Job search advice Archives - Page 21 of 23

4 Ways College Grads Can Get A Jump On The Job Search

May 27, 2022

Finding a job after college can be tough! There’s stiff competition, and sometimes students are at the mercy of the economy that they graduate into. Many college grads often take minimum wage jobs or jobs that they’re overqualified for in order to make ends meet.

The key to landing a job out of college is preparing for the job search process while still in school. Unfortunately, they don’t always teach you about the job search process in school, so it’s up to students to take responsibility for their future careers.

Here are some tips to put yourself in a position to land a job after college.

Be Thoughtful About Your Career Path

Do you know what the career options are for your degree? How competitive the industry is? What the average salary is for the type of role you’re pursuing?

These are not questions you should be seeking to answer after graduation. These are all questions that should’ve been asked prior to declaring a major.

Research…research…research!

Knowing what you might be in for after graduation can help you with planning. You could meet with your advisor well in advance of graduation and look at potential internships and identify potential companies to work for, giving you a head start on your networking efforts.

If you failed to prepare like this prior to graduation, you did put yourself at an initial disadvantage, but you’re certainly not doomed!

What If You’re Unsure About Your Career Path?

Even after college, some people are unsure about what they want to do for a career. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. You need to do an honest assessment of yourself and determine the valuable skills that you possess. Most importantly, ask yourself, “What are some of the things I love doing?”

Work It Daily also has resources that can assist you in your search. Our FREE Career Decoder Quiz will help you determine your professional persona. Knowing your professional persona will help you understand the skills you have that bring value to the job and what you find professionally and personally fulfilling.

In addition, whether you’re a graduate or still a student, don’t limit your opportunities to learn new skills.

Chances are you have interests outside of your course of study. You should be open to pursuing those interests. It could be that you’re a health/science major with an interest in computers. Why not take some computer courses?

Interested in learning a trade? Electricians, plumbers, contractors, and auto mechanics are all in demand.

If you’re still in school, you have an opportunity to take additional courses or decide on a double major or minor.

Options may be a bit more limited for recent grads, but there are always online courses, certification programs, or specialty course programs available. As long as you have a hunger for more knowledge, you should never stop wanting to learn. The more skills you have, the more career options are available to you. Options are important during the job search for recent grads.

Educate Yourself About The Job Search Process

College can’t prepare you for everything, and most of the lessons people learn from the job search process come from real-world experience. However, there are some things you can do to prepare.

First, research as many potential jobs as you can before graduation and identify some potential companies that you would like to work for (this is called your interview bucket list). Second, prepare multiple resumes tailored for the specific positions for which you’re applying.

A recruiter needs to see the skills you have that apply to the position within the first six seconds of reading your resume. You should also prepare a disruptive cover letter where you really bring attention to yourself by telling a story about how you connect with the company.

The last thing you need to do is reach out and network. It’s not enough to just send in a resume and cover letter and hope that you’ll be contacted. Reach out to people who work at the company through LinkedIn and introduce yourself. Use the fact that you’re a graduating student seeking knowledge to your advantage. There are professionals who enjoy the opportunity to mentor.

Even if these new connections don’t translate into an immediate job, you’ve made your first professional contacts which could come in handy at some other point in time. Knowing how to conduct a proactive job search will serve you well throughout your professional life.

Remember, There’s Nothing Wrong With Changing Career Paths

Sometimes you find happiness and success in a career field that you didn’t go to school for. That’s okay (and normal). Life happens!

For new grads, the goal is usually to find work in your field of study and it’s great when things work out that way. But as the job search process goes on you may fall into a job that you weren’t planning to and end up liking it. If the job makes you happy and there’s room for growth, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it. It’s a personal decision.

This will be true throughout your professional life. You may end up working in your field, but, as time goes on, priorities and life circumstances change. You may develop new skills that draw you into a new career direction. The goal is to always put yourself in a position to succeed and sometimes that means making a change.

Preparation and keeping an open mind are the two common themes when it comes to the job search for recent grads. There are no guarantees for new graduates, so you have to be ready for anything. Hopefully, by knowing what to expect, you’ll know how to land a job after college and can land a job that matches your talents.

Here at Work It Daily, we understand how difficult it is to find a job and grow your career as a recent college grad. If you’re struggling to find a job that’s right for you, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Should You Tell Your Boss About A Job Interview?

May 23, 2022

Somebody reached out to me recently and said, “I love my current company, but it’s time to move on. I like my boss, and I know when I leave I’m going to leave them in a lurch. I have a final interview tomorrow and I feel like they know something’s going on. I should probably tell them, right?”

No, you don’t tell them.

