4 Signs That A Company Is Not Right For You

4 Signs That A Company Is Not Right For You

It can be hard to turn down a job offer, especially if you’re currently unemployed. But just because you got an offer doesn’t mean the job or the company is the right fit for you.

Even getting an interview in a competitive job market is an achievement in itself, but you need to be very clear from the start of the interview process what the most important aspects of the job are to you and then prioritize them accordingly.

Obviously, salary is important, especially if you’re not working right now, but we’re all looking for different things. For some, it might be the work-life balance that is the most important; for others, a culture that fosters innovation, or maybe location or opportunities to grow and develop.

Most of us have had an experience of the job not turning out to be as promised during the interview process. But how do you know if you’ve found your perfect company? How do you determine what the red flags are, which means that the job might not be a good fit for you long term?

Here are some signs a company might not be right for you:

Disorganized Or Disrespectful Interviewers

Hiring manager is disrespectful during a job interview

As much as you need to impress a prospective employer during the interview process, the employer also needs to impress you. If the hiring manager is half an hour late or rushing around, this can be a sign of what the work culture is like and it shows that bringing in new talent clearly isn’t a priority.

You want to connect with your interviewer on some level during the hiring process. That will be impossible to do if they’re disorganized and not giving you the time of day.

No matter what happens in your interview, if you’re left with a bad taste in your mouth after interacting with your interviewer, that’s a red flag that shouldn’t be ignored.

You’re Not Sure About Your Future Boss

Woman in an interview unsure if the job is right for her

If you’re not going to get on well with your boss, chances are you won’t enjoy your work. Ask yourself whether you have a good feeling about the person who will be your manager. Will they offer you good feedback and career advice when needed? Do they know how they will measure your performance on the job? Are they approachable?

If you don’t feel your prospective manager is someone you want to work with, you might want to think twice before accepting their offer.

The Company Is Unstable And Lacks Direction

Hiring manager offers the job to the woman she is interviewing

Even before the interview, there is a lot of research you can do to determine if the company is a safe bet for you. You might want to look at the changes the company has gone through in the last few years to get a sense of its stability and general direction. You might also want to research current and previous employees on LinkedIn to see what their career path has been and how long they’ve stayed in the job. You might even want to reach out to previous employees in similar roles to find out their reasons for leaving.

Also, have a look at what the employees are saying about the company on Glassdoor. I remember seeing a job posting that looked great, but before applying, I went to Glassdoor to read reviews of others who had interviewed with the company. Every single review was negative and provided specific details. Needless to say, I did not apply.

Layout Of The Workplace

Woman interviews at a new company

We all have different work preferences. Some prefer to work in an open office space, which is probably noisier but offers more interaction between employees. Some companies have a lot of cubicles and separate offices. It provides quieter spaces to work but also less interaction with others. Other companies have a remote workforce, so could you handle working from home every day?

Does the layout of the company suit you? If you’re social and like interacting with others during the day and you’re stuck in a tiny office, you won’t enjoy it.

It’s easy to ignore red flags in the hiring process when you’re desperate for a job. To figure out whether a company is really the right fit for you, make sure you consider the four points above before accepting any job offer.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

True Or False: Do I Need These Things On My Resume?

True Or False: Do I Need These Things On My Resume?

There are a lot of things job seekers add to their resumes that they don’t actually need. In some cases, these things hurt a job seeker’s chances of landing an interview.

If you’re asking yourself, “Do I need these things on my resume?” take a look at the things job seekers should and should not include on their resumes.

1. Add An Experience Summary Instead Of An Objective Statement

An objective or mission statement used to be the right header for your resume. Today, it’s obsolete.

Instead, utilize an experience summary. This is a list of your skills and requirements that are needed for a certain job. They’re hard skills and transferrable skills, and they will help optimize your resume with keywords so it can get past the ATS.

Once it does that, it will be in the hands of the hiring manager, and they’ll be impressed by your qualifications at first glance. It will also compel them to continue reading further about your successes and job history.

2. Leave Off The References

Man looks at his resume while applying for a job on his laptop

References should not be included on a resume. If a job posting requires you to submit a few references, create a separate document and add them in there instead. Then, attach your resume and references (saved as separate documents) to the job application or attach them to an email to the hiring manager.

In the hiring process, references are important. But how you distribute those references matters more than you think.

3. Ditch The Unprofessional Personal Email Address

Woman on laptop adds a few things to her resume

Having a professional image and a great personal brand isn’t just about your social media accounts. Your email address should be professional as well and easy to comprehend.

Consider creating a separate email account for job-hunting purposes. You will find it easier to track the applications you’ve sent and any potential leads and lessen the risk of accidentally deleting emails you’ve misread as junk mail.

