Exit Statements: What Do I Say When I’ve Been Let Go?

Exit Statements: What Do I Say When I’ve Been Let Go?

Recently, a reader asked the following question: “I was recently let go from my last company. Are your career experts able to assist with exit statements on why you left a job for situations like this?”

Yes, we do a lot of work in this area. It falls into our “Interview Prep” category.

Here’s how we help you work through and create a solid answer to: “Why did you leave your last job?”

Steal The HR Playbook

Confident woman shakes hands with the hiring manager before her interview

At Work It Daily, we provide expert career courses you can watch to find out how to prepare for behavioral interview questions like the one above. Then, we give you a comprehensive list of 18 behavioral interview questions that you could get asked during an interview. (I’m talking REALLY tough questions—the kind that make you sweat just hearing them, let alone answering them!)

Once you’ve read through and thought about these behavioral interview questions, you can choose to write out your answers and submit them to a career coach for review. The career coach then works with you by email so you can fine-tune your answers and be truly confident they are sending the right message. In particular, we focus on the questions that are giving you the greatest “crisis of confidence,” and then we work on those until you are 110% ready to discuss them in an interview.

Interview Prep Eliminates The #1 Killer Of Candidates In Job Interviews

Happy man helps his wife prepare for a job interview

The process above works well for those who have been fired or laid off because it helps them work through their pain and fears related to discussing what they see as an “unpleasant” item on their career record and resume.

Through your interactions and support from your career coach, you’ll see that this is nothing to be sad, embarrassed, or angry about. We help you move past the emotions and focus on the good (yes, good!) that has come from the experience. Trust me, you need to move past this. Ninety-three percent of communication is nonverbal. So, if you aren’t completely comfortable talking about all the tough stuff, then you can bet hiring managers will read it in your body language, facial expressions, and tone. People know when you are lying—and not being at peace with your past and trying to hide it is a form of lying, especially to yourself.

So, if you need help answering, “Why did you leave your last job?” check out Work It Daily and all of our career resources. We’ll help you effectively answer this question (and other difficult behavioral interview questions) and gain the confidence you need to ace your next interview.

This article was originally published at an earlier date.



Hate Your Resume? Do This!

Hate Your Resume? Do This!

So, you hate writing resumes. I get it. It’s so difficult. You don’t know what to put on it. It feels weird writing about yourself. You don’t know if you’re doing it correctly. You’re changing it all the time. And when you finally send it out to employers, you’re not getting any responses.

I understand the struggle. We were never taught how to write an effective resume. We were never taught how to optimize a resume so it gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager.

All the stress, frustration, and confusion that comes with resume writing might make you think that you should invest in a resume writer. Here’s my expert opinion…

Avoid Resume Writers

@j.t.odonnell If you hate your resume, do this… #resume #resumetips #learnontiktok #edutok #jobsearch #careertiktok #careertips #linkedin #careeradvice #resumen ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

Let me be very clear about this: resume writers do not write resumes for the right people. They’re supposed to write them for the recruiters. Recruiters want simple, clean, easy to understand, easy to read in 6-13 seconds. Resume writers write for you. They want to give you an ego boost. So, you spend $300, which is the average cost of hiring a resume writer, and they write up this fancy resume with fancy fonts and tables and make you look so important and so unbelievable—and you still don’t get any calls.

Do you know why?

Because a lot of these templates they’re using are bogus. They don’t work. The tables alone get tossed out of applicant tracking systems (ATS). They’re designing your resume to make you feel good, not get you the attention that you want and need from employers.

Check Out My Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp Instead!

Woman takes a resume writing course from Work It Daily

More importantly, everyone should know how to design their own resume. It’s not that difficult. It’s not rocket science. It’s not brain surgery. And if you are taught correctly, it takes about 45 minutes. That’s it. And then you have a resume that’s optimized and effective.

How do I know this? Well, because I teach this for free.

I don’t want you wasting money on a resume writer. I have a FREE, 45-minute training where I give you the template to write an effective resume. I’ve worked with recruiters for 20 years. Seventy-three percent of them told me they prefer this template. You follow my training, you fill out the template, you optimize your resume. And then, as a bonus, we teach you how to take what you learned and apply it to your LinkedIn profile.

So, if you’re frustrated in your job search, if you need help writing your resume or LinkedIn profile, sign up for my FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp.

