Knowing who to use as a reference is essential knowledge for any job seeker. And while it might seem simple, there are right and wrong choices you can make when putting that list together! This guide will teach you who to put as a professional reference, and why. Table of contents Who to Use as […]
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Sweaty palms. Shaky voice. Blank mind. These symptoms of nervousness can seriously sabotage a job interview, no matter how prepared and qualified you are.
To quell these natural responses and help you muster more confidence in anxious situations, consider these quick pre-interview confidence boosters so you can perform better right before your next job interviewâno energy drinks or cheesy motivational speeches required!
Amy Cuddy, social psychologist at Harvard Business School, talked about what people do while waiting for a job interview to start in a popular TEDGlobal presentation.
âYou’re sitting down. You’re looking at your iPhone or Android. You’re looking at your notes.”
This common waiting room behavior is not really ideal for maximizing your confidence right before an interview. Instead, the following activities will make you way more confident before meeting a potential boss:
According to Cuddy, rather than hunching up and making yourself small in the waiting room chair as you scramble to soak up last-minute notes or practice one final interview question, you should actually find a private place to do what Cuddy calls a power pose.
There are a few variations, but the Wonder Woman pose is easy to remember. So, 10 minutes before your interview, go somewhere private, like the bathroom, and strike a strong pose where you can take up as much space as possible.
“Repeating a positive affirmation can reduce production of cortisol and stress hormones by almost 50%, slow the mind, lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and make you feel confident and powerful,” says Kathleen Hall, founder and CEO of The Mindful Living Network and the Stress Institute.
Hall offers the following examples:
Joyce Marter, psychotherapist and CEO of Urban Balance, would agree and suggests deep breathing while you recite a positive mantra in your head “using language you will want to use in the interview, such as ‘I absolutely will succeed in this job if given the opportunity.'”
You might feel a little silly at first, but these words will help you emit a more positive appearanceâand that sure beats a nervous one!
Thinking back to a time when you were successful and confident is a great way to recreate that confidence right before an interview. A quick and easy way to do this is to print out and compile anything nice someone has said about you. Read old letters of recommendation, LinkedIn endorsements, letters, or notes from colleagues or teachers that have boosted your confidence in the past.
If you’re not really feeling this method, “quickly review your biggest accomplishments in your head before going into the interview,” says Katherine Walker, founder and executive director of Lifetime Behavioral Health. “This trip down memory lane will instantly create a sense of confidence and serve to get your brain thinking about items the interviewer will no doubt ask you about.” It’s the best way to remind yourself that all of your previous experiences have helped shape you and prepare you to succeed in this job interview!
We hope these three tips will help you feel more confident during your next interview so you can land that dream job!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
It’s taking longer to get hired, folks. This is according to an article on LinkedIn showing that the U.S. Department of Labor has reported that over 800,000 unemployed workers went from taking three and a half months to find a job to over six months. That’s up 36% since April of 2022.
So, why is it taking longer to get hired?
@j.t.odonnell It’s Taking Longer To Get Hired, Here’s Why… #hired #careertok #jobtok #careeradvice #jobsearch #linkedin #jobtips #joblife #job #career ⬠original sound – J.T. O’Donnell
Reason #1
The first reason why it’s taking longer to get hired is the talent market is flooded. In the second half of 2022, in the tech sector, more people got laid off than during the entirety of the Great Recession of 2008. And the layoffs keep coming. Google just announced more layoffs. So, due to all of these layoffs, there’s a lot of top talent flooding the market right nowâprofessionals who have desirable, in-demand skill sets and experience.
Reason #2
If you are unemployed for a while, either voluntarily or involuntarily (you quit or got fired), it’s going to be harder for you to get a job now because companies are going to question why you’ve been out of work so long. This is definitely a factor in why it’s taking longer for you to get hired. Is it right or fair? No, but it’s the reality. There’s a stigma surrounding it. Companies are going to hire the people that are employed or just recently let go in a public layoff first before they look at the candidates who’ve been unemployed for a month or two.
So, what can you do to speed up your job search?
Here are some simple tips to follow:
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Knowing the best times to apply for jobs can help you during your search and give you a better understanding of the job search landscape around you. But is it really that important? This guide will cover the best times to look for jobs, and what you can do if your search falls outside of […]
The post The Best Times To Apply For Jobs In 2023: Full Guide appeared first on Career Sherpa.
True or false? Recruiters don’t read cover letters.
