root. Paradoxically, suppressing fir es makes the next fire even worse, since it leaves all that fuel on the ground where it can feed a more powerful conflagration.Since 1960, researchers and engineers at the U.S. Forest Service Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, Mont., have used experiments and computer models to learn how fuel, weather, and terrain influence the spread of wildfire. Now that same fundamental science can guide controlled burns of dense forests, leaving flame-resilient ecosystems behind.Listen to ASME TechCast How Engineers Close Communication Gaps with Non-engineers Bret Butler, a research mechanical engineer at fire lab, remembers the summer of 2017, when smoke clogged the skies around Missoula for several months. It was so smoky for so long, it was clear the fires exceeded our technical capabilities to fight them, he says. Were not going to fight our way out of the fire conundrum. We have to reduce the fuel load.Wildfires, started naturally or intentionally, are tricky to predict and control. Each plant provides a unique type of fuel, local variations in wind speed and humidity influence fire spread, and terrain provides few natural boundaries to limit flames.Wind tunnel demonstration at The Missoula Fire Sciences Lab. Image Fire LabThe Missoula fire lab is uniquely equipped to study how those factors combine to change the way flames spread. The most unique part of the lab is a long wind tunnel and a system that alters the temperature and relative humidity of the air in the tunnel. Fans on the labs roof draw outside air through heating and cooling coils to adjust its temperature. The air also passes through misters to adjust the humidity. Interior fans recirculate the air until it reaches the desired conditions, and then direct it into the wind tunnel. A bed of fuel, typically shredded aspen, rests on a table tilted to recreate sloped terrain. Temperature, humidity, and wind speed sensors record the conditions of the fuel as it burns in real time.The lab also has an 80-foot tall burn chamber where engineers explore unusual fire phenomena. A fire whirl spins inside a tall metal cylinder, demonstrating the same physics as a fire tornado during Californias Carr Fire that killed one firefighter. Air entering the cylinder creates a source of vorticity that combines with heat rising from the flames to create a whirling tower of fire. A table covered with sand recreates how fire spreads along the ground. And a tilted table lined with laser-cut cardboard pillars is a test bed for engineers working to develop a uniform fuel for their experiments.Phenomena observed in the combustion labs also happens when engineers study experimental burns in forests. When wildfire burned a portion of Banff National Park in Canada, the fire management team allowed Butler and his colleagues to do some experimental burning on an isolated portion of the fire. The team mounted a video camera on a slope to capture footage of the advancing flames. As the flames moved uphill, the terra in blocked air flow to the leading edge of the fire, creating an area of low pressure ahead of the flames. Meanwhile, convective heat from the flames pyrolyzed hydrocarbons in unburnt logs. The pressure difference sucked the cloud of gaseous hydrocarbons into the flames, and the flammable gas ignited. As the flames engulfed the logs, the cloud of smoke switched direction to move with the flames.Flames naturally travel quickly up sloped terrain, and a change in wind direction can also speed their advance. In the 1994 South Canyon fire in Colorado, a change in wind direction trapped firefighters ahead of oncoming flames, killing 14. The analysis of that event was the impetus for developing a computer model for high entschlieung wind information, Butler says.The model, called Wind Ninja, takes regional wind speed data from the National Weather Service and predicts wind speed and direction over 100-m areas. This localized wind information overlaid on a topographical map provides importa nt clues about how wind and terrain could influence fire spread.Butler has updated this model to incorporate more physics than the original version first developed in the 1960s. But he has found that the older model works better in the field. It runs on a laptop and delivers results quickly, enabling managers to make rapid decisions on where to send their crews each day.Butler has also used the labs models to anticipate fire spread when a fire broke out in West Glacier National Park, near a stand of old-growth red cedar. He ran simulations with various wind conditions. Fire managers trusted that they did not need to devote resources to protecting it. By the time the flames were extinguished, the cedar stand had not burned, Butler says. The same strategy of simulating wind conditions can be used to find optimal conditions for a controlled burn, he adds.Melissae Fellet is an independent writer.Read More Introducing the Worlds Most Powerful Tidal Turbine Racism Runs Deep, Even Against Robots AI Camera Improves Sight in Autonomous Vehicles

