How To Get Rid Of Your Networking Anxiety

How To Get Rid Of Your Networking Anxiety

Will this thought of attending some sort of networking event give anyone crippling anxiety? Are people worried you’re wasting your own valuable time on a good networking strategy that isn’t on your side? If so, most likely in the proper place!

The good thing is that not one of us are given birth to with a natural expertise for networking, even often the people who enjoy this.

Like a business-of-one, you need to marketplace yourself. Networking is your skill that anyone may learn. To do so, everyone just need to make use of the best strategy!

With this training, you’ll understand how to:

  • Create a highly effective marketing strategy that gets one results faster than using to countless jobs
  • Identify dream businesses you’d love to function for
  • Turn out to be a more confident marketer and grow your existence online

Join our TOP DOG, J. T. O’Donnell, and even Director of Training Advancement & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this live occasion on Wednesday, October nineteenth at 12 pm AINSI QUE.

CAN’T ATTEND LIVE? That’s okay. You will have access to your recording as well as the workbook right after the session!

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3 Interview Hacks That Will Help You Land The Job

3 Interview Hacks That Will Help You Land The Job

Interviewing is one of the most stressful aspects of the job search process. Waiting for a response for an interview from employers can take weeks. Not knowing how many others are interviewing for the same position as you can create even more stress.

Whether you are planning your job search now or preparing for your first interview ever, these hacks will increase your chances of landing that dream job.

1. Always Research The Company Before The Interview

Man researches a company on his laptop before his job interview

As they say, “Knowing is half the battle.” The same applies to a job interview. Knowing the company’s mission and core values, knowing how market trends are affecting the company, and knowing who exactly are the company’s competitors are all important hacks that will impress the employer during your interview.

Another key trick is to find out who is interviewing you and research that person on LinkedIn to know his/her career path and story.

In the job interview, don’t be afraid to ask how your interviewer got to where they are today. Show interest. Be curious. Walk into the job interview with as much information under your belt as possible, and you’ll be surprised by how much easier it is to answer questions—and ask them, too.

2. Dress For The Job You Want (Not The Job You Have)

Woman dresses nice for a job interview

It’s true when they say that first impressions are everything. It’s highly recommended that you arrive 15-20 minutes early for the interview, bring copies of your resume in a portfolio, and dress conservatively in clothing one level above what the current employees at the company are wearing. You want to look professional, but not like you don’t fit in with the workplace culture.

Most importantly, be engaging and enthusiastic during the interview. Remember that multiple people are interviewing for that same position and you want to convey that enthusiasm in your appearance, attitude, and energy. By being enthusiastic, you’ll be memorable—in a good way.

Don’t forget to ask questions and send a thank-you note to everyone you met at your job interview following the interview to reaffirm your enthusiasm.

3. Know Your Key Skills & Accomplishments

Woman answers a questions during a job interview

It’s one thing to list your key skills and accomplishments on your resume, but it’s another to be able to sell or market them in an interview. Make sure you list your top skills and accomplishments on a piece of paper before you go into the interview, and be sure to convey how those skills are valuable to the company’s goals/objectives, productivity, and profitability.

Most employers nowadays ask behavioral interview questions. A great way to answer these questions while highlighting your skills and accomplishments is by using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model and/or the STAR technique (situation, task, action, result).

What was the situation/problem? How did you solve this problem/overcome this setback? What did you learn from this experience? How did you apply what you learned to your career? Whether you accomplished something great or developed a new skill, your interviewer will be impressed by your story and remember it long after you walk out the door.

Mastering these three hacks will help you ace your next job interview and increase your chances of scoring a spot with the company of your dreams. At the end of the day, preparation is key!

Need more help with your job search?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

#1 Career Tip For Gen Z & Millennials

#1 Career Tip For Gen Z & Millennials

If if you’re a millennial or Style Zer, I have 1 piece of advice that will improve your job look for results and alter the career for the far better.

Since a millennial or Style Z job seeker, this what you need to help do to locate a job in addition to grow your career…

Get On LinkedIn!

@j. to. odonnell Quantity 1 Career Advice regarding Gen Z & Millennials!! #genz #millennial #learnontiktok #edutok #jobsearchtiktok #linkedintips #linkedinprofile #careeradvice #jobsearch #career #work ♬ original sound – M. T. O’Donnell

You need to help to make a LinkedIn profile .

Notice me out.