4. Include Measurable Goals And Achievements

Man on laptop writes his resume before looking for a job

Your resume must contain quantifiable work experience and accomplishments that support the very skill sets you state you possess. Without them, you are simply providing opinions with no facts to back them up.

If you are great at driving explosive business growth or saving companies money, make sure that your resume contains monetary amounts, figures, or other numbers to display those skills. A good rule of thumb to follow is to make sure every bullet point contains at least one number. If you can’t quantify it, it doesn’t belong on your resume.

When crafting your resume, consider these four important tips. Remember, you have less than 10 seconds to get the hiring manager’s attention. Make your resume worth those few seconds.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

The 1 Question I Asked A CEO In An Interview That Got Me The Job

The 1 Question I Asked A CEO In An Interview That Got Me The Job

Years ago, I was interviewing for a job. As many of you know, when you go through the interview process, you start with the recruiter, and then you meet with the manager, and then you meet with some of your peers—if you’re lucky. Then, at the end of the interview process, you might meet with the highest-ranking executives. So in this case, I met with the CEO.

I knew I was doing okay because I was getting through each round of interviews. So, I go into the CEO’s office. I don’t know what to expect. It’s a startup company. He’s sitting there in a t-shirt and sweatpants. He’s eating cereal and has his feet up on his desk. He says, “Come sit down.” Then, he proceeds to interview me while he eats cereal, his feet still up on the desk.

There I am in my suit, answering all the questions, and, finally, he asks, “So do you have any questions for me?”

And I said, “Yeah. What keeps you up at night?”

“What Keeps You Up At Night?”

The CEO stops eating his cereal, looks at me, and says, “I’m sorry. What?”

I respond, “When it comes to this business, what is keeping you up at night about its success? And how will the job that you’re considering me for, how will the job that I do, impact the ability to solve for that?”

His face goes blank, he takes his feet off the desk, and he puts his cereal down. My heart starts to pound. Then, all of a sudden, he turns and looks at me. He leans in and says, “Hmm, let me think about that.”

Now I’m thinking, “Oh my gosh, I just blew it.”

Then, he gets really serious and starts to explain how this job impacts that ability. Then, he starts singing. Eventually, the interview ended and I went home thinking, “What did I just do?”

I got myself a job.

He told them that I should be hired because anyone who understands that their job impacts every level of the organization—and that they should be thinking about that impact—understands the value of the work that they need to do, and would do a good job. That’s what he told the hiring manager. And the hiring manager told me.

So that gamble paid off. It not only taught me how important it is to ask questions in an interview but also how important it is to ask the right questions to the right people.

If you want to stand out in the interview process and land the job, try asking this question in your next job interview. It’s all about understanding and relieving an employer’s pain points.

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5 Easy Ways To Make Yourself A More Attractive Job Candidate

5 Easy Ways To Make Yourself A More Attractive Job Candidate

With such a competitive job market, it makes sense to work on the way that you present yourself and come across to prospective employers. There are many different things you can do in this respect, but we have come up with five ways that should be easy enough for you to implement.

If you use the tips listed below, you should be on your way to making yourself a more attractive job candidate, and could even land the job you have been lusting after…

1. Give A Great First Impression

The first thing you will want to look at is your resume or CV, as this is the document that an HR team will scrutinize and analyze to get an idea of you and your skills. There are many resources online that can be used to improve your resume or CV, and there may also be clinics and seminars held in your local area or online. It is also worth asking your friends and family if they know any recruitment specialists as they may be able to provide you with some pointers.

2. Prove You Are A Safe Bet

Woman interviews a remote job candidate

Another aspect of becoming a more attractive candidate is showing that you are safe and trustworthy, and stay within the law. Basic disclosure checks are ideal for this; there is plenty of information available online about how to get one. As an individual, you can get a basic disclosure; however, in some sectors, an employer may be required to get a standard or enhanced check on your behalf.

Having good references is another way to prove you are as good as your resume or CV says you are, which leads us to our third point…

3. Provide Brilliant References

Hiring manager reads a job candidate's references in an interview

Many people only consider references once they have a conditional offer (meaning that you have succeeded in your interview but the employer wants to carry out checks before confirming a full job offer). However, this should be something considered at a much earlier stage as it means that you can ensure that your references fully understand you, your desired career path, and the important points to cover.

Ask whether they could provide you with a short version of a reference for your LinkedIn profile (aka a LinkedIn recommendation).

