Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag Writing A Book On LinkedIn

Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag Writing A Book On LinkedIn Over the last couple of months Ive been working on a book that I hope will bring knowledge and encouragement to many. Its about LinkedIn (from a users perspective but not a users manual). While Ive never done this before Im guessing that Ill be able to wrap things up and get the first draft sent off by next week. But I need some help! I would love to get more feedback, ideas and advice from you! You can leave it as a comment here but PLEASE send me an e-mail also (Jason@JibberJobber [dot] com). Heres what Im looking for: Most important thing to know about LinkedIn, as a user: what is the one piece of advice that you would give me, as a new LinkedIn user? Or a casual user that does not take advantage of all the cool bells-and-whistles? Top 5 list of things I should know: similar to the first bullet point but this time you dont have to choose just one thing. If you want you can give me a bonus sixth point Stuff to not do: are there things where you spent your time or money and wished that you hadnt? What are pitfalls to avoid? What you wish you had known when you first got started: I had only 6 connections for a few months and found LinkedIn to be very lonely and useless. There are a lot of things I wish I would have understood when I first got started. What can you share? What are some excellent resources that others should know about: Scott Allens recent Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn may be one of the best single online resources yet but do you have a favorite? Still dont get it: if you dont get LinkedIn, have tried it, havent tried it or are just plain unsure what the value it let me know! What are your concerns and questions, what have you tried (or not tried), etc. Just as I do on my JibberJobber testimonial page, Id love to give credit where I can. So please think about what your signature area would be so I dont have to guess (or misrepresent). One final note: Id love to include your stuff in this book! But I need to have you fill out an authorization form please be aware that Ill shoot you an authorization form as soon as I can (so make sure I have your e-mail address!). Thanks a ton, this will be a pretty busy week for me as I work on wrapping this up please send me your thoughts and ideas as soon as you can! Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag Writing A Book On LinkedIn Over the last couple of months Ive been working on a book that I hope will bring knowledge and encouragement to many. Its about LinkedIn (from a users perspective but not a users manual). While Ive never done this before Im guessing that Ill be able to wrap things up and get the first draft sent off by next week. But I need some help! I would love to get more feedback, ideas and advice from you! You can leave it as a comment here but PLEASE send me an e-mail also (Jason@JibberJobber [dot] com). Heres what Im looking for: Most important thing to know about LinkedIn, as a user: what is the one piece of advice that you would give me, as a new LinkedIn user? Or a casual user that does not take advantage of all the cool bells-and-whistles? Top 5 list of things I should know: similar to the first bullet point but this time you dont have to choose just one thing. If you want you can give me a bonus sixth point Stuff to not do: are there things where you spent your time or money and wished that you hadnt? What are pitfalls to avoid? What you wish you had known when you first got started: I had only 6 connections for a few months and found LinkedIn to be very lonely and useless. There are a lot of things I wish I would have understood when I first got started. What can you share? What are some excellent resources that others should know about: Scott Allens recent Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn may be one of the best single online resources yet but do you have a favorite? Still dont get it: if you dont get LinkedIn, have tried it, havent tried it or are just plain unsure what the value it let me know! What are your concerns and questions, what have you tried (or not tried), etc. Just as I do on my JibberJobber testimonial page, Id love to give credit where I can. So please think about what your signature area would be so I dont have to guess (or misrepresent). One final note: Id love to include your stuff in this book! But I need to have you fill out an authorization form please be aware that Ill shoot you an authorization form as soon as I can (so make sure I have your e-mail address!). Thanks a ton, this will be a pretty busy week for me as I work on wrapping this up please send me your thoughts and ideas as soon as you can! Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag Writing A Book On LinkedIn Over the last couple of months Ive been working on a book that I hope will bring knowledge and encouragement to many. Its about LinkedIn (from a users perspective but not a users manual). While Ive never done this before Im guessing that Ill be able to wrap things up and get the first draft sent off by next week. But I need some help! I would love to get more feedback, ideas and advice from you! You can leave it as a comment here but PLEASE send me an e-mail also (Jason@JibberJobber [dot] com). Heres what Im looking for: Most important thing to know about LinkedIn, as a user: what is the one piece of advice that you would give me, as a new LinkedIn user? Or a casual user that does not take advantage of all the cool bells-and-whistles? Top 5 list of things I should know: similar to the first bullet point but this time you dont have to choose just one thing. If you want you can give me a bonus sixth point Stuff to not do: are there things where you spent your time or money and wished that you hadnt? What are pitfalls to avoid? What you wish you had known when you first got started: I had only 6 connections for a few months and found LinkedIn to be very lonely and useless. There are a lot of things I wish I would have understood when I first got started. What can you share? What are some excellent resources that others should know about: Scott Allens recent Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn may be one of the best single online resources yet but do you have a favorite? Still dont get it: if you dont get LinkedIn, have tried it, havent tried it or are just plain unsure what the value it let me know! What are your concerns and questions, what have you tried (or not tried), etc. Just as I do on my JibberJobber testimonial page, Id love to give credit where I can. So please think about what your signature area would be so I dont have to guess (or misrepresent). One final note: Id love to include your stuff in this book! But I need to have you fill out an authorization form please be aware that Ill shoot you an authorization form as soon as I can (so make sure I have your e-mail address!). Thanks a ton, this will be a pretty busy week for me as I work on wrapping this up please send me your thoughts and ideas as soon as you can!