Why would you spend $300 on a resume writer when you could do this for free? Know how to do it and have a resume that actually works? I’ve been helping thousands of people with this free tool, saving them hundreds of dollars in the process, and getting them results.

Stop outsourcing your resume. Learn how to write one that’s simple and effective. You will be so glad you did. You’ll feel so empowered—and that’s the point. That’s why I’m trying to help you. That’s why I’m here.

Professions For People Who Really like The Outdoors

Professions For People Who Really like The Outdoors

A really like of the outdoors along with a successful work-life don’ capital t have to be mutually exclusive, as many outdoor-based careers. The best point is that the career paths based outside fluctuate hugely, so there’ t something for everyone. Therefore, should you be unable to stand the believed of being stuck within most days of typically the week, don’t despair this […]

The post Jobs For People Who Adore The Outdoors appeared first on Jobacle. com .

Careers For People Who Love The Outdoors

Careers For People Who Love The Outdoors

A love of the outdoors along with a successful work-life don’ t have to be mutually exclusive, as many outdoor-based careers. The best thing is that the career paths based outside vary hugely, so there’ s something for everyone. So, should you be unable to stand the thought of being stuck inside most days of the week, don’t despair the […]

The post Careers For People Who Love The Outdoors appeared first on Jobacle. com .

5 Mistakes That Are Killing Your LinkedIn Profile

5 Mistakes That Are Killing Your LinkedIn Profile

If you’ve been satisfied with a “placeholder” LinkedIn profile up to this point, or feel like landing a job through the site isn’t a viable option, we’ve got some news for you. The hiring landscape has changed, permanently, and those who adapt will secure the best opportunities.

Here are five of the biggest mistakes people make on their LinkedIn profiles:

1. Not Using The Headline To Its Fullest Potential

Pull up your profile and take a look at the “headline” that’s immediately underneath your name. If all it does is list your current job title and the company you’re working at, change it! LinkedIn headlines accept a maximum of 120 characters. Use this space to directly address your audience, whether it’s recruiters, fellow professionals, or potential clients.

In your LinkedIn headline, list your skills after your current job title and company. These skills are keywords that will help you show up in search results on LinkedIn. This will allow recruiters and hiring managers to find you, and they’ll be more likely to click on your profile if your LinkedIn headline is optimized with relevant skills, the skills they’re looking for in a job candidate, and potential employee.

​2. Rehashing Your Resume In The “About” Section

Man edits his LinkedIn profile

While lifting content from your resume to fill out the “About” section of your LinkedIn profile is easy, it’s also ineffective. Your “Experience” section should look identical to your resume. Your summary, located in the “About” section, should not.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make on your LinkedIn profile is not including your personal branding statement in the “About” section. You need to communicate how you create value, how you save or make companies money as a business-of-one. What is your specialty? Then, after your personal branding statement, list your core skills and accomplishments, which will further increase your chances of being found by recruiters and hiring managers.

3. Not Having Recommendations

Two professionals working together in the office

Recommendations are crucial to establishing credibility on LinkedIn. A few sentences singing your praises by a former boss or colleague can do more for you than paragraphs of self-congratulatory prose.

Here’s a message template you can use when reaching out to someone through LinkedIn for a recommendation:

Hi [Name]

Hope all is well! I really enjoyed working with you on/at [project/company] and would be very grateful for a brief LinkedIn recommendation. If you could touch on my capabilities in [quality #1] and [quality #2] that would be a huge help. Just a few sentences is all I’m after. It was a real privilege working with you, and I know that a recommendation would significantly boost my profile. Thanks in advance for your time, and hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks, [Your Name]

Remember to return the favor, too!

4. Adding Non-Relevant Skills And Endorsements

Man thinks about changing his LinkedIn profile

If you’re currently seeking an HR director role but the bulk of the skills and endorsements on your profile relate to your days as an administrative assistant, that mismatch is going to affect how frequently your profile turns up in searches recruiters and employers run for HR director candidates. Align the skills in your profile with current (not past) aspirations.

On LinkedIn, search for people who have the job you want. Bring up the first few profiles that come up (these are usually the most visible professionals on the site) and review their “Skills and Endorsements” section. Make a note of skills they’re frequently endorsed for which you possess. Then, add these skills to your profile.

Expert tip: endorsing the skills of other people in your network is the fastest way to have your skills endorsed as well. Visit the profile page of anyone in your network and you’ll be greeted with opportunities to start endorsing them (and others).

