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4 Things To Do After Joining A LinkedIn Group

4 Things To Do After Joining A LinkedIn Group
  • May 3rd, 2024
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There are lot of specialized groups on LinkedIn that professionals can join in an effort to boost their networking strategy. However, just joining a group isn’t enough. Much like managing your LinkedIn profile, making the best use of being a member of a specialized group comes down to activity and management.

If you want to take full advantage of being a part of one of these LinkedIn Groups, here’s what you need to do.

Get Others To Take Notice

One of the easiest ways for others to take notice of you on LinkedIn is through discussion, and it’s the same for LinkedIn Groups.

Take part in the group discussions by posting a question of your own, providing an intelligent comment to other posts, or sharing relatable information with the group. No one is going to notice you if you’re just standing on the sidelines observing what goes on in the group.

Inform Others Of Your Passion And Expertise

Man on phone and laptop connects with someone on LinkedIn

Going along the first point above, as you consider what to post, comment, or share, make it relevant to your profession because it will help display your expertise on a particular subject matter. It’s not about leaving a generic comment or random post but building on the personal branding message you want to leave with people.

Remember that when companies are searching for potential job candidates, the more activity you have the better your ranking will be in LinkedIn’s search engine.

Search For Jobs

Young professional on laptop looks at job opportunities within her professional LinkedIn Group

Many employers, hiring managers, and recruiters will join professional groups on LinkedIn to help source talent and they will post any new job openings there.

When you find a job opening you like in a group, you already have a slight lead over other job seekers who are simply relying on the traditional job boards because you can now make direct contact with the person who posted the job and share the fact that you are both part of the same LinkedIn Group.

Make One-On-One Contact

Man on laptop checks his phone for a message from a LinkedIn connection

The beauty of joining a LinkedIn Group is you can now message any other member who’s joined the group. Start a one-on-one conversation with the individuals you admire and who you believe can offer valuable advice to help you through your job search.

When you approach individuals genuinely, most will openly respond. This is not to say you have to send an invite for them to join your network. Just simply get the conversation started.

LinkedIn clearly has many advantages to helping job seekers but knowing how to manage your LinkedIn profile and what activities to take part in are important to the process of making it work for your job search efforts. Follow the tips above to make the most of any LinkedIn Groups you decide to join. Happy networking!

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3 Critical Salary Negotiation Tips For 2024

3 Critical Salary Negotiation Tips For 2024
  • April 29th, 2024
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The job search market has completely changed. It is now an employer’s market. Companies have a lot of options to choose from, and they’re being very strategic and picky about who they hire. They’re also being budget conscious; they want the best bang for their buck, the greatest return on investment. So, how do you successfully negotiate salary in this kind of labor market?

If you want to negotiate a higher salary in 2024, follow these three critical salary negotiation tips.

1. Don’t Negotiate Salary When It’s Listed In the Job Description

Many hiring managers are given a set salary or bonus structure for a new hire that they’re told not to exceed. With that in mind, if a company has the salary range for a job publicly listed in the job description, please understand that they’re not even going to entertain talking to anybody who doesn’t agree to that amount.

So if your walkway rate, which is the least amount of money you could accept without having to still look for another job, is not in that range, it is not worth your time to apply.

If they post a range, you better be in that range—or don’t bother applying.

2. Use Evidence-Based Answering In Job Interviews To Prove Your Value

The interview process is where you make sure that you get the highest amount of money possible, and you’re going to accomplish that through evidence-based answering.

Evidence-based answering is when you provide very clear and concrete examples of how you achieved results in your career that show you can do the job. You can’t just say that you have the experience and give hypotheticals in this competitive market. You need to provide the evidence with storytelling.

At Work It DAILY, we call this storytelling technique the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model. It’s a framework for making sure that you answer behavioral interview questions correctly, giving the right amount of evidence to prove your value.

When you correctly use evidence-based answering in a job interview, you are proving to the hiring manager that you have the value that they need. I talk about how important your unique value add (UVA) is all the time. You demonstrate your UVA through this kind of evidence-based answering.

3. Create A Table To Show You Exceed Their Expectations & Requirements

When you get the job offer and it’s time to negotiate salary, you should have a two-column table ready to give to the hiring manager.

In the first column of this table, list all of the things that are required to do the job you’re interviewing for. Go back to the job description, but also add in anything else they told you through the interview process that is a requirement to do this job.

In the second column, match up your experience to these requirements. If they said you need five years of experience and you have seven, put seven in this second column. If they said you need to be able to do a certain type of project and you’ve done it 20 times, say you’ve done that project 20 times.