I know you detest the platform. I understand that you seem like is actually for old people. Although as a 20-year career coaching veteran who utilized to work in the staffing needs and recruiting industry, I actually can tell you the fact that getting on LinkedIn will be the best thing anyone can do for your own personal job search and career as some sort of whole.

Employers don’t know how in order to find you on TikTok yet. But they can say for certain how to find a person on LinkedIn. They seek for specific keywords (skills) and your profile can come up in search outcomes if it’s well-optimized.

Therefore , in case you’re a millennial or perhaps Gen Zer who’s desperate for a job, I motivate you to create a good LinkedIn profile and improve it so that you can be discovered by recruiters.

Now, LinkedIn doesn’t teach you how you can optimize your profile—but I actually do.

I’d love that in case you signed up intended for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription so you may the correct way to be able to build your LinkedIn report and stand out for you to recruiters. I look forwards to answering all regarding your career questions within our next live event!

6 Ways To Be Interesting During Your Interview

6 Ways To Be Interesting During Your Interview

Congratulations, you’ve scored the interview! But, now what? You’re going to do your homework to research the company, practice your elevator pitch, and pick up your suit from the dry cleaners…exactly like your competition.

Getting an interview is a huge hurdle to clear and a wonderful sign that you’re on the right track with your job search efforts. Now it’s time to shift your focus to becoming a rock star candidate.

Approach your interview with the expectation that your competition is equally qualified. Having the skills and wanting the job badly isn’t going to cut it in today’s market. You need to figure out specific ways to stand out and be interesting.

Here are some strategies to do exactly that…

1. Get Your Interviewer Talking​

Hiring manager answers interesting question from a job candidate during an interview

We know that the more you make me talk, the more interesting I’ll think you are. Humans are funny like that. Use this knowledge to your advantage, and immediately engage all the people you meet in conversation—about themselves.

Whether it’s the receptionist, the HR manager, or your future boss, ask people questions about themselves, and do as much as you can to draw them out. At the end of your interview, they’ll have a much more positive impression of you.

2. Be Prepared With Interesting Questions

Woman tries to be interesting during a job interview

Don’t ask the same old, tired questions as every other candidate. You can combine this strategy with the one above and ask your interviewer about his or her experience at the company or perspective about a hot new product or service.

You can also use this as an opportunity to flex your creative powers and ask questions that show you’ve not only done your homework and research on the company (and the people who work there) but that you went above and beyond to create solutions for the problems they’re facing.

3. Be Prepared With Interesting Answers

Man tries to be interesting during a job interview

Most people will answer situational and behavioral interview questions with straightforward examples from their career. It is very important to do this in your job interview, and highlight the results you’ve achieved on the job. But the truth is, employers hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience—in that order. You need to let your personality shine through in the job interview in some way to show that you fit in with the company culture.

Differentiate yourself by being prepared to share stories from other areas of your life that are equally impressive. Did you survive a solo ride on your motorcycle to the Arctic Circle? Create a hip-hop website that gets hundreds of thousands of unique visitors per month? Start a non-profit to save a historic building in your hometown? Share those tales in ways that highlight your problem-solving skills, intrinsic motivation, and unique experience (and always relate it back to the job opportunity).

4. Show Off Your Style

Hiring manager looks at interesting job candidate during an interview

Conventional wisdom says you should stick to neutral, conservative styles for your interview appearance. In general, it is best to go with classic suits and subtle accessories. But if you’re the type of person who normally has some artistic flair to your look, you don’t need to stifle it completely.

Choose one or two ways to let that style and personality shine through—a bright accessory, unique jewelry, or moderately funky hair. As long as you look professional, it’s okay to have an accent.

5. Create A 30-60-90 Day Plan

Hiring manager refers to a resume from an interesting job candidate

When preparing for your interview, create an overview of how you plan to tackle your first 30, 60, and 90 days on the new job. This is called a 30-60-90 day plan, and it never fails to impress hiring managers.

If you’ve done your research on the company and position, you’ll have a sense of what kind of strategy you’d employ to start adding value right away. Write it down on a page or two, and pull it out at the end of the interview to leave behind as a form of marketing collateral for you, a business-of-one.

6. Mind Your Body Language: Mirroring & Power Poses

Interesting job candidate shakes hands with the hiring manager after an interview

Interviews are stressful, and it’s easy to get tense and physically awkward. Pay attention to your interviewer’s body language and do your best to mirror it. Mirroring tends to disarm people and make them feel more comfortable with you.