Why You Shouldn’t Tell Your Boss You’re Interviewing For A New Job

@j.t.odonnell Should you tell your boss about your job interview? #jobsearchtips #jobsearch #jobtips #careertiktok #careeradvice #careertips â¬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

You shouldn’t tell your boss you’re interviewing for a new job because you’re going to make this situation so much more awkward. It will actually hurt you in the long run from a relationship standpoint. If you want this bossâwho you appreciate so muchâto be a reference one day, then you need to do the right thing.

So, here’s what you should do.

You go in for the job interview. If you get the job, decide if you want to take it or not, and then go to your boss and resign. And, if possible, try to offer more than two weeks’ notice. Maybe you could give your boss three weeks’ notice. That is the better thing to do to show them that you respect them and you’re trying not to leave them in the lurch.

My issue with you telling them you’re interviewing for a new job is that they’re probably going to want to try to keep you, but study after study shows that never works out. You’ve revealed that you want to leave, so they’re never going to trust you again. And a lot of times they just end up keeping you and offering for you to stay, only to get frustrated and let you go, or you stay and you’re still not really happy and you leave anyways. Those situations lead to bad blood and then you won’t be able to use your boss as a reference.

The right thing to do is wait. Go in for the interview, get the job offer, decide if you want the new job, and then resign professionally. And again, if possible, give your boss an extra week’s notice. You’ll leave on good terms without damaging any professional relationships you’ve made.

Navigating a job search can be tricky, especially if you’re still employed. The good news is, I can help.

I’d love it if you joined my FREE community where professionals like you are learning how to become empowered in their careers so they can finally find career happiness and satisfaction, and overcome job burnout once and for all!

Sign up for my FREE community and become a Workplace Renegade today! My team and I are looking forward to working with you soon.

7 Ways Your Resume Is Boring Just Like Everyone Else’s

May 18, 2022May 20, 2022

More and more job seekers are coming to us and letting us know about internal opportunities within their organization that they would like to apply to. But even as more opportunities open up, the competition is as strong—or stronger—than ever before. That’s why your resume has to be perfect.

Your resume needs to stand out to the hiring manager. If you’re not getting job interviews, your resume probably isn’t as good as you think it is. In fact, it’s probably boring employers. So, take it out, brush it off, and let’s kick it up a notch.

Here are seven reasons why your resume is boring, and how to fix it…

1. It’s Still Sporting That Outdated Objective

If your resume is utilizing an objective, you really should trash it and start all over with a fresh, powerful top fold that includes your personal branding statement and a list of the skills you possess that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. A polished personal branding statement will catch the employer’s attention and give him or her the best information up front—the information he or she needs to make a decision to call you to schedule an interview.

2. The Design/Format Is Also Outdated

There is a strategy behind resume formatting and design. A simple resume format is best because it makes it easier for employers to read the information you’ve provided. But if you haven’t updated your resume formatting in years, it probably contains a lot of text and not enough white space, therefore making it hard for hiring managers to get the information they need in the few seconds they’re reviewing your resume. You’ll look out of touch and they’ll be bored quickly. So, make sure you updated your resume formatting!

3. It’s Missing Important Keywords

Omit keywords and the ATS (software system scanning your resume) can’t find you. The recruiter giving your resume a quick once-over is looking for specific keywords as well. Leave them out and you’ll be left out of the interview process.

4. It Has Generic And/Or Vague Statements

Avoid using the same old terminology that everyone else uses in their resumes. Yes, we know you can problem solve. But instead of telling me you’re a problem solver, show me the result of a problem you solved. An effective resume contains quantifiable accomplishments, not just duties or responsibilities.

5. It Doesn’t Focus On Hard Skills

And the championship goes to…hard skills. I used to be a full-time recruiter, and I used Monster and CareerBuilder to search for candidates. Not once did I enter the search terms: great communicator, excellent verbal skills, detail-oriented. These are universal statements millions use to describe themselves. Give me something tangible and relevant to the position I am trying to fill. You’ll demonstrate these hard skills when you quantify your work experience.

6. It Tells vs. Shows

Instead of wasting valuable real estate on your resume providing me with a rundown of the job description (the same one I’ve read a million times as a hiring manager), show me what you achieved, what you accomplished, and what you contributed in the past.

Wow me with something other than the predictable, mundane job description. I want to know the challenges you faced in your previous roles, how you addressed them, and the results you obtained. This makes you different from everyone else. No two people will have the exact same experiences. Your experiences are what make you outshine your competition—use them to your advantage!

7. It’s Passive

Using passive terminology is boring and lacks action. Instead of using phrases like “served as,” “duties included,” “promoted to,” and “worked with,” choose strong action verbs. Action verbs do just what they say: they convey action and, ultimately, results.

The hiring manager is interested in the results you can provide about what you did along the way. Choose terms like: launched, catapulted, spearheaded, and pioneered. These words tell me something. They show me the action you took and captivate my attention so that I want to read on to discover the results you achieved.