5. Not Including Personal “Hooks”

Woman edits her LinkedIn profile

It’s amazing how often a seemingly insignificant detail about a person’s non-work life will result in an interview. Familiarity is a powerful motivator. If someone feels like they know you, or that you share a major interest, they’re much more likely to pursue a connection. Here are some sections you can fill out on LinkedIn to provide those personal “hooks”:

  • Volunteer Experience (avoid inserting anything polarizing here, such as religious or political activities)
  • Causes you’re interested in
  • Joining non-professional LinkedIn Groups (ex. Awesome Mountain Biking, Women in Photography)
  • Personal Interests
Connection happens through storytelling! Does your LinkedIn profile tell your story?

If you’ve made some of these mistakes on your LinkedIn profile, that’s okay! It’s not the end of the world. Now you can take the steps to fix them so you’re left with a well-optimized, complete LinkedIn profile that will get you in front of the right recruiters and hiring managers!

Need more help optimizing your LinkedIn profile? Sign up for our FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp!

During this bootcamp, you will learn:

  • How to properly format and optimize your resume
  • How to optimize your LinkedIn profile
  • How both of these tools can help you stand out

Interested? Sign up today!


This article was originally published at an earlier date.




4 Ways To Build Success From Scratch

4 Ways To Build Success From Scratch

For most of us, success doesn’t just come out of nowhere. We have to work for it. Whether it’s at work or at home, we strive to be successful in everything we do. This isn’t an easy task by any means. However, there are ways to meet your goals without driving yourself crazy.

Here are four ways to help you build success from scratch:

1. Wake Up 15 Minutes Earlier

Successful man works from home

Changing your daily habits slowly rather than all at once increases the likelihood that you will maintain them. According to Fast Company contributor Laura Vanderkam, building habits takes time.

In her article “What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast,” she suggests taking on one new habit and building it into your routine before you start another habit. Makes sense, right?

2. Have A Positive Mindset

Happy woman thinks about her career success

Although having a positive mindset seems like a no-brainer, many people fall into the downward spiral of negative thinking. Instead of blaming yourself or others for your lack of success in life, try looking at things from a different perspective.

Geoffrey James touches on this concept in his column “Sales Source” for Inc. Magazine. He uses an example of how perfectionism, though it seems like a wonderful goal, is ultimately impossible to achieve.

When you realize you can’t achieve perfection, negative thoughts can overwhelm you and keep you from success. Instead, re-evaluate your goals and make them more manageable.

3. Take A Risk

Man gets congratulated on his success at work

Yes, taking risks is a scary concept, but taking one once in a while can be a smart thing to do. Risk takers can be success makers!

According to Fast Company’s article “How To Quiet the Negative Thoughts That Are Killing Your Career,” the key is to be smart about your risks. Always weigh the benefits of a risk with the losses.

4. Be A “New” Leader

Happy professionals talk about their career success

It’s a new world, so be a new leader. According to the blog The HR Capitalist, an old leader is very shut off from the world. It’s difficult for old leaders to accept mistakes and open up with others.

However, new leaders are generally more open, accept their mistakes, and consult their network for answers. Which one do you think is more successful?

By doing these four things in your career, you can get on the path to success and finally achieve your goals. It starts with building good habits, having a positive mindset, being a leader, and taking risks when the time is right. Career success is closer than you think!

Need help reaching your professional potential? Sign up for our FREE training “Unlocking Your Career Potential So You Can (Finally!) Find A Job You Like.”

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • What kind of work you should be looking for based on your lifestyle and needs
  • How to identify the kinds of companies you would be happiest working at
  • Which of your skills you should focus on leveraging in a job so that you feel happier at work each day
  • How your personality impacts what type of work you should be looking for

Interested? Sign up for FREE today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Feeling Unfulfilled At Work? It’s Time To Make A Change.

Feeling Unfulfilled At Work? It’s Time To Make A Change.

We know there is so much more to life than work, yet we cannot deny that our jobs take up a good portion of our time, and sometimes the majority of our waking hours. That’s why, when we feel unfulfilled at work, it impacts every aspect of our life. It feels like a big deal because it is. So, what can we do when we feel unfulfilled at work? How can we find a job that will give us a sense of purpose?