Sample Resume For Nurses With Experience

Sample Resume For Nurses With ExperienceA sample resume for nurses with experience should include only the necessary information to show a prospective employer why you should be hired. The important thing is to have your resume written by a professional writer who knows what the requirements are and how to keep them in mind when writing your resume.When writing a sample resume for nurses with experience, you need to keep in mind that this information is relevant to the job you want. A nursing position is very different from other job positions because it requires different skills and abilities. In a medical facility, nurses tend to be all over the place and on call all the time. They must be able to help patients quickly.Experience in operating a small clinic or hospital can help you land a job as a nurse who provides emergency room care in a city with only one hospital. You will need to demonstrate that you are an efficient, capable and able worker who will do whatever it takes to g ive the patient the care they need. This means you should take every possible step to ensure that your resume covers all of the bases and gives the best impression to the prospective employer.Another item to include in a sample resume for nurses with experience is education. Before you apply for a position at a medical facility, you need to make sure that you can show that you have completed a minimum of four years of education. While most schools offer associate degrees, if you are not qualified for bachelor's degrees, consider other options. Showing that you have completed an associate degree may prove helpful in increasing your chances of being hired.You should also include information on your work experience. Work experience and education are not the same thing. Some employers prefer to hire someone with training and knowledge about their field and some would prefer someone who already has some experience in the field. Whatever you are looking for, make sure you include it in yo ur resume.Nurses must show that they have extra-curricular activities like volunteer work or school-related clubs. These things are an additional plus for many employers. In addition, keep in mind that some employers may consider academic honors such as a doctoral degree or other degrees that show you have considerable knowledge about the subject.If you have a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree, or a post-graduate degree, consider how these types of credentials could help your recruitment efforts. A record of these types of accomplishments can help a prospective employer recognize the level of expertise you possess and enhance your chances of being hired. It can also help build the credentials needed to secure your future employment.Keep in mind that your resume must contain only the information you are required to provide for an application. Anything else is irrelevant and unprofessional. A sample resume for nurses with experience should serve as the outline of the resume you sho uld use when applying for jobs at medical facilities.