Your resume needs to do two things: it needs to capture the hiring manager’s attention, and it needs to motivate him or her to pick up the phone and call you for an interview. If you look and sound like everyone else, you have no competitive advantage. Therefore, you’ve provided the HR person with zero motivation to pick up the phone, call you, and schedule an interview.

Stop creating a ‘same old, same old’ resume that looks and feels just like everyone else’s. Start by adding some variety and focusing on your accomplishments today.

We know how difficult it can be to write a resume when there’s so much conflicting information out there. If you’re struggling to write an effective resume and land job interviews, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you write your resume—the right way.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

12 Best Tips For Entry-Level Job Seekers

May 11, 2022May 12, 2022

As a recent college graduate, it is always intimidating looking for your first job. At this point, you are more interested in getting into the corporate world rather than getting that dream job.

Have you ever thought about what leads you to that “dream job”? Precision, positivity, and a good attitude are the keys to not only getting an entry-level job but succeeding in it. And when you start your career on the right foot in an entry-level job, you’ll quickly position yourself for a raise and/or promotion, and you’ll be well on your way to getting that dream job.

Here are a few tips for entry-level job seekers looking to land their first job out of college:

12 Tips For Entry-Level Job Seekers

1. Get Noticed with Your Cover Letter

For a job opening, it’s common for the hiring manager to get a thousand applications. What’s so great about you? Why should you get an interview? Give it your best shot by providing a precise, interesting, and effective cover letter. The right disruptive cover letter encourages the recruiter to go through your resume.

2. Refrain from Long Stories

First off, your cover letter should only be about a page long. Similarly, your resume should only include quantifiable work experience—no long-winded descriptions of duties and tasks you were responsible for at a previous employer.

3. Don’t Get Overly Formal

Be simple yet effective. On your resume and cover letter, do not use bold phrases, clichés, or idioms to create an impression.

4. Have Faith in Yourself

Confidence is essential to your career. There is no place for “good” in the corporate world. Competition is fierce and companies want someone who believes in themselves and knows their value. If you don’t know your value as a business-of-one, how can you expect to prove your value to employers?

5. Know About the Organization

It’s important to research the company before going in for a job interview. Make sure you know each bit of the organization you are applying to—the latest happenings, the past issues, the website, and the company culture. You should aim to know at least 80% of what a current employee knows.

6. Sell Yourself Logically

One of the most important questions to answer is, “How beneficial can you be for the organization?” Employers want to know if you can solve whatever problem they’re facing because they’re not hiring someone just for the heck of it. Talk in terms of what you can do to make the organization better. If you have sales experience, you can say something like, “With my knowledge and experience in sales, I can make sure I sell at least XYZ amount of products each month by working on XYZ aspects.” Use the STAR method or “Experience + Learn = Grow” method to ace those tricky behavioral interview questions.

7. Act Mature

Be polite and take your job interviews seriously. Talk in terms of how your abilities can help in the betterment of the organization. No one wants to know what you learned from your childhood.

8. Relate Your Abilities to the Job

Focus on talking about those trainings, subjects, certifications, and specializations that have something to do with the job you’re applying for. What makes you qualified for the position?

9. Never Boast About Your GPA

You might be a brilliant student, but if you fail to impress the interviewer, your GPA will not save you. Do not rely on your GPA to make a good impression and prove you’re smart and hardworking. Focus on your experience and accomplishments instead.

10. Don’t Exaggerate

Don’t lie or exaggerate on your resume or in a job interview. Even a single white lie can outshine your abilities and competencies.

11. Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare

Always prepare before walk into an interview well-prepared. This includes everything from your appearance to knowledge about the organization. get information about the interviewer, too.

12. Leave like a Lady/Gentleman

Always leave by paying good regards to the interviewer and showing your interest in working in the organization. And don’t forget to send a thank-you note!

As an entry-level job seeker, remember these 12 tips as you look for your first job out of college. You’ll be sure to stand out from the competition!

If you’re struggling to find a job as a recent college grad, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

5 Tips For Job Searching While Pregnant

April 21, 2022April 23, 2022

Bringing a baby into the world is a wonderful thing, but some women fear that it will hold them back in their job search. Don’t panic! Before you start looking for a new job, check out these quick tips for job searching while you’re pregnant:

1. Consider Your Obligations

Having a baby means having more responsibilities and day-to-day duties. Before you start your job search, you need to consider what obligations you will have for your new baby, job search, and potential new job. It’s important to be honest with yourself about what you’re looking for when you’re considering potential positions.

Here are a few questions you should be asking yourself:

What kind of schedule do I need? Flexible or structured?
How close should I be to a good daycare?
Do I want the ability to work from home?
How far am I willing to commute?