Then, go through the document, and any place where you exceed the requirement that they asked for, highlight it in green.

This becomes the document that you are going to use to negotiate a higher salary so that if you get the offer and the salary is lower than what you expected, you can go back to the hiring manager and say…

“I’m really honored and excited to get this job. However, I was hoping for X. I put together this table because this shows that I not only meet all your expectations, but in green, you can see where I exceed them. I truly believe I’m going to give you the best return on your investment if you pay me X, and I would love it if you would consider that because it would give me the confidence that you believe in me and I will make sure I am worth every penny.”

These three tips are going to help you maximize your salary negotiation in this current job market. Spending the time to create a table and use evidence-based answering in the job interview will make all the difference. You don’t want to wing it. The more you prepare for salary negotiation, the better off you’re going to be. I promise.

Good luck, and go get ’em!

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10 Inspirational Career Quotes For Recent College Grads

10 Inspirational Career Quotes For Recent College Grads
  • April 27th, 2024
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Congratulations, recent college grad! You’ve worked hard to get that degree and should be incredibly proud of your accomplishments. However, we know it can be easy to feel overwhelmed as a recent graduate, especially when you’re navigating the job search.

That being said, we all need a little inspiration once in a while when we’re applying for jobs and trying to decide which path is the right one.

Here are some great inspirational quotes recent college grads can turn to if they’re feeling discouraged by the job search process.

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” —Vince Lombardi

As a recent college grad, you’ll probably apply for quite a few jobs. There’s a good chance that not all of these jobs will get back to you and request an interview.

Rejection is a part of the job search, and it’s something everyone goes through. The key thing to remember here is that you have to bounce back after getting rejected.

Does getting rejected sting? Of course. However, it’s how you react to getting rejected that will define how the rest of your job search goes.

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”  —H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today." \u2014H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Trust us, you aren’t doing yourself any favors by procrastinating your job search. Put your best foot forward in your job search, starting today. Need to clean up that resume? Do it now. Is your LinkedIn profile incomplete? Fix it up today!

By doing the very best you can do today, you help prepare yourself for a better tomorrow.

For example, if you fix up your resume and cover letter today, and your dream job pops up tomorrow, you’ll be ready to apply with the best materials at your fingertips.

You never know when these big opportunities will come up, so it’s crucial for you to always be prepared to showcase your amazing skills.

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m Possible!'” —Audrey Hepburn

The sky is truly the limit when it comes to what you can do as a recent college graduate.

You may think it’s impossible to launch your own startup or apply for your international dream job, but the truth is that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Now we’re not saying it’ll be easy. There will definitely be times you want to drop everything and give up. However, it’s crucial that you keep your goals in mind, and do whatever you can to achieve them.

Believe in yourself and what you’re capable of doing. You made it through college, after all—that’s a huge accomplishment, and it proves that you can set a big goal and achieve it.

“You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past.” —Richard Bach

"You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past." \u2014Richard Bach

Here’s the thing about career, and life in general: It’s unpredictable.

What you want at age 22 may not be the same thing you want at age 30. And that’s okay.

You have the right to change careers at any point in your life. Think about it: We usually spend 40 (or more) hours per week at work. That’s a lot of time. So if you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing during that time, why wouldn’t you change it?

If you decide down the line that the career you chose to pursue isn’t for you anymore, it’s okay to switch gears and go after new opportunities.

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” —Ella Fitzgerald

Think about your college major. Why did you choose that specific one? If you have a passion for something and you know it makes you happy, then pursue it.

At the end of the day, you’re the one who is building a life you love, and part of that life will be your career. Do something that makes you happy and inspires you, and the rest will fall into place.

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” —Charles R. Swindoll

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." \u2014Charles R. Swindoll

Things you may not like will happen throughout your career. You may not get a callback for your dream job, you may be let go, or you may get passed up for a promotion. You can’t control these things, but you can control how you react to them.

It’s how you respond to these situations that will define who you are as a working professional. Are you going to dwell on what happened, or are you going to grow from it?

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” —Mark Twain

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." \u2014Mark Twain

Everyone has to start somewhere in their career.

As a recent college grad, you may be thinking of ways you can get ahead at work, especially if you’re in an entry-level position. However, remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day—and your career won’t be built in a day, either. You’re just starting out, so give yourself a break.

Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first one. But once you do take that first step, it’ll be well worth it.

“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”  —Aristotle

"Quality is not an act, it is a habit." \u2014Aristotle

When you’re just starting out in your career, it’s important to build habits that will set you up for success. No matter what you do in your career, you should always strive to give it your all and put your best foot forward.