It’s not as easy as quitting your job and looking for a new one. Yes, if you’ve tried to talk to your boss and you still feel like something isn’t working or something is missing, it’s probably the job that’s causing you to feel unfulfilled, so getting out of that situation/environment is in your best interest. But in order to fix the problem (feeling unfulfilled), you need to figure out why you’re feeling unfulfilled in your current job or career. Then, you need to build the confidence to quit your job so you can pursue a more fulfilling career.

Here are some tips for how to find career fulfillment and gain the confidence to leave your job so you can find a better one.

Figure Out How You Like To Create Value

Happy man feels a sense of fulfillment at work

The #1 reason why you feel unfulfilled at work is because you aren’t doing work that feels satisfying to you. You aren’t creating value the way you want to create value. You feel like you’re wasting your skills and talents. When your job doesn’t allow you to leverage your strengths, it leaves you feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. It’s that simple.

So, how do you figure out how you like to create value? The easiest way is to take Work It Daily’s Career Decoder Quiz to discover your workplace persona. Your workplace persona reveals how you like to contribute to the workplace. It shows you how you like to create value and which jobs/careers would be the best fit for you. Ultimately, it tells you what type of work makes you feel satisfied and fulfilled.

Nobody is the same. We all create value in different ways. This is why it’s important to figure out how you like to create value and the types of jobs that would make you feel satisfied and fulfilled. It’s not about the job your family or friends expect you to have. It’s not about the career society says you should pursue. It’s about the type of work that would give you a sense of fulfillment. It’s about finding something that doesn’t make you dread waking up in the morning.

Develop Skills That Will Empower You

Woman looks for a fulfilling job

Once you discover your workplace persona and can identify and understand why your current job or career is making you feel unfulfilled, you now need to gain the confidence to leave your job and find a new one that will leverage your strengths.

The best way to build confidence as a professional (and business-of-one) is to develop skills that will empower your career and make it easy for you to find a new job. Research which skills are in high demand in your industry. Identify which skills you have and which you need to develop. Then, take online courses, volunteer for projects, and look for new challenges to develop those skills.

Starting your job search knowing you have relevant skills and experience will give you a huge confidence boost when it comes to applying for jobs and performing in job interviews. Just remember to quantify those new skills on your resume so you actually get your job application in front of the hiring manager. And now that you know how you like to create value, your disruptive cover letter will be sure to stand out!

Know Your Worth

Man looks for a fulfilling job

An important part of the job search is knowing your worth as a business-of-one. It’s also something that can give you the confidence to leave your current job (especially if you’re being underpaid) and apply for jobs with a higher salary or negotiate a higher salary in the interview process.

So, how do you find out your worth? We recommend checking out free resources that can give some valuable information about job salaries and what would be a competitive salary in your industry. Glassdoor, for example, has a salary calculator that allows professionals to enter information about their current career, job experience, and industry to give them an estimated market value.

Once you know your worth, you’ll be armed with that knowledge in your job search, and that information will give you the confidence to pursue jobs that will give you a sense of fulfillment and pay the bills. You’ll ensure that you’re being fairly compensated for what you have to offer—no matter which jobs you decide to apply for.

We understand the challenges you’re facing in the workplace right now. If you’re feeling unfulfilled at work, that’s okay. You’re not alone. We hope these tips help you figure out how you like to create value and help you gain the confidence you need to leave your job and find a better one.

Do you feel unfulfilled at work? We’re here to help. Check out our FREE training “Unlocking Your Career Potential So You Can (Finally!) Find A Job You Like.”

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • What kind of work you should be looking for based on your lifestyle and needs
  • How to identify the kinds of companies you would be happiest working at
  • Which of your skills you should focus on leveraging in a job so that you feel happier at work each day
  • How your personality impacts what type of work you should be looking for

Interested? Sign up for FREE today!

6 Most Important Metrics and Data That Real Estate Recruiters Should Track

6 Most Important Metrics and Data That Real Estate Recruiters Should Track

Being a real estate recruiter means always being on top of multiple tasks. From capturing leads to reaching new markets, from finding top talents to retaining tenured agents, the life of an on-task recruiter can be quite a busy one indeed. If you find yourself needing a bit of help in managing your tasks, this […]

The post 6 Most Important Metrics and Data That Real Estate Recruiters Should Track appeared first on Jobacle.com.

Being Overqualified vs. Staying Relevant In Your Career: What’s The Difference?

Being Overqualified vs. Staying Relevant In Your Career: What’s The Difference?