Finance Internship Cover Letter Example

Finance Internship titelbild Letter ExampleFinance Internship Cover Letter ExampleIf you are an undergraduate applying for an internship in the finance industry, youll likely need to write a titelseite letter. Find out what information to include in your letter and review a sample. What to Include in a Finance Internship Cover Letter The first paragraph of your letter should mention the specific internship you hope to get. Many financial companies have large-scale internship programs, with opportunities ranging across departments and divisions. Specifics help as well, so mention the name of your school if you are an undergrad or in graduate school. If you have a personal connection- for instance, if you know someone at the company or met the recruiter at a job fair- be sure to mention it in the first paragraph. In the body of your email, include details on relevant coursework or projects, as well as previous finance-related work experience, volunteer positions, or prior internshi ps. Your letter should demonstrate your familiarity with the company and its goals, and make it clear why you would be a good candidate for the internship. Read through the internship description carefully and make sure to connect your experience with the responsibilities and qualifications laid out. If this is your first internship, you may feel like you dont have any relevant experience to highlight. If thats the case, look for the qualities and responsibilities mentioned in the internship description, and come up with examples of how youve demonstrated those abilities in the past. Be sure to format your cover letter properly and, before sending your cover letter, proofread it carefully. Paying attention to these details can make a big difference in how your message is received. Finance Internship Cover Letter Example The following is an example of a cover letter written for a finance internship program. Use this for inspiration when writing your own cover letter. Finance Inte rnship Cover Letter Example (Text Version) Your NameAddressCity, State Zip CodePhone NumberCell Phone NumberemailleDateNameTitleCompanyAddressCity, State Zip CodeDear Mr./Ms. LastNameThrough ABC Financial Groups website, I learned about your banks present career opportunities.I am extremely interested in securing a position in the ABC Financial Groups Global Equity Summer Internship Program.I am currently in my second year at the Smith Business School of the State University and am concentrating in finance, accounting, and real estate. Over the summer I completed an internship with First National Bank, and am currently interning with the Universitys Student Federal Credit Union.My experiences have provided me with a detailed knowledge of financial institutions and have enhanced my interest in pursuing a financial career. I feel that an internship with ABC Financial Group would be a logical next step in my development as an investment banker.My main interest in joining ABC Financial Group stems from its impressive reputation. The prestige of the firm is best captured through its recent decoration as Americas Most Trusted Corporation for the second consecutive year. I feel the firms diverse clientele, large market capitalization, and well-established summer internship program would provide me with an invaluable experience to complement my studies at Business School.I believe that I would succeed in the firms exciting and motivated environment and that my strong work ethic, ability, and passion would make me a valuable asset to your firm.I would prefer to work in global equity. However, I am willing to consider any position that you offer me. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you in the near future.Sincerely,Your Signature(Hard Copy Letter)Your Typed Name Expand Sending an Email Cover Letter If you are sending your cover letter via email, list your name and the job title in the subject line of the email message SubjectFinanc e Internship- Your Name Include your contact information in your email signature, and do not list the employer contact information or the date. Instead, begin your email message with the salutation. Aside from these relatively minor differences, an email cover letter is very similar to a printed-out version. The body of your email, from salutation to sign-off, will remain the same.