To really impress them, use power poses immediately before your interview, in private, and avoid weak poses at all costs. Everyone’s subconscious will perceive you in a more flattering, confident light.

What have you done to be interesting in job interviews? Are there techniques that you’ve found to be particularly successful? If you think you need to work on being more interesting in job interviews, try one or more of these tips during your next job search to stand out from the competition!

Need more help with your job search?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

5 Things You MUST Do Before Attending A Job Fair

5 Things You MUST Do Before Attending A Job Fair

Most job fairs run between January and May. When spring rolls around, things usually ramp up because most employers want job openings filled before summer kicks off.

If you are among the job seekers attending job fairs, then take down these tips to prepare for it and make the most of your time there.

Many employers have a presence at job fairs to increase brand awareness, but also to save time in the screening process. Job fairs offer an opportunity for employers to conduct initial screenings of potential candidates on the spot. Due to COVID-19, virtual job fairs have become more popular and allow employers and job seekers to meet safely, going around geographical barriers.

Employers have an idea of what they are looking for in a candidate for each job opening, so anyone who appears to make the cut can be interviewed to advance the process along right then and there.

Job seekers who come prepared will strike up opportunities quickly, so here are five things you MUST do before attending a job fair.

1. Research Ahead Of Time

Woman research companies that will be attending a job fair

There can be hundreds of companies to talk to at each job fair, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have the time to reach out to all of them. Research ahead of time which ones you want to approach so you make the most of your time there. (You should always have your interview bucket list ready—a list of the companies you would love to work for someday!)

When you know your targets, you can also start to customize your materials. It’ll help to look at the company’s website so you see what job openings they have and the requirements/job descriptions for each position.

This information can help you tailor your resume and what you communicate when you meet with the individuals at the job fair. It’ll also help you write your disruptive cover letter when you formally submit your job application.

2. Plan To Approach The Employer (Even If They Aren’t Recruiting For The Job You Want!)

Two job seekers talk to an employer at a job fair

Job fairs are great for networking—it’s not simply about dropping off your resume. You want to start conversations with the right contacts.

If there is an employer you desire to work for, but they’re not recruiting for the job you want, it’s still important to go over and talk to them. You never know when the position may suddenly open up.

The contacts there may also direct you to information in regards to who’s leading the department you want to work in so that you can follow up with that individual directly. It’s all about connections!

The key to connecting with others is to engage in conversation. Ask insightful questions! Be someone they will remember at the end of the day or use it as an opportunity to open the door to more conversation.

3. Have Your Elevator Pitch Ready

Employers are looking to hear what you can do for them, so come prepared with a quick pitch on your skills and experience, as well as how it can help solve their problems.

Your elevator pitch is essentially your personal branding statement. It’s important to know what you bring to the table as a business-of-one. If you can clearly explain how you’ll add value to the company at the job fair, you’ll stand out in a sea of other potential job candidates.

4. Dress Like You’re Going For A Job Interview

Woman on phone walking to her job

On-the-spot interviews happen at job fairs, so dress the part and be ready with copies of your resume in hand. As you introduce yourself, be mindful of your body language, including your handshake, eye contact, facial expressions, and voice.

Employers take notice of job candidates who smile and exhibit enthusiasm. They want to see a candidate with a strong desire to work with them, not someone who’s simply swinging by randomly. Some may also screen your interest level by asking common interview questions like “What do you know about us?” and “Why do you want to work for us?” So, be prepared!

5. Plan To Follow Up

Man on laptop types a message to an employer

Like a job interview, you should plan to send a follow-up note to the contacts you meet. It’s a chance to help keep you top of mind and it gives you an opportunity to reiterate why you have what they are looking for. You should also send a connection request on LinkedIn for the same reasons.

Before ending each conversation, be sure to collect business cards from the people you speak with and take good notes so you know how to best personalize the follow-up note.

Approached the right way, job fairs can open many conversations and doors to job opportunities. If you do these five things, you’ll be well-prepared for any job fair—and you’ll definitely stand out from the competition!

Need more help with your job search?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Why You’re TERRIFIED To Find A New Job (Even If You’re Completely Miserable)

Why You’re TERRIFIED To Find A New Job (Even If You’re Completely Miserable)

You hate your job. You find yourself complaining about it daily to your family and friends. Every Sunday night, you tell yourself that you’re finally going to quit and find a new job because you just can’t take it anymore. But you don’t.

