November, is that you already? We can hardly be-leaf it. 🍁

(We’ll see ourselves out.)

Welcome back, y’all! We hope you’re settling into the change of season and looking forward to rounding out the year with some exciting steps forward and perhaps even a new gig.

With the crisp autumn air and the holidays right around the corner, there’s a sense of not just change but opportunity this time of year. Whether you’re preparing for year-end goals or simply enjoying the beauty of fall in between job applications, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Here we go!

Things We’re Loving This Month

🥘 Our go-to healthy turkey chili recipe for the chilly days ahead.

☕ Stay cozy at your desk with this budget-friendly mug warmer. It’s the little things!

👥 You know we’re all about community here. If you’re looking to make health-forward, like-minded connections in your city, give Meetup a try.

🧘🏽 Need a good stretch and some mindfulness in your life? You’ll love Yoga with Adriene. All levels welcome.

🍁 It’s the season of gratitude and we’ve found a new way to count your blessings: Instead of thinking up things to be grateful for at the end of the day, write down one or two things that actually went well. This is an amazing way to reframe the challenges of job searching and remind yourself that things do go well for you, at least once a day!

Winning The Soft Skills Game

It’s no secret that in today’s job market, hard skills may get you in the door, but soft skills are what help you stand out. The competition is still intense, so knowing how to effectively showcase your interpersonal abilities is an absolute must to help land your next role.

And we have proof! A recent study by BusinessNameGenerator found that 84% of employees and managers believe new hires must possess soft skills and demonstrate them effectively during the hiring process.

So what kind of soft skills are we talking about? This Forbes article outlines them perfectly, with tangible tips on how to fine-tune these skills before heading into your next interview. It’s definitely worth the read to ensure you’re putting yourself in the best position to outshine your competition.

Insight Hub: You Asked, We Answered

“How can I cold outreach to a recruiter on LinkedIn and avoid being ghosted?”

We’ve rounded up a list of do’s and don’ts for shooting your shot in a recruiter's DMs to hopefully elicit the response you’re hoping for!

✅ Do: Send a personalized note that shows you took the time to review their profile and understand the types of roles they work on.

🚫 Don’t: Send a generic message that you’ve spammed to multiple recruiters, as it shows little thoughtfulness about their work. For example, if they are a tech sales recruiter, don’t reach out to them looking for an engineering role.

✅ Do: Be polite, respectful, and considerate of their time. After all, it’s not a recruiter's job to find you a role; they’re paid to fill positions for the companies they work with.

🚫 Don’t: Be demanding or assume that they owe you their time. Any response from a recruiter is out of their generosity, not because it’s part of their job.

✅ Do: Make sure your message includes who you are, what you’re looking for, and how you can add value. Bonus points for keeping this to 2-3 sentences.

🚫 Don’t: Write a novel about your experience (they’ll likely skip over it), or, worse, forget to introduce yourself. There’s plenty of “Hi! Do you have any roles for me?” floating around out there.

A final thought: As busy recruiters ourselves, we love to see people reach out (using the above tips) and try to respond to as many people as possible, but sometimes we simply can’t get to all of the messages. If you don’t hear back, it isn’t necessarily because a rectuiter doesn’t want to help.

Now, go get ‘em!

Sunshine State of Mind

Let us guess… you were soaking up the sun this summer, but now that the weather has cooled off, you’re avoiding those chilly walks. We get it, it happens to the best of us.

But what if we told you that getting outside in the winter months is when it actually matters most?

When daylight is scarce, it’s important to make the most of it! Exposure to natural light can help combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), ease insomnia and improve overall mood. Fresh air and a change of scenery can also reduce stress and anxiety. Who doesn’t love a dopamine hit of sunny D?!

So how do you stay motivated to get out there when the weather is less than ideal? Per usual, we’ve got your back with our favorite hacks:

Break it up: If a long walk feels daunting in the cold, break it into shorter sessions throughout the day. Even five minutes will do!

Join a group: Look for local walking groups or clubs. It’s a great way to stay motivated and socialize. Check out local Facebook groups or use apps like Meetup to find your squad.

Dress appropriately: Invest in warm, comfortable clothing and footwear. We all know getting new gear is the biggest motivator. If new gear isn’t in the cards, we also love handwarmers- they last up to 8 hours!

Plan ahead: Set specific times for your walks, whether during lunch breaks or after dinner, to establish a routine. We love using the Alpenglow app to check for daily sunrise/sunset times so you don’t miss your window. The app also predicts the prettiest sunsets to catch as an added bonus!

Make it fun: Embrace seasonal actives! Skiing, snowball fights, sledding. You’re not too old, promise.

Whatever you do, just try getting out there for 15 minutes a day! Your mind and body will thank you.

As we kick off the month of gratitude, we’re grateful for YOU. Thanks for allowing us to walk with you in your job search. Even if this year has been extraordinarily challenging, we hope you can find a few things to feel grateful for.

Don’t forget to email us at [email protected] to let us know what sort of topics you’d like us to cover in future issues.

Until then, take care and stay connected!