Determine what things are most important for you and your family, then figure out your game plan from there.

2. Be Careful About How You Handle The Subject

If you are pregnant and looking for work, your approach really depends on how much you are showing, according to Work It Daily’s founder and CEO J.T. O’Donnell. In the first trimester, when you aren’t showing yet, you may not be telling anyone since there can be complications and miscarriages. Although you don’t have to share that you are pregnant, keep in mind that when your employer finds out you’re going out on maternity leave in six months, they will feel like you took advantage of them. “I’ve even seen companies start to nitpick and put a person on performance review so they can fire them before their maternity leave,” says O’Donnell. “It happens.”

O’Donnell suggests being honest at the time they make the offer so they know the truth. At this point, they should be excited about working with you and appreciate your honesty. And, if they rescind the offer, you would have grounds for a law case since it’s illegal to discriminate against a pregnant woman.

3. Market Yourself Like Crazy

When you are visibly pregnant, you’ll just have to market yourself like crazy and show them that you’ll be very valuable to them in the time leading up to your maternity leave. “I suggest you look specifically for jobs where the company is desperate and needed to hire the person yesterday,” O’Donnell says. “That sense of urgency can work to your advantage.”

If you don’t get hired right away, you may think it’s because of your protruding belly. Yes, it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against you, but without an offer, it’s hard to prove. However, if you can leverage your network and get people to vouch for your effectiveness and value as an employee, you should be able to get referred to a job where the employer will be happy to have you on board, even if you’ll be headed out on maternity leave.

4. Have A Plan Of Action

If it’s obvious that you’re expecting and you’re still nervous that it will hurt your chances at a job, Mary Ylisela, a health and parenting writer, suggests providing a clear-cut plan of action for balancing your pregnancy and career to your potential employer.

“If you’re seeking a job you’d like to begin after your baby is born, make that clear during the interview and have a plan for childcare that demonstrates you’re prepared to be reliable,” writes Ylisela in Brazen Careerist. If you show the employer that your baby plans will not interfere with your work, you will likely put a potential employer’s concerns at ease. “If you demonstrate your value to the company you’re interviewing with, you have a leg up on other applicants who don’t—without pregnancy even becoming a factor,” Ylisela says.

5. Pay Attention To The Benefits

While every job searcher should pay attention to benefits (because they count as part of your total compensation), pregnant candidates may see more immediate value in choosing an employer with desirable benefit offerings. Lindsey Pollak, a millennial workplace expert, recommends that pregnant job seekers pay specific attention to the benefits that potential employers are offering during their job search.

Pollak’s work on The Hartford’s My Tomorrow campaign found that pregnancy is the top reason women under 30 claim disability insurance—at 57% of claims for those under 30. Disability insurance that you get through work can help pregnant women take the necessary time off of work by providing an income and resources to help ease the transition back to work. “It’s also worth considering benefits as part of your negotiation with a new employer,” Pollak said. “Because they are part of your total compensation, you shouldn’t be afraid to discuss them in negotiations as you would your salary.”

Job searching while pregnant isn’t easy, but we hope these tips will help you successfully find a job if you’re expecting. If you need more help finding a job while pregnant, we’re here for you.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

3 Warning Signs The Job Will Be Bad

April 18, 2022April 19, 2022

You applied for a job and made it through to the interview process. You’re incredibly excited to meet the hiring manager and potential future co-workers. But during your interview, whether prompted by something you heard or observed, you suddenly get a bad feeling about the job opportunity. Is this a sign that the job will be bad?

It is possible to spot a bad job and/or toxic work environment during an interview. Luckily, if you know what to look for and learn to trust your gut, you’ll also likely avoid accepting a job offer for a bad/toxic job. In your next job interview, watch out for these three warning signs the job will be bad…

1. The Hiring Manager Doesn’t Ask You A Lot Of Questions

@j.t.odonnell 3 Signs the job opportunity could be bad. #badboss #badjob #toxixjob #toxicboss #careertiktok #careeradvice #careertok #jobinterview #jobinterviewtips ♬ Eyes. Lips. Face. (e.l.f.) – iLL Wayno & Holla FyeSixWun

The first warning sign you should watch out for is when the person interviewing you does all the talking. They don’t ask you a lot of questions. They just sit and talk about the job and how great the company is. Really good managers and companies have clear expectations and they’re going to get at that through a series of questions to you in an interview. So if you don’t do a lot of talking, something’s up.

2. The Employees Aren’t Talking To Each Other

The next warning sign to watch out for requires you to be observant. If you’re physically in the office for the job interview and notice that people aren’t really chatting much, that’s a bad sign. Maybe they look a little serious and aren’t very open to talking about the company and the opportunity. Happy employees love to talk about their employer.