Instead, you go to work, come home, complain, and start the whole cycle over again. You’re completely miserable in your current job, but you’re absolutely terrified to find a new job. Why?

You’re Afraid Of The Unknown

Woman on laptop scared to find a new job

Yes, starting a new job can be scary. You have to adapt to a new work environment, make new work friends, and even learn some new skills—and you don’t know if you’ll even like it after everything’s said and done. What if it turns out to be worse than your last job? What if they don’t like you? What if you don’t fit in? What if you don’t perform at the level they expected? It’s similar to starting at a new school where you don’t know anyone, where anything is, or how your teachers are going to be.

The truth is, starting a new job can be intimidating. You’re walking into a new situation and you’re not sure what to expect. The best thing you can do is get to know the company as much as you can before accepting a job offer there. Learn it inside and out, make an effort to get to know people you’d be working with over LinkedIn or coffee, and ask questions that can give you insight into the company culture.

You’re Not Confident In What You Have To Offer

Man on laptop scared to find a new job

Don’t feel like you’ve got what it takes to make it anywhere else? Afraid to find a new job because you don’t want to look like an incompetent employee? If you think you’re lacking the skills to succeed elsewhere, take an inventory of your skill sets. Then, compare them to the skill sets that are required for the jobs you’re considering.

What are you missing? Where do you need to ramp up your skills? Do you have additional skills that could lend themselves to the job? Make a list of the skills you have and the ones you need to develop.

You’re Not Really Sure What You Have To Offer

Woman on laptop frustrated at work

You need to understand what you have to offer so you can market yourself effectively to employers.

Again, go in and take a look at your skill sets. Think about past accomplishments at work. What have you achieved? What are you proud of? What problem do you solve at your current company? Make sure you quantify your work experience on your resume so employers know what you have to offer and can see the value you provide as a business-of-one.

You Don’t Know What You Want To Do Next

Man on laptop stressed about finding a new job

You want to find a new job, but you have no idea what you want to do. All you know is that you hate your current job and you want out. If you’re having trouble figuring out what you want to do next, you need to take some time to explore.

Research different jobs, industries, and companies. Talk to people about their work—why they like it, hate it, and what excites them about it. Take some time to figure out what interests you and what projects energize you.

You’re Afraid Of The Financial Repercussions

Woman on laptop miserable at work

What if you don’t get the benefits you have at your current job? What if you have to take a pay cut? What if it takes too long to find a new job and you run out of money? Research competitive salary rates using Glassdoor’s salary calculator before you look for a new job. Also, research the companies you’re interested in to learn about what kinds of benefits they offer employees.

It’s important to understand what your priorities and must-haves are in your new job. The last thing you want to do is accept a job knowing that it won’t meet your needs because it will just result in you looking for a new job in a few months. However, understand that you might not necessarily make the same paycheck as your current job. Research so you know what to expect.

If you’re terrified to find a new job, you’re not alone. We hope that by identifying these fears and following the tips above, you’ll have the confidence and courage to look for your next job. Remember: you’ll never know what you can do until you try!

Need more help with your job search?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

5 Transferable Skills Job Seekers Need

5 Transferable Skills Job Seekers Need

Looking for a job has become relatively tough for many people. Even some professionals with advanced academic qualifications, such as bachelor’s degrees and even MBAs, are currently having a rough time on the market. However, there are still plenty of jobs out there for the right candidates.

One of the ways of differentiating yourself from other job seekers is by having transferable skills. Broadly speaking, a transferable skill is an expertise that you can use across a wide range of industries.

According to the University of Southern California, many graduates change jobs as many as four times within a period of five years. If you are a job seeker, identifying your transferable skills and articulating them to employers is likely to increase your chances of getting a job.

Here are five transferable skills all job seekers need:

1. Communication

Two professionals with good communication skills

In almost every career, from banking to the hospitality industry, good communication skills are vital. As such, it would be to your advantage if you have the ability to articulate your ideas in writing as well as orally. Since communication normally involves more than one party, you should be a good listener as well.

Employers often look for people who can communicate with co-workers effectively and in an objective manner.

Don’t know your workplace communication style? Take our FREE quiz today!

2. Analytical Skills

Woman uses her analytical skills on the job

This is a vital skill in almost every field of work mainly because the majority of businesses generate revenue by solving problems that clients face daily.