4. Demonstrate Extra Skills

Woman reviews a resume

It is always a positive thing if you can go above and beyond a job description, so get thinking about what extra skills you can add to the job. Whether this is a full and clean driver’s license or an extra qualification, make sure that these are listed on your resume or CV and are communicated on your cover letter where appropriate.

5. Be Respectful

Job candidate shakes the hiring manager's hand before a job interview

Finally, you should always ensure that you act professionally and respectfully when you are on the hunt for a job. Being too pushy, lazy, or hostile can get people’s backs up and will be unlikely to get you an interview or a job offer. Whilst it is acceptable to follow up on how your interview went and so on, remember to find the balance between getting feedback and being pushy—it is a fine line that you won’t want to cross.

Also, keep in mind dress codes and timeliness whenever you are attending an interview as these are easy boxes to tick.

In a competitive job market, you can’t afford to make small mistakes or pass up opportunities to shine. Become a more attractive job candidate to employers by following the tips above.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

3 Ways To Improve Your Professional Happiness Using Your Career Decoder Results

3 Ways To Improve Your Professional Happiness Using Your Career Decoder Results

The Career Decoder Quiz unlocks your professional strengths and potential. I’m going to walk you through three ways you can use your results to improve your own career happiness, success, and satisfaction.

I built the Career Decoder Quiz back in 2015 and, as of today, hundreds of thousands of people have taken the quiz. When I first shared it with our members and followers, I got a comment from someone on LinkedIn with a PhD in psychology who said their results were spot-on accurate. It truly made my day because I always knew that this information was important and accurate but it’s very validating when you hear other individuals saying that as well.

How To Use The Career Decoder Quiz To Unlock Professional Success

The Career Decoder Quiz is all about your workplace personas. Your workplace personas explain how you like to add value and how you like to create value and results for your employer when you’re doing work. And this is important to understand because you’re not an employee. You’re a business-of-one, and you’re selling your services to the employer. You want to be able to sell services that you enjoy providing. That’s how you find satisfaction in your career.

I’ve worked with thousands of people over the last 20 years. I’ve been a career coach for a long time, and I know that the number one reason people are so unhappy is that they’re not internally motivated by their work. The technical term is “intrinsic motivation.” It means it’s work you desire to do and that’s exactly what the career decoder results reveal. You’re going to feel more satisfied naturally when you’re doing the kind of work your results say you should do.

When we work with people inside the Work It DAILY platform, when our career coaches help our members, what we normally find is that they’re doing work that is not leveraging their top two or three workplace personas. The Career Decoder Quiz is going to tell you you’re top personas. When you get your results, anything that scores 20% or higher means it’s a strength of yours. It’s a persona that you prefer to leverage. Some people only have one. Some people have a couple of them. But you can’t be all eight, so you’re going to see what you prefer to do and how you prefer to deliver that value.

The first way (and probably the most important way) you should be using the results of the Career Decoder Quiz is to get very clear on the kind of work you want to do.

We had a client take the Career Decoder Quiz. He was a very successful executive. In his current role, he was known as an Optimizer. (That’s one of the eight workplace personas.) He was very good at looking at problems in the company and fixing them. But he wasn’t fulfilled in this work. When he took our quiz, it turned out that his top three workplace personas were Mentor, Visionary, and Educator.

What he preferred to do was coach others. He preferred to share a vision, help people connect the dots, and see things that they couldn’t see on their own. He also wanted to close gaps in knowledge and information.

So what we did was work together to quantify his skills and abilities in these three areas—the ways he preferred to work—and then he went to his leadership team and expressed the fact that he really wanted to find work within the organization that allowed him to leverage these three areas. And, lo and behold, the executive team said to him, “We’ve been waiting for you to say this.” He was shocked. They were very happy with him in the Optimizer role and he seemed to be happy in the Optimizer role, so why would they’ve changed things? It wasn’t until he expressed his desire to do work that was in line with how he felt satisfaction that he was able to get results.

I see this every single day inside the Work It DAILY platform as we coach people on their careers, helping them better understand themselves, and this is just one of the ways that we do it.

The second way you need to leverage the results you get from the Career Decoder Quiz is to use them in all your career tools (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, etc.).

As a business-of-one, you have to market yourself to employers, and the way you market yourself is with things like your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letters, answers in your interview prep, and elevator pitch when networking. A lot of people tend to have the “everything and the kitchen sink” mentality where they put everything they’ve ever done in all of these career tools. They want to present themselves as a Jack or Jill of all trades. That is a fatal error. You need to brand yourself as a specialist, and, more importantly, as a specialist doing the kind of work you want to be doing. The Career Decoder results are what enable you to do that.