Questions to Ask Before Buying Gold Bullion

Questions to Ask Before Buying Gold Bullion While you may have thought that investing in bullion was only for the wealthy, nowadays many people are considering adding it to their financial portfolio. However, if you’re new to investing in precious metals, you may be unfamiliar with how this process works. Never fear, if you ask these questions and follow these tips, you’ll soon be on your way to investing in good just like the professionals. Why should I buy gold?  The financial economy is uncertain and often the best time to purchase gold coins is when premium rates are lower. Since 2013, rates have lowered and it’s still a fine time to invest.   In addition, physical gold is generally seen as insurance, something put away in case of an emergency. Where should I buy I buy gold?  Research trusted gold dealers such as City Gold Bullion. Read their reviews and see what they include. Do they include personal customer service and buy back, in case a customer wasn’t satisfied for any reason. What is better to invest in: coins or bars?  Technically, bullion coins retain the status of legal tender because they are created by that government’s mint.   These coins include specific and detailed designs, and some change yearly. Often, bullion coins are more collectible than bars, but you need to use caution and make sure you’re getting the actual melt value and not overpriced for a “collectible” value. On the other hand, bullion bars are precious metal shaped into rectangular slabs and produced by private mints. They are not legal tender but they are a good way to buy pure silver bullion at a lower spot price without paying inflated premiums.   While coins may sometimes be easier to trade in an uncertain economy, bars are often easier to store, which makes them appealing for beginning investors. How much money should I invest in bullion coins? Typically, you should include physical gold in around five to 10 percent of your financial portfolio. If you just beginning, invest at least half of your money in one-ounce Silver round.  These are nearly 100% pure gold and the rest in well-known gold bullion coins. Speaking ofWhat kind of gold coins are the best to invest in?  If you’re going to invest in gold coins, choose ones that are well known and are created by the Perth Mint, the Canadian Mint, or the US Mint.   Some popular coins include the Canadian Maple Leaf, the South African Krugerrand, and the British Britannia coins. In addition, these coins and certain bullion bars are actually recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) making them a wise investment. How can you figure out the correct premium rate?  The formula to calculate the premium includes subtracting the spot price from our quoted price and dividing it by the spot price. After that, multiply the answer by 100 and you’ll have your premium percentage. You should strive to buy gold bullion as close to the current spot price as possible. Or only go over it by a few percent.   The economic trends will often cause the spot price to alter so pay attention to it.  Where is the best place to store my gold? Since gold is such a fragile metal, it needs to be taken care of properly. For a cheaper storage idea, you can buy a safety deposit box at a private depositary. If you ever need a coin for financial reasons, it’s easy to retrieve. Make sure that you have knowledge about gold investment. This is one way for you to make sure you won’t get ripped off when dealing with gold buyers and sellers. Images: Main  Eric Golub   Coins  Anthony Joh

13 Creative Ways To Boost Your Creativity

13 Creative Ways To Boost Your Creativity Creativity makes the world go round.   It brings us the movies that we watch, the Netflix shows that we binge, the books we read and the fancy new foods you’re just dying to try. Creativity is also a great way to set yourself apart from your associates and co-workers in the professional world, but occasionally we need a boost to help light that creative fire in our hearts. To help you get started, we’ve gathered a few ways â€" both orthodox and otherwise â€" to help you boost your creativity and help you think outside the box. Make Time We all live super busy lives, and sometimes it can be hard to find a little bit of time in the day to help foster your creativity. The first step you need to take to boost your creative heart is to make time. Get up early, stay up late or use your lunch break to write, draw, create or just try something new. Also, once you’ve made time, it’s important to jealously defend it â€" if you let people infringe on your creative time, you’ll never get anything done. Crank up the Tunes    Music is almost always tied to creativity, since the very act of making music is a creative one. The Mozart Effect, for example, suggests that listening to Mozart or other classical music might help to improve your ability to perform mental tasks. If classical isn’t your thing, just find the music that inspires you to create. Spotify has a couple of playlists, like Creativity Boost or Brain Food, that might help you get started. Write By Hand Writing by hand might take longer, but it has a great number of benefits, including helping you be more creative. If writing is your creative outlet of choice, this is a fantastic way to boost your creativity. You’ll be in good company â€" famous writers like Neil Gaiman prefer to write their first drafts by hand. Add Alcohol   Adding alcohol to any situation might seem like a good way to liven things up a bit, and it’s definitely a great way to boost your creativity â€" when used in moderation. Scientists have been studying the effects that alcohol has on creativity for years and found that when a person’s blood alcohol level is around 0.75 or the equivalent of three drinks, they tend to be more creative and think more broadly. Just don’t drink too much â€" no one likes the aftereffects of too much alcohol. People Watch This one may seem a little stereotypical, but you’d be surprised how helpful sitting in a coffee shop and just observing the patrons can be. One study also found that sitting in a coffee shop or other public place can be helpful due to the level of ambient noise in the area. While loud noises can be distracting, the gentle hum of normal human activity can actually help improve your creativity. Daydream Letting your mind wander is a great way to look at ideas from a new perspective, as well as getting away from your everyday stressors. Contrary to what your elementary school teachers might have told you, daydreaming is actually essential to a healthy and active mind. Daydreaming gives you a way to utilize your mind’s capacity to create while you’re doing other, more menial tasks, like filing paperwork or washing dishes. Reward Yourself Sometimes the easiest way to get started with a creative project is to set a goal and reward yourself. Do you need to write 1,000 words? Set your goal for 500 and treat yourself to a candy bar or an episode of your favorite show when you reach that goal. By setting small goals and rewarding yourself, you’ll find that you’re more motivated to continue creating, making it much easier to reach your final goal. Free Writing Also known as a brain dump, free writing can be a great way to get all of your creative ideas down on paper so you can sort them out. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, punctuation or revisions. In fact, writing by hand is a great way to free-write because you don’t have those little red squiggly lines under every word that you’ve misspelled. If you’re having trouble getting started, consider picking out a random writing prompt to give you that spark you need. Meditate   While this could fall under the same category as daydreaming, meditation is a more mindful practice that has surprising benefits on the creative psyche. Scientists have found that open-monitoring meditation can prime the mind for the generation of ideas. Basically, it helps you create a blank slate where anything is possible. As an added bonus, meditation itself has a ton of health benefits too. Read This tip can be summed up in four simple words: Reading stimulates the brain. Tyrion Lannister, from George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series said it best: “… a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” Books are exercise for your brain, and the more you exercise your mind, the easier creative endeavors will become. Sit in a Box Yes, you heard that right. Go find a large box and sit in it. We use the phrase “think outside the box” as a metaphor for creative thought, so if you’re having trouble thinking outside that box, then change your perspective â€" go sit in it. Sometimes looking at things from a different point of view can really help get those creative juices flowing. Talk to People Try using you friends, colleagues, co-workers, or even random strangers as sounding boards when you’re starting a new creative project. Just like how sitting in the box can change your perspective, each individual you talk to will have a new and unique perspective of their own to offer. It’s kind of amazing how you can ask the same question of 10 different people and get 10 totally unique answers. Color Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore. Adult coloring books are super hot right now, and for good reason. In addition to being a major anxiety-reliever, they’re also great at helping you to up your creativity. So grab your crayons or colored pencils and pick up one of these awesome adult coloring books with designs that will help you clear your mind and make room for all kinds of wonderful new ideas. Each of these tips and tricks can help get your creativity back on track, but it’s important to remember that your personal take on creativity is uniquely yours and that should be cherished and nurtured. In the words of the immortal Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel â€" “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!” Take that you and use it to create something wonderful!