Doing the best you can every single day on the job will help you add tremendous value to your company. Plus, getting a great reputation as a quality worker will help boost your personal brand.

So if you’re just starting out, do yourself a favor and pay extra attention to the habits you’re building. They will create a solid foundation for you to build your career success.

“The most effective way to do it, is to do it.”  —Amelia Earhart

"The most effective way to do it, is to do it." \u2014Amelia Earhart

It can be really easy to get intimidated in the job search, and even when you land your first job out of college. There may be obstacles or projects thrown your way that you have never dealt with before, and you may not be sure how to handle them. This quote says it all. The most effective way to do something is to go ahead and just do it.

Want to apply to that dream job? Do it. Want to pitch a brand new project at work? Do it!

You’re not going to get anywhere if you stand idly by. Be proactive and go after what you want.

“I attribute my success to this—I never gave or took any excuse.” —Florence Nightingale

"I attribute my success to this\u2014I never gave or took any excuse." \u2014Florence Nightingale

This quote is simple but highly effective. It can be really easy to come up with excuses as to why you’re not meeting your goals. However, it’s important that you don’t give excuses and hold yourself accountable during the early stages of your career.

Also, don’t be afraid to not take the excuses that may come your way. If you know something needs to be done, and it’s not getting done, hold others accountable for their actions.

Recent college grads may be intimidated when entering the job search, but it isn’t as scary as some may think. With the right preparation, college grads can enter the workforce confident and ready to take on any career challenge they may face.

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Back To Work? 10 Tips For Relaunching Your Career

Back To Work? 10 Tips For Relaunching Your Career
  • April 24th, 2024
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So, you’ve been on a career break. How long has it been? Three years, five years, more? Whether you took time off to care for your children or travel the world, relaunching your career is a major undertaking, especially these days. Just sending out a bunch of resumes won’t do the trick.

Here are some effective tips and steps for relaunching your career that you can start doing immediately to help you reach your goal of getting back into the workforce.

1. Get Your Story Straight

Man writes down his story to relaunch his career

Prospective employers are going to ask you what you’ve been doing for the last few years. Make sure you have the story down pat and can tell it confidently. Don’t be sheepish. Taking a break from work, whatever the reason (save incarceration), was a choice you made—and you don’t need to apologize for it.

Everything you say should be true, of course, but you choose what the takeaway of the story is. Second, you’re going to need to have a good answer to the question of why you’re getting back into the workforce. Note: “I have a mortgage to pay; gambling debts; or momma needs a new pair of shoes,” are not good responses. You don’t want to seem needy or desperate.

To come up with a good answer, think about those things you loved about your job before you took your break. Talk about the passion you had for your career, about your craving for intellectual stimulation, about your ambition.

It’s also important to think of these things in the context of each job you’re applying for. Why do you want to work for this specific company? What problem do you want to help them solve? How do you connect with their mission and values as an organization?

Asking yourself all of these questions will help you get your career story straight before going into your first job interviews.

2. Stay Connected (Or Reconnect) To Your Career

Woman on laptop and phone stays connected as she relaunches her career

When you take your break, you don’t have to turn your back on your career altogether. Look for opportunities to stay connected. This can mean consulting, volunteering, or freelancing. It’s a matter of keeping at least one toe in the work realm.

Kelly, for instance, worked as a graphic designer for a major newspaper until she decided to leave the daily grind to care for her young son. To stay connected to her field, Kelly began freelancing every Sunday for her former employer. She also kept her skills honed by designing a monthly newsletter for her moms’ club. Through these efforts, Kelly remained close to her profession and continued to build her portfolio even while on a career break.

If you haven’t stayed connected to your career throughout your break, it’s not too late to reconnect. In fact, reconnecting should be a key part of your career relaunch strategy. Immediately start accepting projects—even if it’s free work for friends or nonprofits. It will pay off in the end. Don’t pass up any opportunity.

3. Revise Your Resume And Get It Online

Man reviews his resume as he tries to relaunch his career

It’s time to dust off your resume. First, fill in the gaps with all that good work-related stuff you’ve been doing during your break. Even if it was a volunteer project, list it just as you would any other work experience (though you don’t necessarily need to use the word “volunteer”).

Do some research to make sure your resume will get past the ATS. Many experts these days, for example, recommend ditching the “objective” portion at the top of the resume and instead replacing it with hard skills and keywords mentioned in the job description that you have developed in your career.