For example, cloud-computing companies provide data storage solutions, thereby ensuring that their clients have a backup of data stored on site. Employees can access company data on the go knowing they have secure storage for their information. In such an environment, analytical skills are likely to come in handy when clients face problems such as uploading data or updating certain files. To solve those issues, one would have to identify and define the problem’s parameters.

This skill also involves collecting and analyzing data in order to design creative solutions to complex problems.

3. Leadership

Man displays leadership skills at work

Most organizations and business enterprises employ more than one employee. Because of this, it may not be possible to have all the employees in leadership positions. Therefore, a few employees who show the ability to lead generally take charge of the others.

Leadership is all about motivating fellow employees and leading them to work toward a common goal. In addition, leaders analyze tasks and set priorities for the other employees as well as identify and allocate resources that employees need.

4. Information Management Skills

Woman uses her data and information management skills at work

Traditionally, businesses kept a few records such as sales, purchases, and salaries in-house. In most cases, this data was no more than a few gigabytes. However, the emergence of social media, the adoption of e-commerce by consumers, and the large number of data points generated by businesses and corporations have upended the traditional model of managing information. As a result, most employers need employees who can sort and present data objects in an understandable manner.

Information management also involves evaluating and synthesizing information against industry standards. Industries where you can apply this skill set include finance, education, manufacturing, and print media.

5. Project Management

Project managers are in high demand in many industries. Your work as a project manager will involve planning projects, assessing potential risks associated with the project, allocating project finances appropriately, and overseeing the execution of the project on time.

You can use this transferable skill in industries such as education, energy, consulting, and even the military.

The job sector is becoming increasingly competitive with every passing day. With this in mind, job seekers need to broaden their horizons when searching for a job.

Leverage the power of transferable skills acquired in previous jobs to get ahead of the competition. Just remember to quantify these skills on your resume. Also, make sure to mention them in your job interview, and you’ll surely stand out from the competition.

Need more help with your job search?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

3 Tips For Overcoming Your Biggest Job Search FEARS

3 Tips For Overcoming Your Biggest Job Search FEARS

Are you terrified associated with screwing up a job interview? Does the believed of writing an appliance cover notice horrify you? Have you been frightened to network with other people? What do you actually say, anyway? If if you’re struggling to overcome your own job search fears, this specific live event is with regard to you.

All of us get it. Trying to find function can be scary, particularly when you’ve been at this for a long period and haven’t gotten any kind of results.

Knowing which fears are having in how and how to be able to overcome them could make almost all the difference. Sometimes an individual might not know about which usually obstacle is getting in the form of your goals. If anyone want to overcome these types of fears once and regarding all, we invite people to join us!

In this coaching, you’ll figure out how to:

  • Use strategies for handling your current job search fears
  • Be confident within your job search—from composing your resume to social networking
  • Face the fears and move ahead

Join our TOP DOG, J. T. O’Donnell, in addition to Director of Training Advancement & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this live occasion on Wednesday, October fifth at 12 pm AINSI QUE.

CAN’T ATTEND RESIDE? That’s alright. You’ll have access for you to it and the workbook after the session!

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5 Reasons You’re Still Unemployed

5 Reasons You’re Still Unemployed

“Why am I still unemployed?”

At Work It Daily, we’re asked this question a lot. The reality is, the reason is different for everyone. The good news? You can overcome whatever is holding you back from getting hired.

Here are five reasons you’re still unemployed:

1. Your Resume Isn’t Job Specific

While it’s good to have a strong resume with all of your professional skill sets, your resume can become generic when all you do is send the same resume to every open position you find.

The Solution: Customize your resume for each job you apply for. By taking the time to customize your resume with relevant skill sets and specific keywords that are in the job description, you’ll be more likely to land an interview and, therefore, will have more viable job opportunities.

2. You’re Overqualified

Unemployed man looks for a job

This problem is common among older workers looking for a career change. But this can happen to anyone who has a lot of experience and is trying to get their foot in the door at another company.

The Solution: During an interview, make it your mission to connect with the employer. Tell a story. Let them know you aren’t just running out the clock. If they ask about your 5-year plan, don’t mention retirement. Your career isn’t over yet.