These 5 Résumé Mistakes Are Hurting Your Job Search

These 5 Rsum Mistakes Are Hurting Your Job SearchThese 5 Rsum Mistakes Are Hurting Your Job SearchAs a former hiring manager who now helps clients with their own hiring, I look at a lot ofrsums. Day after day, I see job candidates severely harming their own chances by submittingrsumsthat do a terrible job ofhighlightingtheir qualifications and making it easy for employers to spot why they might be the right person for the job. Frustratingly, fruchtwein people are making the same small number of easily fixable mistakes. I cant write back to these candidates to tell them to clean up theirrsumsif they want a better shot at a jobbut I can tell you These arethe five fruchtwein frequent mistakes I see and what you should be doing instead1. Writing arsumthat reads like a series of job descriptions.This is by far the most common mistake job applicants make. In the bullet points candidates use to describe what they did at each job, they only list activities, such as edit documents, collect d ata or manage website.As a result, these bullets read like a job descriptions.While this method describes your jobs, it doesnt convey what kind of employee you were, which is what employers care most about. After all, someone could engage in those activities and do a mediocre job, so yourrsumshould convey that you excelled. That means you should be talking about yourachievements what you accomplished, what the outcomes of your work were and what made you shine in the role. Its the difference between managed billing and completely revamped client billing system to ensure bills are now sent out on schedule or resolved an inherited four-month backlog of invoices in three weeks.2. Leading with your education, even though its been years since you graduated from college. Once you have some work experience, employers care most about what your work history has been and what youve accomplished. Your education is a distant second, so lead with your work history and save your education for the end. In fact, even if youre a new grad, if you have relevant work experience, you should lead with that. (Some fields are an exception to this, but if youre in one of them, you probably know it.) 3. Giving a long list of core competencies. Its fine to have a section that lists your skills, but too often people throw everything they can think of into this section, resulting in laughably long lists of skills that most hiring managers end up ignoring. If you choose to list skills on yourrsum, they should be hard skills that are truly distinguishing, like software programsnot subjective self-assessments, such as strong communication skillsor works well in groups and independently.Instead of listing your skills, demonstrate how youve used them, via the bullet points describing what youve done at each job. That way, you can frame it in terms of what you accomplished with the skill, instead of just noting the skill itself. Also, if you do decide to retain this section, please call it some thing other than core competencies, which is jargon that tends to makes hiring managers eyes glaze over. Calling the section skills is fine.4. Including so much info before your work experience that it doesnt start until the bottom of the page. Sometimes job seekers load theirrsums with so much extra information that their work history doesntstart until the bottom of the page or, worse, a second page. The thing that employers care most about when reviewing yourrsumis your work experience. You want it to be the first thing they see, so dont bury it deep intothe document.5. Mentioning every job youve ever had, no matter how long ago or irrelevant to what you do now. Arsumisnt supposed to be a comprehensive accounting of every job youve ever had. Rather, its a marketingdocument that you should edit to present yourself in the strongest possible light. That means that you may not need to include every job youve ever had or jobs from two decades ago. Focus on more recent work (the last 10 to 15 years) and the work that most closely relates to the job youre applying for.Alison Greenwrites the popularAsk a Manager blog, where she dispenses advice on career, job search and management issues. Shes the author of How to Get a Job Secrets of a Hiring Manager, co-author of Managing to Change the World The Nonprofit Managers Guide to Getting Results and the former chief of staff of a successful nonprofit organization, where she oversaw day-to-day staff management.

The War Against Soft Skills to Put on Resume

The War Against Soft Skills to Put on Resume Mainly because soft skills cant be easily taught. While hard skills necessary to successfully perform technical tasks in a job, they are necessary to create a positive and functional work environment. In the majority of instances, your soft skills can boost your hard skills. As stated earlier, assessing soft skills is quite a bit more difficult. Soft abilities, on the flip side, arent simple to quantify. They are not that measurable. They are the skills that apply to every job. If you are in possession of a wide selection of technical abilities, however, your abilities might wind up being precisely what gets you hired. Assess how good youre at every one of your abilities and talents. Interpersonal communication abilities. Soft skills are vital to your career and because you search for jobs. On the flip side, soft abilities, also called interpersonal or social abilities, are those that you have as personal qualities or you get thr ough professional experiences. Hard skills are quantifiable and frequently learned from school or at work. 3 First, you must plektrum the best skills for your resume. Get the Scoop on Soft Skills to Put on Resume Before Youre Too Late Sales and Marketing Youll require a number of skills to be prosperous in a sales role, and youll have to be in a fleck to demonstrative those skills to prospective employers. Listing your skills provides a chance to showcase your abilities and experiences to prime employers for the remainder of your resume. If your aim is to be the top applicant for any specific position, you should touch upon both of these regions in your resume. In reality, there are dozens and dozens of skills you may have. If you wish to showcase your organization skills, acquiring a tightly structured resume certainly helps. You should notice recurring themes and perhaps even direct mention of several skills that must be prosperous. The placement of your skills section is also a rather important matter to take into account. If youre asking for a position that demands an extremely particular set of skills like a technical or engineering job, then the employer will probably want to realize that youve got the correct hard skills first. The skill section may be the most important section on your resume if you place it together correctly. The skills section of your resume must encompass all your finest qualities and attributes in a brief summary. Resume writing can be a challenging job, and it can be hard to understand what things to include and what to leave out. In the summary, you wish to include as several of the skills from the work ad as possible and those you will reference throughout the remaining part of the document. Hard skills to put on a resume are things you could do that are especially associated with the job in question or the industry youre going to be working in. Soft skills are a little more vague and open to interpretation. Y our skills are an overview of what you could do for the possible employer if you were offered the work at the moment. They should be complete now, and youll need to determine the format you want to use to include them on your resume. Review their About Us page and see whether your soft abilities or attributes are aligned with the businesss core values.