3. There’s No Formal Job Description

The final warning sign that the job will be bad is if there’s no formal job description. And when you ask for it, the hiring manager says there isn’t one. Good companies always have job descriptions clearly written out so that they can make sure you understand your expectations.

If any of these warning signs are popping up in your interview, the job will probably be bad and you could end up dealing with a toxic work environment. Now, you might be tempted to accept the job offer even if you have a bad feeling because you’ve been looking for a job for a while. This will only hurt your career down the road. No matter how desperate you are for a job, you should never accept a job offer if there are major warning signs. The good news is, I can help you find the right job for YOU.

Sign up for my FREE community and become a Workplace Renegade today! My team and I are looking forward to working with you soon.

3 Questions That Will Help You Find Your Dream Job

April 15, 2022April 16, 2022

Why is figuring out what we want to do with our lives so painfully difficult? Seriously! It’s like we’ve all been given this massive amount of energy that we’re aching to use in a productive and enjoyable way. Yet discovering what to use it on eludes us. And the longer it takes to discover what we really want to do, the more uncomfortable we feel. That restless energy builds, and we long to be utilized for a worthy purpose.

The hard part for most of us is figuring out what that purpose is. And if you’re in a similar position, then this article is going to help you focus that energy. These three powerful questions will help you figure out what you’re meant to be doing:

What Are Your “Super Human” Strengths?

According to a Gallup study, people who use their strengths and like what they’re doing are 127% more productive than the average employee! It makes sense. When you’re doing what you’re naturally good at, you’re more likely to be in flow, that magical state when you’re in the zone and feel like you can achieve anything.

So, how do you figure out your work strengths? You can take Work It Daily’s FREE Workplace Personas Quiz to see what your professional strengths are, and how to use them to your advantage!

What Are Your Core Values?

Do you value freedom, adventure, and risk-taking? You might not want to get a desk job. Or what if you value family, relationships, and security? Perhaps you’ll find your best fit working from home, or at an office nearby with flexible work hours.

Figuring out what’s most important to you helps narrow down the field of possible career choices, not only in terms of lifestyle but also in terms of what kind of company and people you want to work with. Strong values of corporate responsibility and environmental consciousness will mean that a certain group of organizations won’t appeal to you, while others will.

So, do some deep reflection and list out everything that’s important to you, keeping in mind the eight key areas of life. Narrow that list down to 10 items. Then, try to get it down to your top three or five, and make sure that any opportunity you accept fits with those values. This is an incredibly powerful exercise for me each time I do it, and I think it will be for you as well.

What Inspires You Like Nothing Else?

Doing something that inspires you is at the core of reaching high states of happiness, and the most inspiring thing you can do is contribute to something you feel has a higher purpose. Something bigger than yourself. Like Batman, except without all the violence…hopefully.

Yet similar to Batman, one excellent way of figuring out what inspires you is to think about what makes you really, really angry in the world. What can’t you stand? Bruce Wayne, or Batman, couldn’t stand the fact that criminals were taking over his city, so he took a stand against crime. In doing so, he inspired others.

So, what bugs you the most in the entire world? And who’s doing the best job of solving that problem? When you tap into your strengths, figure out your core values, and contribute those to a purpose that inspires you, then you’ve found your dream job.

Bonus Tip: Find A Mentor!

Once you answer these three questions, there’s a way to speed up your progress even more and get your dream job as quickly as possible: find a mentor. More specifically, by following in the footsteps of people who have already done what you want to do.

Answering these questions and taking these steps will help you get closer to figuring out what your dream job is. If you need more help finding and landing your dream job, especially if you’re feeling lost, trapped, or burned out in your career, we’re here for you.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

SMART Goals For Job Seekers

April 14, 2022April 16, 2022

There are two perspectives on SMART goals for job seekers, one from the viewpoint of the activities you perform as part of your job search, the other focused on understanding the expectations of a position you’re considering.

SMART goals, originally attributed to Peter Drucker, has been interpreted with various modifications and additions, but generally refers to goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable (Achievable, Actionable), Realistic (Relevant), and Time-Bound (Time-Based, Timely). There’s strong agreement on the “Specific” and “Measurable,” with several variations of the “__ART” elements. Specific, Measurable, and Time-Bound are generally agreed upon as core elements.

For The Job Search

For job seekers, SMART goals can be a powerful tool to guide the process. While many individuals are familiar with the idea from its common work application, it’s a new—and much-needed—process for many job seekers. And for those unfamiliar with the idea, it can be further complicated by the claim of goals being set for them in their work experience—goals that are absolutely not SMART. So, a job seeker might just set an extremely broad goal, like “finding a new job,” or might set some seemingly more specific goals like:

Revise my resume
Contact my references
Search online for job opportunities
Send thank you emails

While setting some goals, any goals, particularly if they’re written down, is better than not having any goals, these are definitely not SMART goals. More importantly, goals like these deprive a job seeker of the power of having SMART goals.