I always talk about the importance of staying relevant in your career. But for professionals, being overqualified in a competive job market is a real concern. So, let’s clarify the difference between staying relevant in your career and becoming overqualified.

Here’s An Example…

@j.t.odonnell Reply to @deannaranger Being overqualified vs. staying relevant in your #career #ShareTheMagic #EduTok #learnontiktok #careertiktok #careeradvice #c ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

To best explain the difference between staying relevant and being overqualified, I’m going to give you an example.

Imagine you decided to become a digital marketer back when Facebook was created. You got really good at hacking Facebook advertising and everybody came to you for that skill and you got hired by a company to do their Facebook advertising. Then, as Facebook got bigger and bigger, you continued to focus on how to use Facebook to help the company make money. But during that time, Instagram comes along, and all of a sudden you can’t make the kind of money you made on Facebook. Marketing campaigns don’t work anymore. The market is oversaturated. So, what does your company do? They let you go because they don’t want to spend that kind of money on Facebook anymore, and they hire somebody who knows what they’re doing on Instagram.

That is where you became overqualified and didn’t stay relevant.

Now, the person who was hired to advertise on Instagram starts learning everything they need to about Instagram. Instagram gets really, really big, and suddenly they can’t compete with competitors on that platform. So the company lets them go because now they’ve hired somebody to spend money on TikTok advertising.

This is what happens when you don’t stay relevant by developing skills in your career. You become overqualified for skills that are irrelevant and no longer in high demand.

Staying relevant is about knowing when you need to diversify your expertise, when you need to slightly pivot in another direction to stay relevant in your marketplace. It’s about having the tools and experience needed to do the cutting-edge stuff. If you don’t continuously work on staying relevant in your career, you risk becoming overqualified for one skill set, and without more to offer companies, they won’t want to pay you the salary you think you deserve.

The Bottom Line

Man congratulates a coworker on his accomplishments

Too many people get comfortable in a job, especially when their company keeps giving them money to do that job well. Your company is giving you money to keep you there for as long as they need you. But one day you’re going to wake up and your skill set will no longer be relevant.

Every job is temporary. You are a commodity. The market is saturated with people like you, and you don’t want to be viewed as being overpaid for what you provide. This happens every single day in business, so you cannot continue to focus your expertise in one area and keep making a bigger and bigger paycheck and think it’s going to stay that way. You have to stay relevant. Otherwise, you will wake up one day and be overqualified.

If you need help staying relevant in your career and effectively marketing your skills to employers, you’ve come to the right place.

Sign up for a Work It Daily membership today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!

Here’s a closer look at what we offer:

  • 15+ course library
  • Resume templates
  • Cover letter templates
  • LinkedIn profile optimization course
  • Attend live events for free
  • Access to our one-of-a-kind community
  • 1-on-1 private message career coaching
  • Unlimited resume, cover letter & LinkedIn reviews
  • 30 min. coaching call per month

Interested? Sign up for a 3-day FREE trial today!

In getting employed in a Turbulent Economic climate

In getting employed in a Turbulent Economic climate

Possess all the recent financial upheavals and disruptions, the very COVID pandemic to mention simply one, made your job search a significant problem? In that case, you’ re not really alone. As unemployment proceeds to rise and outbreak restrictions continue to get their toll on smaller businesses, it’ s getting more challenging to find career-worthy job. That cold fact involving the […]

The article Finding a Job inside a Turbulent Economy appeared first on Jobacle. com .

In getting employed in a Turbulent Economic climate

In getting employed in a Turbulent Economic climate

Possess all the recent financial upheavals and disruptions, the very COVID pandemic to mention simply one, made your job search a significant problem? In that case, you’ re not really alone. As unemployment proceeds to rise and outbreak restrictions continue to get their toll on smaller businesses, it’ s getting more challenging to find career-worthy job. That cold fact involving the […]

The article Finding a Job inside a Turbulent Economy appeared first on Jobacle. com .

Ideas to Starting a Video Modifying Career

Ideas to Starting a Video Modifying Career

Do you want beginning a video editing career? If so, you’ lso are in luck! This will be an exciting and developing field that offers lots of opportunities for creative individuals. However, making the leap from amateur to expert editor can be difficult. Keep reading to find out more upon the tips to assist you get started upon […]

The post Ideas to Starting a Movie Editing Career appeared first on Jobacle. com .