Most people may think this is true, but guess what? They’re wrong!
Recruiters do, in fact, read the good cover letters.
So, what does that tell us? If most people don’t hear back from recruiters, and recruiters only read good cover letters, that means a majority of cover letters aren’t written well and, therefore, don’t stand out to them.
That may be hard to hear, but it’s the truth.
Often, there’s WAY too much “blah, blah, blah” and “brag, brag, brag” going on in a cover letter. If you write a cover letter that only focuses on how great you are, recruiters are going to toss it.
Why? Because it’s exactly like all the other cover letters they’ve read.
Think about it. Why should they think you’re incredible when they’ve read hundreds of other cover letters saying other people are incredible, too?
If you want to stand out in the hiring process, you MUST have an attention-grabbing cover letter. This an important tool to have, and one that shouldn’t be glossed over. In some cases, your cover letter can hold more power than your resume. That’s huge, right?
Because the cover letter holds so much power, you need to know how to write one that stands out from the rest. One way to do that is to show a personal connection with the employer.
So, how exactly do you do that?
You can explain how you learned that what they do is special. Showing them that you personally connect with their brand will make you memorable.
Another thing you can do is tell them what it was like the first time you used their product or service. That also shows recruiters that you understand the company and that you believe in what they do.
Lastly, you can tell them about an overall life experience that helps you feel connected to their tribe. This shows that your values and beliefs align with theirs.
The big fact here is that the more personal the cover letter, the better! When you have a cover letter that really has recruiters at “hello,” you know you have their heart AND their mind engaged.
The reason you want to get personal in your cover letter is because you want to create an emotional connection with a recruiter. Once you establish that connection, you’re not just a piece of paper anymore.
This is what we at Work It Daily call a disruptive cover letter. Why? Because it disrupts the reader and gets them to snap out of autopilot mode and really think about who you are as a candidate.
The first thing you need to do is watch a quick video tutorial on how to write this kind of cover letter. You’re going to want to see specific examples so that you know how you should be writing them.
You’ll have a template that tells you where the beginning, middle, and end of your cover letter are, and what content should be where. This gives you a great foundation for how to fill out a cover letter properly.
Once you’re done with your amazing cover letter, have someone review it.
It’s always good to have a second set of eyes on this, especially someone who understands cover letters, recruiters, and the hiring process. This person should be checking grammar, spelling, etc.
So, when all is said and done, how long should it take you to craft a disruptive cover letter? The average time is between one and two hours. That may seem like a lot of time, but think of it this way: once you’ve built a cover letter you know will grab a recruiter’s attention, you’ll be able to use that cover letter format for other job opportunities. You’ll just have to tweak the content in your disruptive cover letter here and there to match the company and job you’re applying to.
Here at Work It Daily, we know these disruptive cover letters work. We’ve seen hundreds of our clients write KILLER cover letters and get calls for their dream jobs!
So, wouldn’t learning how to write your own disruptive cover letter be good for your career? If so, how much would it be worth?
All of us at Work It Daily personally believe that it’s priceless.
Owning your career change or job search process is a powerful thing, and we believe you can take control of that process and do incredible things.
Need more help writing a disruptive cover letter recruiters will love?
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Let’s face it: job search can be challenging, and staying motivated during a frustrating job search can seem impossible sometimes. However, it’s critical that you stay positive. Otherwise, you risk falling into a downward spiral, which will only make things worse.
So, how can you get past your job search struggles?
Here are some tips for staying motivated during a frustrating job search:
What gets you excited? Think about your hobbies and interests. What do you do for fun in your life? Make sure you dedicate at least one day a week to doing what you love. This will help you get your mind off of the negative and focus on the things you enjoy.
Looking for a job shouldn’t take up all of your time. By customizing your resume for each position you apply for and writing disruptive cover letters, you won’t need to spend hours a day sending your job applications to a dozen different employers. Two or three will do.
For a strategic job search, quality is always better than quantity. It also means you’ll stay motivated, won’t get burnt out, and still have time to do the things you love to do. Balance is key!
When you’re feeling down in the dumps, it’s important to surround yourself with positivity. Make an effort to meet up with positive influences in your lifeâyour family, friends, significant other, and mentors. These people will help you stay on track.
Also, surround yourself with your “virtual mentors,” people who inspire you from afar. Whether they’re celebrities, successful business people, or authors, keep them “nearby.” Read their books or showcase their inspirational quotes. A little inspiration can go a long way.