Research on goal setting clearly demonstrates the power—and the dangers—of goal setting. Goals that are not SMART fail to motivate top performance and/or lead to inaction. Goals that are set too high (not Realistic) frequently prompt a person’s decision to “give up.” Understanding the dynamics of goal setting can be a powerful tool for a job seeker’s success.

Let’s turn the examples above into SMART goals:

Revise my resume – Create a customized resume for each job opening I want to apply for by next Sunday.
Contact my references – Identify at least one reference from my previous employers and contact them within the next month with my resume and information on the jobs I’m seeking.
Search online for job opportunities – Check online for job opportunities at least twice a week.
Send thank you emails – Send thank you emails within 24 hours of an interview to each person involved.

For The Interview

Understanding SMART goals can also be a powerful tool for a candidate to use during an interview. Job postings, ads, and even job descriptions can be filled with generalities and duties that, at best, describe average performance.

A job seeker is frequently asked, “Do you have any questions?” Seize this opportunity whenever given. Unless the following has been made clear to you, ask: “If I were offered and accepted this position, and you considered me extremely successful in my first year, what did I accomplish?” Then probe! And probe whenever you can during an interview when you don’t have clear, specific (SMART) expectations from the interviewer:

Specifically, what do you expect the person in this job to accomplish in the first 90 days?
- In the first six months?
- In the first year?
The job description says the job includes “making sales calls.” How many are considered acceptable in a day? In a month?
- How many of the company’s sales staff regularly achieve acceptable performance?
- How many sales calls are considered “outstanding performance”?
The job description says that the job includes “leading the team.” How many people are on the team?
- How many members are new? Long-time members?
- Is the team facing specific challenges? Problems?
- What resources are available for developing the team? Training? Assessments?
- What’s the time frame for improving the team’s performance?
You mentioned “the usual customer service” responsibilities, could you tell me…
- What does “outstanding” customer service mean for this business?
- What kind of training is provided for customer service?
- What are the customer service expectations in terms of working with colleagues?
- (Somewhat advanced but a good question) Is compensation tied to the quality of service provided by a person in this job?

These probing questions need to be customized for each individual position. But just like the importance of thoroughly preparing your responses to questions about your experience, this is where you thoroughly prepare by 1) researching the company and 2) preparing questions that probe for:

Specific: Are you given answers with clear “action” verbs?
Measurable: Is there a clear measurement (a number) that indicates a performance level?
Attainable: Are the expectations achievable, too low (usually not specific), or unrealistically high?
Realistic: Are the results of the actions specified indicated?
Time-Bound: Are the expectations framed in terms of “when”?

SMART goals can be a very powerful part of a successful job search—and a powerful tool for a job seeker to use during the interview process—if a job seeker learns and practices the process.

The job search process can be incredibly frustrating and stressful, especially if you’re feeling lost, trapped, or burned out in your career. If you’re struggling to find a job that’s right for you, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

5 Things To Do If You’re Unemployed

April 8, 2022April 12, 2022

Know the saying, “Applying to jobs is a full-time job”? Don’t listen to it.

Applying to jobs you’re not qualified for is counterproductive to your job search. Competition is too fierce. Even qualified applicants aren’t getting callbacks. So, stop applying to so many jobs and allocate time each week to becoming more hirable. Here’s how:

1. Volunteer

Volunteering can increase your chances of being hired if you’re strategic about it. Unemployed teacher? Help out with after-school programs or volunteer to be a coach’s assistant. Web designer? Find a local non-profit in desperate need of a redesign and offer your services pro bono. By volunteering somewhere relevant, you’ll keep your skills fresh while enhancing your resume.

2. Keep Your Skills Current

If you lack a skill commonly required for jobs you’re seeking, spend time each day developing that skill. Take advantage of numerous free resources online, including tutorials, eBooks, and how-to videos. If you’d rather have more of a class setup, then look for free or affordable classes in your area. Alternatively, if you already possess the necessary skills but haven’t been practicing, then do so. Skill atrophy is a huge concern for hiring managers, so practice and get yourself ready for pre-employment skills tests.

3. Network, Network, Network

There are two parts to networking: reconnecting with your old contacts and forming new ones.

Depending on where you are in your career, reconnecting might mean contacting professors, college advisers, and internship supervisors, or it might mean getting in touch with old colleagues, bosses, and business acquaintances. Find them, email them, call them. Ask them if they would like to grab a coffee. Ask how they are (networking is social, after all) and let them know the specifics of your job search (industry, location, etc.). See if they know of anything or anyone. Most importantly, follow up!