Skills Section on Resume - Put Up The Skillful Skills Section On Your Resume

Skills Section on Resume - Put Up The Skillful Skills Section On Your ResumeIt is very important to know about skills section on resume. You need to carefully read skills on the resume and make sure that you know all about the necessary skills on your resume. If you are just looking for basic skills and no knowledge in a technical field, you should go with basic skills. However, if you are someone who wants to enhance and become knowledgeable in a certain profession or industry, then you should try to include technical skills to your resume.You should not be afraid of putting up skills section on resume. You need to properly set the bar for yourself so that you can easily be hired. Otherwise, you will end up running away from the interviews only to realize that you do not have any skills to offer in the job interview. Be prepared with the right skills section on resume so that you can easily land the job that you want.The skills section on resume should have essential skills for the position that you are applying for. It is good to note that the skills of a person are directly related to the position that he or she is applying for. For example, if you are applying for executive level job, then you should be aware of the technical skills of the executive that you are applying for. You need to have managerial and management skills so that you can easily get the job done.The skills section on resume must have three essential skills for the executive level position. First is for the legal skills; second is for the knowledge skills and lastly is for the technical skills. This is actually a different skills section in resume.It is also important to note that the applicant must know the main function of the skills and work experience section. The second paragraph of the skills section on resume should clearly describe the benefits of each skill that you mentioned in the resume. If you mention more than one skill, then you must also mention the difference between the s kills that you listed in the skills section and the skills that you listed in the work experience section.The best place to put up the skills section on resume is on the first page. You can also put it in the middle of the resume.Do not leave out the technical skills. It is because if you do not put in the technical skills, then your interviewer will not get the idea of what you are good at and what kind of job skills you have. Moreover, the technical skills are actually needed in order to understand what you are supposed to do in the given situation. So, put in the technical skills in the resume.Moreover, it is also good to apply online for the job that you want. While doing this, you must take into consideration the skills section on resume so that you can easily highlight all the skills you can possibly show on the resume.