3. You’re Underqualified (Or Lack Exposure To The Professional World)

Young woman looks for a job while unemployed

On the flip side, you could be unemployed because you don’t have enough experience or the right skill sets to do the jobs you’ve been applying for. Maybe you’re a recent college grad, and at this point, you’re just begging someone to give you a chance. Whatever your situation, employers are making it very clear you aren’t qualified.

The Solution: Take classes or earn certificates to try to develop new skills. Volunteer or intern to get the type of professional experience employers are looking for. Focus on the skill sets you do have and learn how to quantify those skills on your resume to stand out to hiring managers.

4. You’ve Stopped Being Proactive In Your Job Search

Unemployed man loses motivation in his job search

If you really want a job, your actions have to reflect your attitude. As the weeks (or maybe months) drag on and you still haven’t found a job, you may find yourself getting into a dangerous job search routine. You apply for half a dozen jobs every day and hope for the best. This strategy rarely works. If you want quality job opportunities, you need to be proactive.

The Solution: Make networking a priority. Go to job fairs. Reach out to employees at companies you’d love to work for on LinkedIn. Start compelling, professional conversations with them. Remember: you’re a business-of-one. The better you actively market yourself to employers, the more job opportunities you’ll likely receive.

5. You’ve Lost All Urgency

Unemployed woman stressed about finding a job

It can be easy to get into a job search rut. Time goes by differently when you don’t have a set routine. The longer it takes for you to find a job, the harder it is find the motivation to get a job. You may begin to lose confidence in yourself and your skills as a professional. When your career is suddenly on hold, your life can feel like it is without purpose or direction.

The Solution: Set goals and work towards them—even if they’re just small goals. They could be career-related goals, or not. Maybe you want to get in better shape. Maybe you want to learn a new skill. If you set goals for yourself, you’ll regain that sense of purpose—and better yourself in the process.

Being unemployed is tough. If you follow these tips, you’ll have the tools to overcome the challenges you face in the job search process.

Need more help with your job search?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

4 Steps To Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter

4 Steps To Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter

In my experience as an executive resume writer, cover letters only get read about a third of the time they are sent. That being said, when one is required, or you are hoping for that added edge to get a hiring manager’s attention, there is no doubt a great cover letter can make all the difference.

To accomplish this, your cover letter must be disruptive and draw them in.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re writing a disruptive cover letter.

Paragraph 1: Tell A Story

Woman writes a disruptive cover letter for a job opening

In the first paragraph of your disruptive cover letter, you need to establish a connection between you and the employer. How do you do that? Well, you need to tell a story.

The surest way to stand out to employers is to tell a story about why you feel connected to their company.

Don’t just reiterate what you say in your resume in the very first paragraph of your cover letter. Explain what you admire about the company you’re applying to. Do they sell a product or provide a service that’s had a big impact on your life? Do they support causes you are passionate about? Why do you feel connected to their mission?

Ultimately, you want to tell a story about what drew you to the company, and the important role it has played in your life.

Paragraph 2: Dig Deeper And Get Them Excited About What Comes Next

Man writes a disruptive cover letter to impress hiring managers

The second paragraph must provide the hiring manager with some added context about your unique background, and set the stage for some career highlights that, to quote an old saying, “puts your money where your mouth is.”

Blend language from the job description together with nuggets of information that are unique to you. Set the stage for how you are qualified for the role you are applying to. But, don’t overdo it.

Continue your story and relate it to the position, all while emphasizing that connection.

Paragraph 3: Hard Hitting Highlights

Job seeker writes a disruptive cover letter

Select a couple of examples from your resume that you believe will impress recruiters and hiring managers. Rather than a complete cut and paste, reword these achievements and frame them in a way that shows the employers what you can do for them.

In many cases, numbers resonate more than words, so be sure to include quantifiable examples wherever possible.

Paragraph 4: Say Goodbye While Refreshing Their Memory

In this fourth and last paragraph, be sure to thank the hiring manager for taking the time to read your disruptive cover letter (remember that not all managers do!).

Next, use this last bit of space to help the reader connect the dots to show them why you are a great job candidate, a business-of-one who can provide a service they need with a personal connection to the company that is invaluable.

Remember: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make yours count with an impactful and disruptive cover letter that separates you from the competition!

Need more help with your job search?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

4 Myths About Working For Staffing Agencies

4 Myths About Working For Staffing Agencies

I hear a lot of myths about working for staffing or temp agencies. And it’s funny because I used to believe them before I got invited to my first job interview with a temp agency. When I went on the interview, all the myths were busted and I fell in love with it.