At a temporary dead-end with your current contacts? Make new ones. Go to networking events sponsored by your university, industry, city, and so on. And look beyond traditional networking events. Consider going to lectures, neighborhood council meetings, and even community bar crawls (go easy on the sauce).

Each of these provides an opportunity to meet people with similar interests, and you can have fun in the process. Again, follow up!

4. Freelance

Some job seekers are opposed to anything that’s not a full-time job. If this sounds like you, it’s time to change your mindset. Freelancing is a great way to boost your skills, resume, portfolio, professional network, income, and confidence.

5. Build An Online Presence

Get found online. Start a blog, spruce up your social media profiles, and/or create an online portfolio to showcase your work. Find companies you’re interested in working for, subscribe to their blogs, and follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Find decision-makers at those companies and follow them as well. Learn what they’re talking about, do a little research, and then engage with them online. Impress them with your interest and insights.

Worst-case scenario: You’ll learn what’s important to them and use this information to customize your application when a job opens up.

Better-case scenario: You’ll establish a rapport with someone who will recommend you for a position and/or tell you about hidden job openings.

Best-case scenario: You’ll impress someone so much over time that they’ll create a job for you or bring you in for an exploratory interview.

So, what are you doing to become more hirable? If you aren’t doing anything, then consider doing one (or more!) of these things, starting today.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

3 Keys To A Successful Job Search

April 1, 2022April 4, 2022

It can be very demanding looking for another job when your current one is constantly stressing you out. After all, when you get home from a long and frustrating day, the last thing you want to do is give any more thought to the world of work. Unfortunately, most new jobs don’t just fall into your lap—you have to go out and get them.

Approaching your job search as strategically and as systematically as you would approach your next business deal can help keep the process manageable. Here are three keys to a successful job search:

1. Initiation

If you were going to start a huge new project at work, would your first step be to just sit down and start the project? Of course not! A lot of planning and preparation go into any major project, and your job search should be no different. Therefore, the first step is NOT to sit down and start sending out dozens of generalized resumes to any job that sounds like a relatively good fit.

Your first task should be to determine exactly what you’re looking for in your next position. Just like you can’t write a project plan until you know what the project is, you simply cannot write an effective resume or cover letter without some idea of where you’d like your career to go. You may find this part of the process to be the most time-consuming, as it requires some soul-searching. However, it’s an essential step in the process that must not be skipped.

2. Planning

Once you’ve determined your professional goals, you’re ready to spend some time assembling your marketing tools—a cover letter, resume, and any other pertinent documents that support your message (like an optimized LinkedIn profile). This is essentially the same process as setting up a project at work; you need both plans and human resources for an effective job search.

It’s important to tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job that you’re applying to. In order to have a powerful resume, you have to lead with results and quantifiable accomplishments. This process takes time, so plan your schedule accordingly.

3. Execution

Only when you’ve established a goal and pulled together the tools needed to accomplish it should you actually start looking for and applying to jobs. Setting up email alerts through sites like Glassdoor.com or Indeed.com can save you hours of scouring through online job postings.

If you tackle your job search in a strategic and systematic manner, you should soon reach a place where you can go to your inbox, look through positions that may be a good fit for you, and then simply customize your polished resume for each application. Consider each quality job application you send off as a deliverable in the project of finding yourself another job. Whenever you successfully land your next position, you’ll be able to close out this project and move on to the next one!

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Create A Resume With Impact: Duties vs. Results

March 30, 2022April 4, 2022

When preparing your resume, remember this is a document to market your experience and skills and showcase what you have to offer. Your resume is much more effective and attractive to employers when it demonstrates what you have achieved with your previous experiences and what you can potentially achieve for the new employer.

Unfortunately, a bunch of the resumes employers receive today still read like a laundry list of duties. Avoid this common mistake with the tips below to create a resume with impact.

Don’t State The Obvious

If you’re simply describing your job duties on your resume—a generic job description—there’s probably going to be little interest from employers. Although today’s applicant tracking systems (the software that reads and ranks resumes) will need this information, employers really need to know how you performed against goals or your peers.

Quantify And Qualify Accomplishments

Your accomplishments on the job are what will differentiate you from the next candidate. They’re also what will help demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job.

For instance, if you have a career in sales, rather than state the obvious (“Contact prospective customers to introduce new product releases”) tie in the results you’ve achieved. A more effective statement would read: “Initiated contact with 20+ prospective customers on new product releases and secured 15 sales contracts, ranking as the top salesperson of the year.” This latter statement, which includes numbers that quantify your work experience, provides insight into why you’re a great candidate for a job in sales.