Social Disruption - How Job Search has Changed - Career Pivot

Social Disruption - How Job Search has Changed - Career Pivot Social Disruption Social media has caused widespread disruption of the hiring process. The hiring process is very broken. Anyone who has searched for a job or has had to hire someone knows this is true. The primary culprit of this disruption is social media and technology. Let me give you some history. Twenty Years Ago â€" 1995 Twenty years ago, when you wanted to find a new job, you looked in the newspaper or professional journal. The Internet was in its infancy. You filled out a paper application or faxed your resume. Yes…that dreaded fax machine. You then sat by the phone (remember the ones with cords?) for a phone call from the recruiter or a hiring manager. Confirmations and rejections came on paperâ€"definitely not texts. Remember those days? Ten Years Ago â€" 2005 Ten years ago is when the disruption started. Social media was in its infancy. You searched for jobs online. Monster.com was created in 1999. Indeed.com was created in 2005. Most companies listed their jobs online. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) were being used by most major corporations. Jobvite.com, one of the major providers of ATS technology, was incorporated in 2003. The hiring process was automated. You could find job postings online. You filled out applications via online forms. You waited for an e-mail, rather than a phone call, to see if you would be interviewed. Listen to the most recent episode Nothing had really changed in ten years, except that the process was automated. The problem was that it became too easy to apply for jobs. Companies were inundated with applications. This has been growing over the last ten years. When a job was posted in 2013, companies received an average of 100 applications. In 2014, this had grown to 180 applications per posted position. Today â€" 2015 Depending on who you talk to, 50-80% of jobs are never posted or advertised. Why are so few jobs listed online? There is no need. Posting a job on LinkedIn, Monster, or Careerbuilder is expensive. Why post a job when you can source your needs instead? Sourcing? Wikipedia defines Sourcing as: Sourcing is a talent management discipline which is focused on the identification, assessment, and engagement of skilled worker candidates through proactive recruiting techniques. Professionals specializing in sourcing are known primarily as Sourcers; but also Internet Recruiters, Recruiting Researchers or Talent Scouts. Sourcing specialists search the Internet for the best talent. They look in: Social Media â€" Primarily LinkedIn, but also Facebook, and Twitter. Social media provides the bulk of candidates. Resume databases â€" Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed and other websites. Companies have been searching these websites for years. Applicant Track Systems (ATS) â€" Many companies have collected hundreds of thousands of resumes within their ATS databases. Specialty websites like Github.com where users can display work product. Think of this like Pinterest for software. Companies may still post jobs on their website for a variety of reasons: Corporate policy â€" They may have already identified an internal candidate, but they always post the position publicly. To collect resumes for future positions. The position may not be real, but they wantto find out who is qualified. Just because a position is posted publicly does not mean there is a real opportunity to be hired. Qualified Interested Available (QIA) Sourcing is difficult because of the QIA. Each sourcing professional needs to create a pool of qualified candidates. Whether they are sorting through a stack of resumes or a collection of LinkedIn profiles, selection of the most qualified candidates is difficult. This is where hiring is really broken. Often, candidates are deemed qualified based on the types and quantity of keywords they stuff into their resume or LinkedIn profile. Ain’t that a great way to pick the most qualified candidate? Next, sourcers take the pool of qualified candidates and contact them to see if they are interested. Have you received an e-mail or phone call from a recruiter asking whether you are interested in a particular position? My guess is that, when you do, most of the time you say no. This might be because you truly are not interested or you are thinking, “Leave me alone!” Lastly, they need to find out who is available when and where they need them. Now they have a list of candidates to interview. Wowâ€"this is broken! The chance that the most qualified candidate was overlooked or ignored is really high. It could be: The resume or LinkedIn profile did not properly demonstrate or display the candidate well. When the recruiter called to see if there is some interest, the candidate was having a bad day. The recruiter did a lousy job of communicating with the candidate due to cultural or generational differences. So many other reasons that my head spins thinking about it. The Social Job Search How do you fix the broken hiring system? You can’t. You can make yourself into an excellent passive candidate. You publish enough about yourself and your skills that you are easy to find. You develop the right relationships with the right people so that you are considered for positions that you want. You do this by leveraging social media to your advantage. This is the beginning of a series that I am calling The Social Job Search. How to use social media to attract hiring companies to you. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Unpaid Internships Foot in the Door or Stepping on a Landmine