The rest is history. Now I’m a fan of working with staffing and temp agencies, and so I want to walk you through those myths and make sure that I can bust them because you’re missing out on some key opportunities, my friend.

Myth #1: Staffing Agencies Only Hire For Entry-Level Positions

@j.t.odonnell 4 myths about working for staffing agencies #sponsoredad #mythbuster #myth #staffing #tempagency #tempworker #jobsite #jobtips #jobsearchtips #jobsearchhelp #expressjobs #expresspros #expressprosapp #jobsearch #jobtok #jobs #expressjobsapp #jobseeker #Edutok #learnontiktok ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

The first myth about working for staffing or temp agencies is that they only hire for entry-level positions. That is simply not true. Companies come to staffing agencies and need all types of hires to cover maternity leaves or medical absences. They’re starting new projects, so do not assume that only entry-level jobs are available.

Myth #2: Staffing Agencies Only Offer Low-Paying Jobs

Woman on laptop applies to jobs through a staffing agency

The second myth is that staffing agencies only offer low-paying jobs. That is not true either. Staffing agencies want to give you the best rate possible. They want you to stay in the job, so of course they’re going to try to get you more money.

Take this story, for example. A young man was working at a company and he asked for a raise. They wouldn’t give him one so he left and went to work for a staffing agency. The staffing agency eventually staffed him back at his old employer for double the pay. Double the pay!

So, that’s my point. Staffing agencies negotiate higher rates because those employers really need that help. And this is a great opportunity for you to make more money.

Myth #3: You Have To Pay The Staffing Agency To Get A Job

Job search on laptop

One of the craziest myths I’ve heard is that you’re going to have to pay the staffing agency. That is not true at all. If anybody is trying to make you pay to get a job, please run in the other direction.

The staffing agency gets paid through the employer. Not only do they get paid to cover the cost of hiring you and all the additional expenses, but then they earn a surcharge off that as well. The actual company that you’re working for benefits from this too because they don’t have to pay all the extra expenses of having you as a full-time employee. It’s a total win-win situation, but you’re never going to have to pay.

Myth #4: There’s No “Career Padding” When You Work With A Staffing Agency

Job candidates wait for their interviews with a staffing agency

The last myth about working for staffing agencies is this idea that there’s no “career padding”—that if you become a temp, it doesn’t help your career at all. That’s not true.

First of all, a lot of these jobs can go from temp to perm, meaning you start out there, and if they like you and you like them, they’ll offer you a full-time job. Working for a staffing agency is a great way to get your foot in the door.

Also, working for a staffing agency can let you go out on various assignments, giving you more diversity of your experience in terms of industry and skill sets, which can make you more marketable and allow you to earn more money.

Ultimately, working for a staffing or temp agency can be a wonderful way to catapult your career.

Want To Work With A Staffing Agency? Attend This Live Event To Learn More!

I am so lucky to be partnering with a staffing agency called Express Pros. Now that you understand that all of these myths are working against you and there are so many advantages to working for a staffing company, what are you waiting for?

Join us on Wednesday, September 28th at 1:30 pm ET / 10:30 am PT for an in-depth conversation on the power of working with a staffing agency to make your career dreams come true!

ATTEND LIVE EVENT

How To Overcome Age Discrimination In Your 2023 Job Search

How To Overcome Age Discrimination In Your 2023 Job Search

Do you think age discrimination is affecting your job search? Do you feel like you are losing out to the competition because you’re older? If so, you’re not alone in this thinking, and I’m going to share with you some information that’s going to help you overcome this challenge.

I have been getting a ton of questions lately on the subject of age discrimination, and I want to start by breaking a huge misconception—the fact that it’s not technically age discrimination that you’re experiencing. It’s experience discrimination.

What Is Experience Discrimination?

Job candidate experiencing age discrimination in the hiring process

What do I mean by that? Well, let me give you a little history. Right now there are about 40 million baby boomers in the workforce. These are people in their fifties, sixties, and beyond, and all of them have decided to stay in the workforce a lot longer than the generations before them.

The problem is that, over the last 10+ years, 70 million people from younger generations have also emerged and entered the workforce.

Millennials and Gen Z make up over half the workforce today, and many of them are now in their late twenties and early thirties. This means that they have enough years of experience to be relevant in the marketplace, and given the fact that they cost a lot less—and oftentimes have fewer bad habits and are more technologically savvy—more and more employers hire them over older, more seasoned, more experienced workers.