To find pertinent keywords, do a little research. Look at online job postings and see the types of words that employers are using in their posts, then use these words in your resume. Once your resume is keyword-optimized, you can then focus on customizing it for each job you’re applying for, to give yourself a better chance of getting an interview.

4. Network

Woman networks with coworkers to try to relaunch her career

First, reconnect with your former colleagues and professional friends. Meet for coffee. Talk shop. Let them know you’re looking for work. Don’t be shy about telling family members, friends, and acquaintances that you’re looking for new opportunities. Most people get jobs through personal connections.

Then, widen your circle. Try to attend a business networking event every week. Even a remote networking event can open new doors. Much has been written about how people should approach networking, and a little research on the topic may be helpful. In general, remember that your goal for networking isn’t instant gratification. Many experts will tell you not to expect (and never, never, never ask for) a job at a networking event. You’re there to meet people and build relationships. Eventually, it will pay off.

To find networking opportunities, ask people you already know or search on the internet. A simple Google search (city + state + “networking opportunities”) should turn up results. Also, try websites like Meetup and Eventbrite.

5. Use Social Media

Woman on phone relaunches her career by using social media

More and more job seekers are using social media websites for networking, and employers are using them to find out about job candidates. Use social media sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, to build your personal brand, make new connections, and further your relaunch efforts.

On LinkedIn, it’s important to optimize your profile and make sure it matches your resume. Also, avoid making common LinkedIn headline mistakes. With a strong social media presence, you’ll stand out to recruiters and hiring managers, and they’ll see how proactive you are in trying to relaunch your career.

6. Get Involved

A group of people talk about relaunching their careers

Look for opportunities, above and beyond attending networking events, to get involved. Start a blog related to your field. Check out existing blogs and online forums and comment on posts. Share your opinion. Offer advice. Establish yourself as an active member of the community. Host a networking event, or take on a volunteer position within a networking group. Take a class. These things will supercharge your networking efforts.

The more you’re involved in your community and industry, the more others will view you as an expert in that field. Don’t be afraid to start something new. Get out there, get involved, and make a name for yourself!

7. Cast A Wide Net

Man on laptop looks for opportunities to relaunch his career

When looking at job opportunities, think outside of the box. Don’t think of yourself in terms of past work experience alone. Assess your skills, and determine how they can be applied to different jobs. These are your transferable skills. They can be extremely helpful when trying to relaunch your career, especially if you’re making a career change.

Know what you can do, and be ready to tell prospective employers how your skills can benefit them—even in a position you’ve never held before. Think about what jobs have the best potential for career happiness.

8. Don’t Pass Up Opportunities

Woman talks to a coworker after successfully relaunching her career

Sure, you’re looking for full-time work. But as you relaunch your career, don’t pass up part-time, contract, or freelance opportunities, as long as they move your relaunch efforts forward. (Part-time at the local mini-mart, for instance, wouldn’t do much good.)

A contract position could lead to a job offer, and in the meantime, you’re gaining new experience, building relationships, and adding to your resume.

9. Prepare For The Interview

Man trying to relaunch his career interviews for a job

Eventually, the day will come: A prospective employer will want to meet with you.

A job interview can be particularly daunting to someone who’s been on a career break. The best remedy for a case of interview-related nerves is preparation.

Think about what questions will be asked, and how you will answer (remember tip number one?). Research the company online. Formulate some smart interview questions to ask in return. Have a friend help you practice with a mock interview. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be.

10. Keep At It

Happy woman on laptop tries to relaunch her career

The best advice for relaunching your career? Don’t give up. You didn’t get to where you were before your career break without hard work and perseverance. And it will take those qualities to get back to where you want to be.

If you want to relaunch your career, just know that you can and will. Half the battle is having the right mindset. The rest is all about strategy. Follow these 10 tips to successfully relaunch your career, no matter how long you’ve been out of the game.

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How To Answer 3 Interview Questions For The “Over 50” Job Seeker

How To Answer 3 Interview Questions For The “Over 50” Job Seeker
  • April 23rd, 2024
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Navigating a successful job search can be tricky for job seekers over the age of 50 (and very often those over 40 too). Age discrimination is alive and well, and even though your resume got you to the interview, your “experience” might be a drawback.

Here are three interview questions you may be asked as an older job seeker with the best strategies for how to answer them.

1. You Seem To Be Overqualified For This Job.

This isn’t framed as a question, but it does demand a response—or you’ve lost the opportunity. You know they liked what they saw in your resume, but when they’re staring you in the face, they’re wondering if you’re really going to be a good fit. Will you be unhappy that you’re taking a job that’s “less than” what you’re capable of? Will you be bored? Will you fit in? Are you only marking time until retirement?