Helping makes us feel good! If you’re feeling bad about yourself, see how you can help someone else. Volunteer. Pay it forward. Give back somehow. This will recharge you and get you in a good mood.
Another way to help others is to provide value to your professional network, whether on LinkedIn or in person. Share articles, videos, or podcasts you find inspirational, informative, and insightful. Offer to help your connections in any way you can. Chances are, they will be more than happy to return the favor, and may refer you to an open position at their company.
Never help anyone with the expectation of receiving something in return, though! If helping others keeps you motivated and makes you feel grateful for what you do have, don’t stop doing it while looking for a job.
You’ve got to expel that negative energy! Make sure you take time to exercise daily. Take a walk. Go for a run. Do yoga. Lift weights. Just get GOING! Exercising equal endorphins and endorphins make you happy.
Don’t know where to start? Check out this quick and easy home workout!
Not having structure can make your life seem unstable. Create a plan for your week on Sunday nights. Have a schedule and stick to it. If you like to-do lists, write one of those too.
You’ll feel accomplished at the end of the week when you look back and see everything you got done while making time for yourself and prioritizing your career as well as your physical and mental well-being.
Staying motivated during a frustrating job search isn’t easy. We hope these tips will help you find the motivation to not only land your next job but also improve your career.
When everything feels overwhelming, just remember to work it daily! Small, consistent actions can make a big difference. Good luck out there.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
For almost all adults, work is one of the primary features of life. Many people devote more than 40 hours every week to their jobs, so it’s not unusual for them to be stressed when they’re laid off.
For most people, it’s like being fired from their second home.
However, being stressed when you’re fired is a double-edged sword because you need to remain relaxed when searching for your next job. Therefore, we have prepared the following tips to help you relax and de-stress when you’ve been laid off:
Being laid off from a job that you’ve had for years may cause you to become angry. If you’re angry about the way you were laid off, or any other aspect of your previous job, you should not keep these thoughts to yourself. Talk about this with your friends and family, and ex-colleagues, so that you can vent and let go of these emotions.
Also, take this as an opportunity to talk with old friends and rekindle old relationships. Now that you’re not busy with work, you have time to catch up with old friends to help ease the stress and fill the downtime. This reconnection may also lead to networking and help you find a new job.
Doing what you love is one of the surest ways to relax, and there is nothing better in that respect than to pursue your hobbies.
When you were busy with work, you may not have had time to do these things, but now that you’re free, you should use this time to work on your hobbies. Whether you like sailing or making miniature boats, you should do these things as a way to relax.
Physical exercise affects us directly by releasing endorphins in our neural system, which improve our mood and help reduce stress. Using exercise, you can also release emotions such as anger and disappointment. However, it’s better to control these emotions with the following tip: meditation.
There are many different techniques of meditation, and you should choose one that best suits you. Meditation is hard to define in a few words, but we can say that meditation is reconnecting with your true self by letting go of emotions that trouble you.
It can help you subdue any anger or disappointment you may feel due to being laid off from your previous job. Even if you never saw yourself as a person who would meditate, this will give you the opportunity to reflect on yourself, relax, and try new things.
Food and sleep are some of the very basic requirements of a healthy body and mind.
Make sure that you’re getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Take all your meals regularly, and eat nutrient-rich food rather than junk food. With proper sleep and nutrients, you are bound to feel better during the day and will be ready to take on the task of job searching with a clear mind.
If you take pleasure in watching movies, then you should watch your favorite movies once again. If you like to read books, then maybe you should pick a big book and immerse yourself in it.
You can also read about your hobbies and interests, and improve your body of knowledge about a subject. There are many online tutorial sites where you can learn about new topics.
Once you’re laid off, stress can come in many forms. It can arise due to anger, disappointment, aggression, powerlessness, or a mixture of any of these feelings. The trick to managing these emotions is by keeping yourself busy with other activities and by seeking social support from friends and family. Meditation can also help you root out these emotions, or at least reduce them to the extent that they do not trouble you excessively.
Need more help surviving a layoff?
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Figuring out when to start applying for jobs before graduation can seem a little tricky. Doing this too late will cause you to miss out on opportunities and doing it too early could result in you being removed from the running. This guide will teach you when to start applying, and how to approach the […]
The post When To Start Applying For Jobs Before Graduation (2023) appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Are you feeling defeated because you’ve done all you could do to attain a job, but have yet to land one? Examine your internal dialogue. Yes, put down the resume, halt the job search, and join me in this deep-dive exercise of exploring your thoughts…
What are your beliefs about your candidacy? What âvibe” are you transmitting during your phone interview, exuding through your body language, projecting with your attire selection, and reinforcing via your resume and cover letter?