Again, it’s not really age discrimination. It is a case of the law of supply and demand. If you think about the world of business, there is too much supply—too many seasoned workers—and not enough demand for their skill sets (even with low unemployment rates).

So, what do you do about this?

Well, first understand that this situation isn’t only affecting baby boomers. Eventually, millennials are going to get impacted by this as well. This is due to what is called “globalization,” and every single day the geographic and economic boundaries to getting affordable help are lowering around the world.

In fact, I was working with a client recently who told me how he could hire one PhD here in the U.S., or hire three PhDs for the same price in Europe. This trend is going to continue. Believe it or not, here in the U.S., we all live in the 1% in terms of income and opportunity when compared to the rest of the world.

So, start thinking about how you’re going to change your strategy with respect to your career and your relevance in the marketplace. Again, it’s a supply and demand concept. What you want to do is build a way where your skill sets and expertise are in less supply, so that you are higher in demand.

Now that you understand this whole concept, what you want to do is focus on the fact that you are no longer an employee. You are a business-of-one, and your job is to sell and market your services to employers.

For a business to stay in business, it has to stay relevant in the marketplace. And there are three specific things that we suggest people do in order to make that happen for themselves.

Step 1: Define Your Personal Brand

Older professional overcomes age discrimination with a good personal brand

The first thing you have to do is define your personal brand.

You have to understand what you’re the go-to person for, what your specialty is, and specifically what problems you solve/what pain point you alleviate. This is because employers can only hire you when you save or make them enough money. When you solve their problems, you alleviate their pains to justify the cost of hiring you.

So, it’s on you to get very clear about what your value proposition is, and to do so I suggest that you take our free “career decoder” quiz. This is going to show you what your workplace personas are—the things that you like to do, the tasks that you like to accomplish, and how you like to deliver value in the workplace.

Understanding your workplace personas is the first step in building a very clear personal brand that will help people understand why they should hire you.

Step 2: Follow A Smart Career Strategy

Older woman combats age discrimination during a job interview

The second step in the process is to follow a smart career strategy. Today, every job is temporary, and we know that school has taught us everything except how to manage our careers.

Now that the marketplace is always changing, you can’t build a 5, 10, or 20-year career plan. You can really only do one or two years out at a time. Your career strategy has to be agile, but it has to be very succinct and focused at the same time.

So, at any given time, you should know exactly what you’re trying to achieve, both in your career overall and specifically with regard to relevant skills that you’re trying to grow and leverage.

What you don’t want to do is plateau. Again, I’ve seen a lot of seasoned workers in their fifties and sixties who got to a certain level in their career and thought, “This is good enough; my skills are good enough.” Meanwhile, the whole world around them was changing.

This kind of works like a bell curve. They go up, they plateau, and they start to go down. Now all of a sudden they’re trying to get any job they can—but they’ve also outpriced themselves in the market.

So your job is to always keep focusing on growing your skills, and being able to tell the world specifically what you’re doing to upskill every single year.

Step 3: Work On Your Career, Not Just “In” It

The third step is for you to work on your career as much as you work in it. The truth is that we can easily get caught up in the day-to-day aspects of our job and kind of grind through our week, our months, and our years without ever really thinking about the strategy of our career.

One of the biggest components of this is networking. These days, your network is your net worth. It’s all about who you know.

There are tons of studies that show the best way to get your next job is through a networking connection. If you haven’t checked out our video on this, we’ve got some great resources on networking that can really help you start to understand this—especially with regard to online networking tools like LinkedIn.

A lot of people don’t understand that there are protocols that you need to follow in online networking that are very similar to offline or in-person networking. Unfortunately, people have been short-cutting these protocols and making some terrible, terrible mistakes in the process.

So, please make sure that you’re digitally networking the right way—growing your network, nurturing your network, serving your network. This is the best way for you to have a healthy network, should something happen and you suddenly need to look for a new job. You’ll be able to tap into your professional network without having to start from scratch.

No matter your age and experience level, building these skill sets and having these strategies in place is vital to a successful career. And it’s especially important if you’re trying to overcome experience discrimination.

Again, you are now a business-of-one, and you need to stay on top of these trends in order to stay relevant. Remember these tips and you’ll successfully overcome age discrimination in your job search.

Need help staying relevant in today’s job market?

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