Help them see that you’re a good fit with an answer that addresses those underlying concerns:

“I may be overqualified, but I see that as a bonus for you. I am more than ready to do this job, and I understand what it takes to be successful in it. Aside from learning the specific way you do things at this organization, my actual task learning curve would be flat and I could produce results almost immediately.”

Pointing out what they stand to gain from this deal is always a good idea.

“I may be overqualified, but this particular position looks great to me because of X.”

“X” may be any number of reasons: you really like their product /service, you are excited about the work they’re doing, or even a more personal reason.

One gentleman I know told his interviewer, “My current job is over an hour away and I don’t want to move because I like where I live. The quality of life I’d get from eliminating that long commute would mean a lot to me.” It was a real reason and calmed their fears about hiring him.

2. How Do I Know You’ll Be Really Motivated To Do This Job?

This is not just a question of motivation, but also one about your energy and enthusiasm. You have several good options for answering it:

  • Offer your references to speak for you and your work ethic. References are powerful.
  • Point out a recent big accomplishment. If it’s only been a few months since you won an award or conquered a major challenge, the motivation question should be answered.
  • Bring a 30-60-90 day plan to your interview. There’s nothing like putting together a plan for success on the job before you get it. It’s a powerful demonstration of your work ethic, your knowledge, and your critical thinking skills.

3. How Would You Feel If You Worked For Someone Who Knows Less Than You?

Working for someone who knows less than you do is not great—and if you truly are someone who’s been around the block, you’ve probably gained a lot of wisdom and judgment that a younger person just can’t have. However, to answer this question, the only really good answer sounds something like this:

“I have found that even if someone knows less than me in one area, they know more than me in another. I usually find that I can learn something useful from everyone, and I think it’s exciting to work with a wide range of people because of that.”

Keep all your answers focused on the positive, and they will go a long way toward supporting your candidacy.

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How To Get A Job Interview In One Week

How To Get A Job Interview In One Week
  • April 23rd, 2024
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If I wanted to get a job interview within one week, here’s what I would do as a 20-year career coaching veteran who has helped thousands of people get new, better-paying jobs.

Step-By-Step Guide: How To Get A Job Interview In 1 Week!

The first thing I would do is find 10 jobs for which I am 100% qualified and a good fit. Not overqualified or underqualified—100% qualified. It would take me a little while to research jobs on various job boards that fit that criteria, but once I do, I would not apply on the job boards.

The second thing I would do is find the companies’ career pages and make sure those jobs really exist because there are a lot of fake/bogus jobs on job boards. So go over to the actual careers page for each company you’re thinking about applying to and make sure that the job posting is there and it’s open and active.

Once I do that, I would apply directly on each company’s career page, but only because when I get an interview, they’re going to need my information in the system. So I’m not applying through the career pages thinking I’m getting job interviews from them. I’m applying because I’m preparing myself for when I actually get the interview.

When I apply for those 10 jobs, I would fill in every field in the job applications because I know that some of these applicant tracking systems (ATS) can make you less of a match for the job if you skip or don’t fill in a field.

After I’ve applied through the career pages, I would move on to the real work that would help me stand out and get that job interview. I would write up a short connection story about why I think each company is amazing. And it’s not because I think they have the greatest benefits or I heard they’re a good place to work. I want to talk about what I nerd out on or what I care about as it relates to their business. How do I know that what they do, what they sell, is really fantastic? Where did I learn that in my own life?

This connection story is my secret sauce for when I reach out and connect with people at each company because when you tell a good connection story and you can tell someone who already works there why you think their company is so amazing and can give that custom reason why, you stand out. You are going that extra step and making yourself come alive to that person.

Once I’ve written a connection story for each company I’m applying to, I would research people who work at those companies, and not the recruiter or HR manager. I would try to find the hiring manager. I would try to find people who work in the department I’d be working in, who have job titles I want to have. Ideally, I would find five people at each company to connect with, and then I would send each person a custom connection request on LinkedIn. I would say something like, “Hey! Can we connect? I’d love to share a quick story about why your company’s so amazing.” Not every person will connect with me, but many will.

For those who do, I would then message them my connection story. Here’s an example:

“Thank you! Here’s the story of why I think your company is amazing. (Insert your connection story.) P.S. I’m so inspired by your company that I just applied for your XYZ job. I would be so grateful if you gave me your one best tip for standing out in the hiring process.”