If your lack of confidence is holding you back in your job search, try to think about the following:
Others can sense your lack of self-confidence.
Lack of confidence can be “smelled” a mile away. Negativity, cynicism, and a “poor-me” attitude is not attractive at allâno matter how you try to mask it.
While it may seem too simple and bordering on just “self-help” talk, the beliefs we hold about ourselves are fundamental in our success. The concept of reversing negative internal narrative seems simple; however, actually changing what you are thinking, feeling, and exuding is notâbut it can absolutely be accomplished!
We guarantee that if you have lost the job offer, perhaps even during a second interview, the person who got hired sold their qualifications with more confidence, was more persuasiveness in promoting their value, and closed the deal (job) by assertively reassuring the employer that they were the best choice!
So, what are possible reasons for your hard-to-detect negative self-talk?
The following could fuel consistent negative beliefs about your value, your opportunities, and your expectations:
No need to be ashamed. It happens to everyone at least once. We cannot control what happens in the world and often we cannot control events in our lives. Nevertheless, we CAN control our reaction to what happens to us and we can DECIDE to take action.
“Success builds character, failure reveals it.” âDave Checkett
Enough said?
Well, just in case: judging yourself for past failures builds a false self-image and can impact your self-confidence. Understand that failure is a part of trying and that, while owning up to your failures nurtures intellectual and emotional growth, defining yourself by your failures does not.
Understandably, if you have been out of work for a very long time, creditors are calling you, and your funds are now very limited, you can easily find yourself in a desperate-feeling place. Yet, we encourage you to adopt a new attitude.
Employers need you. So, while you are applying for jobs online, keep this in mind. Think about the value you bring as you write your resume and disruptive cover letter. You are a business-of-one. What service do you provide for an employer that makes you stand out from the competition? How will you make or save the company money?
By making this change to your mindset during your job search, you’ll come off as confident, not desperate.
This is probably the number one reason we all do a little self-berating. We experience disappointment, become frustrated and angry, and sometimes need to justify what has occurred.
Make a conscious choice to be kind to yourself, coach yourself, and pay attention to what you could be saying to yourselfâbecause negative beliefs can make their way onto the visible aspects of your job search.
Break the habit of talking negatively about yourself, and you’ll be surprised by how quickly your confidence recovers.
No matter what strategic job search plan or interview strategy you have in place, if you cannot convince your prospective employer to hire you, your self-marketing tools are pointless.
You cannot sell what you do not believe in and you cannot energize others to believe in you when YOU lack that type of enthusiasm in your own services/skills. Confidence isâand has always beenâthe key to job search success.
Plus, it feels good to recognize how amazing you really are!
So, begin to take notice. Write down all the reasons why you believe your job search is not fruitful, what your weaknesses are, and why you think you are NOT the best candidate, and then eradicate that thinking. Replace it with positive self-talk and substantiate it with achievements. Ironically, exploring your negative dialogue and reversing it can lead you to discover your UVP (unique value proposition). This is what will get you hired.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Being on LinkedIn is a must today. Not only can you find recent and relevant job openings, but it also opens up the opportunity for employers and recruiters to find you, for you to do research on the company and specific individuals within the organization, and for you to build your professional network.
Most of LinkedIn’s revenues come from recruiters who use it as a major source for finding talent and you want to make sure you come up in their searches. You also want to make sure that your LinkedIn profile is compelling and gets people to want to contact you.
Your LinkedIn headline is the first thing people will see about you when they search for certain skills, job titles, and keywords inside the platform. Here are some mistakes to avoid making in your LinkedIn headline, and a few tips to improve it:
When you don’t manually change your LinkedIn headline, it’ll default to your current job title and employer name. While it’s alright to leave it like that, especially if you have a self-explanatory job title and work with an employer that is recognized, you can get better results when you take the time to customize it.
Write a LinkedIn headline that’s relevant to your target audience and includes a few keywords (hard skills). The difference is a LinkedIn headline that reads: “Sales & Marketing Executive | Data Analysis | Social Media | Advertising” instead of “Sales and Marketing at XYZ Company.”