If you are in a position where it’s not easy to quantify accomplishments, then consider these questions:

Are you the only person doing this job?
If not, how many peers do you have, and how does your performance compare?
Are you the go-to person for anything in particular?
What are some of the things that your managers have put in your performance evaluations?

Be The Problem Solver

Job postings will include details of responsibilities, but sometimes they may also hint at situations where they seek candidates with particular experience in the area. Be the problem solver by demonstrating on your resume a similar situation that you took action on and resolved. Whether it was to help streamline order processing or enter a new international market, bullet points to convey experience on the matter and results achieved offer greater impact than detailing your general duties on the job.

Employers simply want to hire the best talent so show them what you can accomplish for them, not the general job duties of a position. Keep that in mind and you’ll create a resume with impact!

We know writing an effective resume isn’t easy, especially if you’re not excited about any of the jobs you’re applying for. If you’re feeling trapped, lost, or burned out in your career, we’re here to help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

7 Cover Letter Mistakes You Make When Applying Via Email

March 23, 2022March 25, 2022

How many times have you applied to a job via email by shooting the employer a copy of your resume and cover letter? I’m going to venture a guess and say at least 20 (but more likely hundreds of times) if you’ve been searching for any significant length of time.

Here are some of the most notorious cover letter mistakes we’ve seen when job seekers apply via email and what you can do to greatly improve your chances of being noticed (Make sure you remember these as you write your disruptive cover letter!):

1. Attaching The Cover Letter To The Email

What’s wrong with that, you ask? Most hiring managers aren’t going to open the cover letter and read it. They’ll go straight to the resume instead. Want to ensure your cover letter gets read? Copy and paste it into the body of the email. Whoever received the email will be much more likely to read it if it’s already right there in front of their face.

2. Writing Your Whole Life Story In The Body Of The Email

Don’t go overboard with details; keep it short. The hiring manager won’t be willing to invest a lot of time reading your email. Keep it short and to the point.

3. Providing Information Not Relevant To The Position

Here is a great example:

When I want to bring an additional resume/cover letter writer on staff, I’m not looking for someone with technical writing expertise, article writing skills, or journalism savvy. Those forms of writing aren’t relevant to what we do here. I want a writer who has extensive expertise and certification in resume writing. If someone goes on and on in their cover letter (or in the body of the email) about all their other writing experience, they will lose my interest. Instead, I want them to tell me about their most relevant experience as it relates to my needs. I want them to tell me about any resume writing experience they have.

Give the hiring manager a brief overview of the most relevant experience you have, appropriate to the position they are trying to fill. This will pique their interest—rather than lose it.

4. Excluding Information They’ve Specifically Asked You To Include

Depending on the position, the employer may ask you to submit a sample of your work, portfolio, hours of availability, or even salary requirements. Whatever it is they’ve asked you to include, make sure you include it in your cover letter. If not, you will most certainly be removed from consideration for failing to follow instructions.

Following instructions and acknowledging everything the employer has asked you to address in the job posting not only saves the employer time but makes you look good. I can tell you this from experience because 9 out of 10 applicants will fail to address every stipulation the employer has listed. It happens to us all the time.

5. Not Using A Cover Letter At All

We’ve received emails from applicants, and the body of the email provides either little or no information whatsoever. Some simply state, “Here is my resume for your review.” You are selling yourself short by not including at least a brief introduction, especially if the employer outlines specific requirements.

Take the time to write, “I see you need someone with availability to work nights and weekends; I would enjoy working these hours and am available to do so.” Or, “I have included a sample of my work for your consideration along with my resume. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

6. Forgetting To Tell Them Why You’re The Best Fit

Let me tell you about one of THE BEST cover letters I’ve ever seen: I could tell this person put effort into it—and she took the time to specifically and meticulously review our job requirements. She scrutinized our requirements and detailed in her cover letter how she had experience meeting those needs. It was applicable, relevant, and attention-getting. It was probably one of the only cover letters that actually made us want to read the corresponding resume.

7. Using A Boring Closing Statement

Instead of using the same old boring line, spice it up a bit. One of the more daring cover letter closings I have read closed with, “Call today, don’t delay.” I applauded her boldness and had to call her. The closing was confident, feisty, and it certainly grabbed my attention. Not to mention the entire cover letter addressed everything she brought to the table as a potential employee and how these elements were relevant to meeting our needs.

What I am trying to get you to see is boring the hiring manager with details not relevant to the job opening—or not making the most of the space and time you’re getting—is really to your detriment. Instead, take the time to write something catchy, relevant, and targeted to the position for which you are applying. Sure, it may take a few extra minutes to tweak your cover letter, but in the end, if you get the interview, won’t it be worth it?

We know how difficult it is to navigate job search and career challenges like writing an effective cover letter. If you need more help with anything in your career, we’re here for you. We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.