Unpaid Internships Foot in the Door or Stepping on a Landmine I was recently interviewed by CBS news about unpaid internships. There was a time when the only people who sought out unpaid internships were students who wanted to gain valuable work experience and were willing to forgo a salary to get it. But in todays economy, more and more adults with long career histories are considering taking an unpaid internship as a way to get a foot in the door, transition into a new industry, learn a new job function, keep their resumes current, or update their skills.But several states are concerned that in the current economy many companies are offering unpaid internships that are violating minimum wage laws. As a result, the Labor Department is more diligently investigating these practices and fining companies accordingly.Many employment and labor attorneys believe that the number of unpaid internships are growing due to the lack of available paid opportunities and the fact that companies are stretched thin and unpaid interns are seen as a way to increa se staff and productivity without increasing expenses.But legal experts warn that these practices could be illegal. The Department of of Labor looks at six criteria to determine if the internship is in compliance with wage and hour rules. The requirements are:1. The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer is similar to what would be given in a vocational school or academic educational institution. 2. The training is for the benefit of the trainees. 3. The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under their close observation. 4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees, and on occasion, the employers operations may actually be impeded. 5. The trainees are not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period. 6. The employer and the trainees understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training.Yet despite the se criteria, not all companies seem to be aware of them. Employers who make a good faith effort to allow interns to work for free could end up owing them back pay.In other cases, employers may be aware of the federal rules, but choose to ignore them. Many legal experts claim unpaid internships are widespread in the fields of fashion, publishing, journalism, law firms, and public relations firms. The bottom line is that if you are considering taking an unpaid internship, proceed with caution and know your rights.

How to Stop Secondhand Stress From Affecting You

How to Stop Secondhand Stress From Affecting You Stress is a normal part of our daily lives, but we all experience enough stress on our own without worrying about additional stress from exterior sources. This is known as secondhand stress â€" and it can be even worse than your own stressors. What constitutes secondhand stress, and how can you stop it from affecting you? What Is Secondhand Stress? Have you ever watched a family member or friend stressing out about something, only to find yourself stressing over it, too? Researchers have found stress can be contagious, especially if the person you’re watching is very expressive about their stress. They’ve also found that stress is even more contagious when it comes from people who are closest to you â€" such as romantic partners, family members and children. So now the question is, how can you stop secondhand stress from affecting you? Vaccinate Yourself No, you don’t need to call your doctor â€" we’re talking about vaccinating yourself against secondhand stress. Instead of reacting to someone else’s stress, prepare yourself for potentially stressful situations in that might crop up during the day. In his TED Talk, psychologist Shawn Achor offers some techniques you can adapt to vaccinate yourself against secondhand stress, including: Meditation â€" A short meditation break, even just 2-5 minutes, can do wonders to help with stress levels and help prevent you from making other people’s stress your own. Cardio exercise â€" Go for a 30-minute walk or hop on the treadmill to help you deal with stress. Write in a journal â€" Write about a positive experience you had recently. Be grateful â€" Write down a few things you’re grateful for. Say something nice â€" Write an email praising someone you know. Even if you don’t send it, it reinforces the good things you think about them. Positive actions like these, or any others you can think of, help inoculate you against the kind of secondhand stress that can follow you around. If none of these options sound appealing, think of a few positive actions you can use to immunize yourself against that secondhand stress. Try finding some steps to help you stay motivated throughout your week while vaccinating yourself against stress. Strengthen Your Emotional Immune System Just like your body’s immune system protects you against bacteria and viruses to keep you from getting sick, your emotional immune system is your protection against secondhand stresses. The best way to strengthen this part of your immune system is to create and reinforce strong self-esteem. If you’re sure of yourself, it becomes much easier to let those secondhand stressors roll right off your shoulders rather than affecting you negatively. One of the best ways to improve your self-esteem is exercise â€" every time you hit the gym, your brain releases rewarding endorphins which boost your mood. Whether you’re training for a marathon or just walking around the block, get up and get moving to reinforce your self-esteem and strengthen that emotional immune system. Dont Let It Get to You Many people deal with stress by internalizing it. If you’re one of those folks, it may sound challenging to not let stress build up inside your mind. Instead of becoming a stress-Atlas and taking it all onto your shoulders, the key here is to change how you respond to the situation. This skill requires a specific type of empathy. Not only do you need to be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, you need to be able to be empathetic without allowing that empathy to override your own emotional needs. Try starting your conversations, even those about stressful topics, on a positive note. That first step, that first statement, sets the foundation for how you approach stress and how you let it affect you. If you start on a positive note, you have a positive foundation â€" if you start on a negative note, you open the door to let that secondhand stress affect you. Secondhand stress might be part of life, but it doesn’t have to affect you negatively. By taking a few simple steps, you can turn that extra stress into something positive for both you and the people around you. For more ideas about how to deal with secondhand stress and other topics, like how to get the most out of your workday, subscribe and get all the tools delivered right to your inbox. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.