Notice I’m not asking them to introduce me to the hiring manager or put in a good word for me. I am asking them for their expertise—their one top tip for standing out. People love to give advice after you’ve just complimented the company sincerely. They can message you back the advice, but you know what else happens? They look at your LinkedIn profile, and sometimes they forward you to the hiring manager.

I help people every day inside Work It DAILY get interviews by back-channeling (the technique I shared above). It really works. You’re going to get rejected through the online application, but by sharing your connection story on LinkedIn, you’ll stand out to hiring managers no matter how much competition there is for the position you want.

Good luck, and go get ’em!

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Interview Questions About A Time You Went Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty

Interview Questions About A Time You Went Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty
  • April 18th, 2024
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We all put a lot of thought and effort into how to answer questions about times we failed so that we don’t look bad in the interview, but how much thought do we put into choosing stories to answer softball questions like, “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond the call of duty?”

Even though this is a positive question, it’s very important to carefully choose a good story to answer it well. You should always have a story or two to tell about times you went above and beyond at work. It points out that not only did you meet the expectations of your employer, you exceeded them. That shows you as extremely valuable to a future employer.

The key to keep in mind when choosing a story to tell is to choose one that speaks to how you could and would be successful in this new role. Think about the job description for this new role. Your first choice of story should be one that describes how you went above and beyond in relation to a central task in the description. This should talk about a conflict or a difficult situation related to your job that you overcame. If you don’t have a story like this, then a story that highlights a positive character trait can also be good, although there should still be a conflict and a resolution.

Whatever story you choose, you’ve probably heard you should tell it using the STAR method: (S)ituation or (T)ask; (A)ction you took; (R)esult you got. So it sounds like, “I faced this situation, and we needed that done. Based on (specific factors), I decided to do (specific actions), and the results were (whatever they were).”

However, a more effective way to answer behavioral interview questions like, “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond the call of duty?” is by using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” format. Employers nowadays can spot the STAR method a mile away, and your answer will come off as more genuine by using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” format instead.

An alternative way to answer this question is to bring out your brag book for a little show-and-tell time. Brag books are wonderful visual aids for your job interview. They help you communicate more clearly and more powerfully about who you are and what you can do.

Evidence can do great things for the impression you make with your answer. So, along with your story, show the note from your happy client or boss; the graph that shows how the production numbers went up after your action; or the award you received from your action.

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Being Your Own Reference: Rating Yourself As A Professional In The Job Interview

Being Your Own Reference: Rating Yourself As A Professional In The Job Interview
  • April 18th, 2024
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Have you ever been asked, “How do you rate yourself?” in a job interview? The qualifier could be “as a professional,” “as an employee,” or maybe as the holder of a certain skill set. In most cases, they want you to give them an answer between 1 and 10 in order to get some concrete idea of where you and your skills are.

This is a tough question to answer. You will find advice that you should always rank yourself as a 10, or even higher. They say that anything less makes it look like you don’t have confidence in yourself or that you’re admitting a weakness.

In my opinion, automatically rating yourself at a 10 makes you seem a little conceited (at best). It sounds like a false answer, just like “I’m such a perfectionist” does to the “What’s your greatest weakness?” question.

At the same time, answering “5” may keep them from offering you the job.

Here’s how you should really answer, “How do you rate yourself?” in a sincere, job-winning way:

The best answer for someone with experience is a 7 or an 8. You’d elaborate on that by saying something along the lines of you see yourself as someone who’s learned a lot and is valuable at this point in your career, but you also realize that you can learn more from this organization—and then say what that is. This is reasonable, positive, and appealing.

If you’re just out of school or have very little experience, you should answer a little lower, at maybe a 6 or a 7. Again, elaborate on your answer. You see yourself as better than average (5) but with room to grow. You’re excited about what you can learn from this company and how you can contribute to it.

Is it ever okay to rate yourself at a 9 or a 10? Yes, but only if you’re a true subject matter expert with extensive experience. In most cases, we all have room to learn and improve.

Your interviewer will be surprised that you don’t automatically tell them “10” (or in some cases “11”). So make sure you explain your thought process. Say something like, “On a scale of 1 to 10, a 5 would be a true average, and a 10 is perfect. I think I’m better than average, and no one is perfect.”

Continue the conversation in a positive vein by pointing out what you’ve learned that makes you valuable, qualities that make you a great fit for the job, and why you’re excited to continue your career at this company.

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#1 Resume Improvement All Job Seekers Can Make

#1 Resume Improvement All Job Seekers Can Make
  • April 18th, 2024
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Is your resume generating offers to interview? If not, it’s time to make some changes. The number one resume improvement any job seeker in any field can make is simple.