3 Ways to Rediscover Your Passion for Sales

3 Ways to Rediscover Your Passion for Sales A schlussverkaufperson who has lost their passion is like a writer who has lost their pen. In both cases, someone lacks the tool they need most, making ithad to stay motivated and accomplish goals.Passion matters in sales. Passionate sales people believe in their products and strive to help customers reach their goals. Unfortunately, many aspects of a sales career can quickly turn passion into turmoil. Your workplace environment, management team, changing personal priorities, and even a new job search can easily drain you dry.The loss of passion doesnt just impact you inwardly. It creeps into your ability to move product and effectivelyadvance in your career.When a once-motivated sales pro feels stagnant, the workday and the job search can become painstakingly difficult.Dont worry. Your passion for sales isnt necessarily gone for good. When your passion tank starts to dip toward empty, use these tips to fi ll it back up 1. Ignite Your Entrepreneurial SpiritEntrepreneurs are arguably mora connected to their work than anyone else. Theyre self-motivated, enthusiastic, and directly connected to their customers.As a sales pro, youre already a bit of an entrepreneur. Youdirect your own schedule, work withyour customers, and are motivated by tangible, immediate outcomes.During a stressful period, such as a job search, its easy to lose that entrepreneurial spark. Give yourself the power of an entrepreneur by adopting a new perspective on each challenge you face. Find creative ways to solve issues, and get your employer on board with practical solutions.If being in the office is dragging you down, ask for a few days to work from home or go on the road. Alternatively, you can re-inspire yourself by taking some long-overdue personal time and jetting off on an exciting vacation.No matter what you choose to do to reenergize, find something that maximizes your productivity and, above all, reminds y ou why you started a career in sales in the first place. 2.Find the Right AppThe sales industry can feel lonely, especially when youre on the hund for a new job. The competitive nature of the field, combined with the complexities of noncompete clauses, can make it a challenge to rely on friends for support or references. You may even need to keep your most trusted mentors in the dark as you try to find a new job without rocking the boat.Take advantage of the technological world were living in and turn to an app instead. No matter what youre up against,theres an app for that. Some of our favorites includeForestAvailable on iOS and Android, the Forest app usesinspiring visuals to keep you focused. You can plant a virtual seed and watch your tree grow.If you get sidetracked and exit the app, your tree will whither away.If you want to keep your tree growing, youll need to put your phone down and work on something else instead like that job search.Wonderful DayAlso available on both iOS and Android, Wonderful Day is all about helping you create the best habits for your life. Simply make a list of all the habits you want to keep and dont allow yourself to break the virtual chain.Gratitude Negativity is infectious, and stress only makes it worse. Luckily, positivity and gratitude are just as spreadable. Gratitude, available foriOS,helps you rewire your brainin only five minutes each day by listing everything for which youre grateful. 3. Prioritize Your ValuesIf youre like our MedReps members, work/life balance and a strong product line are non-negotiable when it comes tofinding the right employer, as our 2018 Best Places to Work reportfound.If these things arent as important to you,thatsokay. The key is to get your own priorities straight, whatever they may be. Itll be impossible to rediscover your sales passion unless you know what youre looking for in your career.Develop a chart to list your product passions, non-negotiables for employers, needs in your current jo b, and personal needs. By adjusting your daily to-do listso that it better aligns with your chart, youll become more motivated to reach out to current customers and find direction in your job search.Karyn Mullins is presidentofMedReps.com.Connect with Karyn onFacebook,Twitter, andLinkedIn.