The revised LinkedIn headline does a better job of informing others of what this person does, who they do it for, and what their expertise is.
Your LinkedIn headline needs selling points or a value proposition that makes you stand out.
What is it that separates you from someone else who may hold similar skills and experience? Which hard skills or transferable skills will make you a great candidate for the job you’re applying for? That’s what you need to think about.
If you want your LinkedIn profile to show up in search results, it has to have the relevant keywords recruiters and hiring managers are searching for. Determine what those keywords are and make sure they’re in your LinkedIn headline. Be sure to include the skills needed for the position you want to get, not the one you’re currently in.
Let’s say a recruiter is searching for talent to fill a sales position at a pharmaceutical company that sells cancer drugs. If your LinkedIn headline only reads “Sales Professional,” you’ll probably show up much lower in the search results than someone with a LinkedIn headline that hits on some of the keywords.
An example of a good LinkedIn headline might be:
Sales Executive | Pharmaceutical Sales | Sales Management | Lead Generation
A LinkedIn headline displaying your skills and expertise will entice others to want to know more about you. Work your brainpower to come up with something powerful and unique.
Write a LinkedIn headline so powerful it’ll make recruiters stop scrolling and write down your name!
A major battle job seekers have on LinkedIn is getting others to look at their profiles. But with a customized LinkedIn headline that speaks to the audience you want to reach, you’ll get results.
The LinkedIn headline may only allow 220 characters, but it’s your best chance to stand out to recruiters and get them to view your profile!
Need more help with your LinkedIn profile?
Sign up for our FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp today to learn how to update your resume and LinkedIn profile the way recruiters want!
You know how the TikTok algorithm shows you stuff and you start to think, “Oh, it’s fate,” but in reality, it’s the algorithm figuring you out and showing you what you need to see? Well, I predict that’s how you’re going to get your next job.
@j.t.odonnell Welcome to the tiktokification side of recruiting! Glad to see your here!â¥ï¸ #tiktokification #recruiting #jobs #career #employer #recruiter #jobsearch #jobtips #joblife #2023 #careerhelp #jobtok #careertok #careeradvice #jobforme #job #career ⬠original sound – J.T. O’Donnell
If you don’t already know, my name is J.T. O’Donnell. I’m the founder and CEO of Work It Daily. My company works with employers, helping them create content that magically shows up in your feed so that you find them on TikTok.
Here’s how it works…
Why is this job search strategy important? Because we are no longer job seekers.
We are job shoppers. We will not work just anywhere. And smart employers are figuring that out and understand that the TikTokification of recruiting is here.
If you want to start learning about great companies to work for, and you want them to magically show up in your feed and be part of the algorithm, follow me on TikTok. I’ll make sure it happens.
Need more help with your job search?
I’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! I look forward to answering all of your career questions in our next live event!
There are some questions you should avoid asking in your first job interview. These interview questions make you look a little desperate. Why?
Because employers might think you want the job for the wrong reasons like you just need something temporary fast until you can find something better.
This is NOT the impression you want to give employers. Here are some interview questions you want to avoid during initial job interviews:
While this is something everyone needs to know, it’s not something you want to bring up in your first interview. The purpose of the initial interview from the employer’s perspective is to get to know you as a professional, see how you can handle common situations related to the job, and ultimately decide if you’re a good fit (or could be).
Money is kind of like the elephant in the room during the first interview. Everyone is thinking about it, but no one is talking about it because it’s irrelevant at this point in the hiring process. Don’t bring it up until they do.
Again, this isn’t relevant at this point in the hiring process. The last thing you want to convey is that you only care about the perks of the job. Employers want to know that you’re excited about the opportunity itself.
If you’re only in it for the money and benefits, employers might worry that you’ll leave their company in an instant if you get another offer with better perks and salary. So, why would they waste their time and money on you to begin with?
You don’t even have the job yet and you’re already asking how fast you can get promoted? While you might think this question makes you look like a go-getter, the hiring manager might think otherwise.
You’re only in the initial stages of the hiring process and you haven’t proved your abilities to the company yet. So, for some employers, it would seem ridiculous to estimate how fast you’d be promoted. You haven’t even gotten a job offer yet!
We know how nerve-wracking a job interview can be, especially that initial interview with a company when you don’t know where you stand against the competition. If you avoid asking these three questions during an interview, you won’t appear desperate, even though you might be!
If you really are desperate to find a job or are just struggling in your job search, we can help.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.