Quantification

Quantification means to describe your accomplishments in terms of numbers, dollars, and percentages. For instance…

  • “Led accounting team for division” is less effective than “Led team of 14 accountants in a $34M division”
  • “Increased efficiency” isn’t as strong and specific as “Increased efficiency by 50% in 2 years”
  • “Won awards” is good but “Won #1 spot in sales team 3 years in a row” is better

Numbers are attention-grabbing, hard evidence of your success. They make hiring managers (your future boss) sit up and take notice of your resume. Hiring managers see resumes all the time that talk about job responsibilities and accomplishments. Seeing the numbers helps them put it into perspective and see you as more valuable.

Quantification boosts your chances of getting called in to interview. Almost anything can be quantified. One person tried to trip me up once by asking if even a janitor could quantify, but the answer is absolutely “yes.” They could talk about how cleaning things up reduced workplace accidents or contributed to a company culture that was able to achieve 95% retention.

All jobs contribute to the bottom line of a company in some way. If they didn’t, the company couldn’t justify keeping someone in that role and paying them. All you need to do is think about how you in your job contributed to those goals. Show that potential new boss how you can benefit their company.

When you look at your resume with a goal of quantification, ask yourself these kinds of questions:

  • How many?
  • What size?
  • What amount of time?
  • When?
  • How much?
  • How often?
  • At what rate?

You may not have complete records of everything you’ve accomplished. My best advice is to guesstimate. Don’t exaggerate; you need to be able to back up your numbers with some kind of evidence and stories that support them, and they need not be contradicted by your references.

Anything you can do to begin quantifying your accomplishments will help you stand out from other applicants and get you the interview. On top of that, it will set you up to appear more valuable to the hiring manager when they do interview you. That gives you a leg up in the interview and in later salary negotiations. It’s all good.

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The Job Search Tip Introverts Hate (But Desperately Need)

The Job Search Tip Introverts Hate (But Desperately Need)
  • April 17th, 2024
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No matter how talented, skilled, or educated you are, if you’re an introvert, you’re at a bit of a disadvantage in a job search. I am not an introvert, but I speak to a lot of them, coaching them through the process of getting a new job. The vast majority of them are amazing, highly qualified people who do their jobs extremely well—but they have a lot of trouble when it comes time to get hired.

There’s one piece of advice I give that introverts almost universally step back from or even sneer at. Here’s what it is…are you ready?

The job search is a sales process, and you need to “sell yourself” within that process.

What I’ve found is that job seekers with more reserved personalities aren’t as interested in hearing this. They take a big step back from this kind of mindset because it comes with a need for more aggressiveness or assertiveness than they might be naturally comfortable with in a job search.

If you’re an introvert, what kind of image pops up in your mind when you hear that? An overly aggressive used-car salesman? A pitchman on a TV infomercial? Put those thoughts out of your head. That isn’t at all what I mean.

What I’m talking about is a guideline or a frame of reference you can use to take action that will get you hired. It does require you to step out of your comfort zone, but the rewards for making that effort are great. You have a greater chance of winding up in a job you love, rather than a job that appears in front of you that may not be the best fit. You will almost certainly get a job faster, which puts money in your pocket in terms of a paycheck. Months without earning a paycheck adds up to thousands of dollars in lost income.

How does “selling yourself” work in practical terms? In the big picture, you are the “product” (aka business-of-one), the hiring manager (your future boss) is the “customer,” and your salary is the “purchase price.” The psychological process of an employer choosing to hire you is the same as that of a customer choosing to buy a product. When you break that down, you see that:

1. Your resume is a marketing document (not a job history) that needs to reveal the benefits of the product using data-based evidence. That means using numbers, dollars, and percentages to describe your accomplishments.

2. Your social media profiles are advertising—like commercials or billboards that grab attention and generate interest in your product. (You must be on LinkedIn, but don’t forget the power of other social media platforms.)

3. The interview is a sales call where you’re talking to the customer about what your product can do for them. How can you benefit that company? What value do you bring? When you think of it this way, all of your interview answers become another way for you to show or describe what they’ll get out of hiring you. This makes all your answers much more effective.

4. Also in the interview, you’ll bring “sales materials” that are printed evidence of the benefits of your product. You’ll bring a brag book that shows your past successes, as well as a 30-60-90 day plan that maps out what you will do for them in the future.

5. At the end of the interview, you act like a sales rep and close. This means that you ask for the business or the sale—the job. You say something like, “Based on what we’ve talked about so far, do you agree that I would be a good fit for this job?”

This question is a technique borrowed directly from sales pitches. Most introverts are intensely uncomfortable with the idea of closing. However, I think that the results you will get from it are worth stepping out of your comfort zone.

If you do feel uncomfortable, stop thinking of it as a sales technique. Think of it as good communication—because it is. You’re simply asking, “Are we on the same page? Have I told you everything you need to know?” All of these steps are really about communicating more effectively with hiring managers.

Better communication is a goal worth chasing for all of us. If you’re an introvert, coming at your job search with this mindset will help you get a better job.

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7 Things You Need To Get A Job In 2024
  • March 26th, 2024
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What do you need to get a job? Most job seekers think a good resume and cover letter are enough to land job interviews and stand out to employers in the hiring process. In today’s competitive job market, you need a lot more to get a job.

Here are the seven things you need to get a job in 2024. Let’s see if you have all of them.

What Do You Need To Get A Job?

1. A Job Search Strategy

You do not want to waste your time applying for jobs that are going to ghost you. You need to know what types of opportunities and companies will actually hire you. From this moment forward, make sure you have a proactive job search strategy.

2. A Skimmable Resume

We call it the six-second resume. That’s because recruiters and hiring managers skim your resume first to make sure you have the five or six main skill sets they put on that job description. Otherwise, you won’t be considered.

3. A LinkedIn Profile That Is Searchable

Keywords are very important on LinkedIn. Recruiters and hiring managers use a tool that helps them find people who are a match for the jobs they are hiring for. If you don’t optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords, you will not be found.

4. LinkedIn Posts

You need to post on LinkedIn, especially if you are looking for professional jobs. LinkedIn changed its algorithm recently and people who actually post on a regular basis rank higher in search results, and that’s how you’re going to get seen more.

5. Answers to Behavioral Interview Questions

You need to be ready for behavioral questions in job interviews. Everyone is doing evidence-based hiring now, which means they’re going to ask you questions like, “Tell me about a time when you did X or Y.” If you don’t understand what behavioral interview questions are and how to answer them correctly, you will end up giving too little information or too much information, and that’ll get you ruled out.

6. A Follow-Up Process

You need to know how to follow up after each interview, whether it’s a phone, video, or in-person interview. Following up correctly will help you stay in the running.

7. Salary Negotiation Skills

When you get to the final interview, you need to know how to negotiate salary like a boss. Do you know how to approach the employer to get more money? If you don’t, you could miss out or leave money on the table.

Do you have all seven of these things? If not, I can help.

At Work It DAILY, we have a 7-day risk-free trial to our job search career coaching platform, and we recently dropped a new program called the Job Search Accountability Program (JSAP). We’re going to make every single day of your job search easier.

Honestly, if you don’t have all seven of these things, getting a job will be that much harder. But this is not rocket science or brain surgery. The Job Search Accountability Program (JSAP) gives you the answers to all of these things quickly and easily, all at your convenience. So, I hope to see you in there.

Good luck, and go get ’em!

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Spring Cleaning: 4 Ways To Fix Your Job Search

Spring Cleaning: 4 Ways To Fix Your Job Search
  • March 20th, 2024
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Spring Cleaning: 4 Ways To Fix Your Job Search

Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.

In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.

For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.

Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach

Man thinks about/reevaluates his job search approach/strategy while unemployed

Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:

  • How did I learn about this job?
  • How did I apply for the job?
  • Did I earn an interview?
  • What was the ultimate result?

A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:

Negative Trends

You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.

The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn’t to say that job boards don’t serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can’t run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there’s a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.

One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.

The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.

This is a great way to network your way onto a company’s radar.

Positive Trends

You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.

The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you’re leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.

The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.

Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.

The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn’t right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.

Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention

Woman on laptop writes and formats her resume to get it past the ATS

Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.

Let’s start with resumes!

Every resume should be tailored to the position in order for it to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s actually less work than submitting the same resume over and over again and never hearing back.

The reason why it’s so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you’re applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.

Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you’re a potential candidate for the position.

While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.

As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you’re basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.

If your resumes and cover letters aren’t unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.

Build Your Personal Brand

Just because you’re looking for work doesn’t mean that you don’t have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.

Ask yourself, “How do I want other professionals to view me?”

Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.

By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven’t spoken to in years, or making new connections.

You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people’s radars. So, when you’re cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.

Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search

People exercise during their job search

Your job search is important, but it’s even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.

There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:

  • Grab coffee with a friend – It’s good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
  • Volunteer – Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you’re asked about it during a job interview.
  • Continue to focus on other passions – Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you’re in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!

Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you’re struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


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