Now, a lot of people get their results and suddenly change their LinkedIn headline to “I’m a Builder, Mentor, Superconnector,” or in their resume they write that they are an Educator or Warrior or Researcher. That’s not what I want you to do. That’s actually pretty hokey and that’s not what this was intended for.

Instead, take a look at your top personas. You’ll realize those personas are really verbs. So if you’re a Builder, then you want to go through your tools and quantify your experience building things: “I’ve built X systems.” Or if you’re an Educator, “I’ve taught X number,” or “I trained X number of people.” Or if you’re a Superconnector, “I’ve connected X number of customers/vendors.”

You want to look at how you move the needle in your career. You want to quantify your accomplishments and work experience using the terms that align with your top workplace personas. Quantifying these things and branding yourself this way is how you’re going to send the message that this is your specialty, this is how you like to create value, and you can prove it.

The third way you can leverage these results and improve your professional satisfaction is by understanding or getting familiar with your co-workers’ personas.

It’s important that you know how to leverage the strengths of other people. And let me explain why.

When you know what your strengths are, you’re going to have more confidence, and when you know the strengths of others, you know how to tap into them and collaborate better. This is what companies are looking for—their top resources working well together and creating much better results.

By recognizing the talents of others and knowing to leverage them in concert with yours, you’re going to gain a lot of trust, respect, and credibility within the organization.

I see a lot of people plateau in their careers because they get so focused on what they’re good at and how they win that they lose sight of the fact that in order to get to the next level in their career, they need to partner with others. They need to be able to leverage the strengths of others. You can’t be all eight personas. You’re going to need all eight of those personas in the workplace. So if you want to get ahead in your career you need to put your ego aside. You need to leverage your own strengths, your own personas, and you need to leverage those of your teammates. Your credibility, the trust and the respect that you’re going to get, is gonna skyrocket. And, of course, that’s going to make you much happier on the job.

Those are the three ways you can leverage the Career Decoder results. Discovering your workplace personas is so empowering. And we don’t just use the Career Decoder Quiz with job seekers and professionals. We also use it with employers. They use it with their staff to help them better understand their teammates. And if you’re a leader, not only should you take this quiz, but you should also give it to all of your employees and learn their results so that you can tap into their strengths and make sure they’re happy on the job.

I hope this free quiz helps you, your coworkers, and your leaders. If you want to work one-on-one with our coaches and learn more about your results, join us inside Work It DAILY today. Let us be your guide toward a happier, more satisfying career.

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Answer The “What Is Your Biggest Weakness?” Question In A Job Interview

How To Answer The “What Is Your Biggest Weakness?” Question In A Job Interview

Even though it’s one of the most common interview questions out there, everyone hates being asked, “What is your biggest weakness?” in a job interview. It’s hard enough to show your potential during an interview. How are you supposed to sell yourself to employers when they want you to tell them what’s wrong with you?

Thankfully, answering this question isn’t as hard as you might think. And you can actually use it to show your potential if you respond strategically.

How To Answer “What Is Your Biggest Weakness?” In An Interview

To successfully answer the “What is your biggest weakness?” question in a job interview, don’t lie or come up with an answer you think might impress the interviewer (like “being a perfectionist” or “working too hard”). Instead, focus on a skill you’re trying to develop.

For example, let’s say you’re interviewing for a training coordinator role at your favorite company. You love developing training materials and teaching others; however, you get very nervous when delivering your presentations because public speaking isn’t your forte.

Instead of trying to sweep this under the rug, address it, but ease the interviewer’s concerns by sharing what you’re doing to overcome this challenge.

An Example Of How To Answer “What Is Your Biggest Weakness?” In A Job Interview

Woman answers the "What is your biggest weakness?" question in a job interview

“I have to admit that public speaking has always been difficult for me because I’m an introvert. It makes me nervous to get up in front of people and talk. However, I’ve learned that this was an integral part of training others, which I love doing. So, I’ve been working hard to improve my public speaking skills by participating in monthly Toastmasters meetings as well as taking on volunteer training sessions for colleagues so I can get some extra practice. Since challenging myself to do this, I’ve noticed a big difference in my confidence level and have felt more capable than ever in my role as a trainer.”

Essentially, you want to convey that you understand you’re weak in one area, but to make up for it, you’ve been working hard to improve that area because you know it’s important in your role. There’s no need to give a long explanation for this question. Keep it simple and straightforward, and focus on the positives rather than dwell on the negatives.

Don’t get stumped by common interview questions like, “What is your biggest weakness?” Instead, go in prepared. Be honest with yourself and tailor your answers so you can market your skills rather than detract from your potential. Remember: Every weakness is an opportunity to grow as a professional, so frame it that way in your next job interview!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

4 Ways To Take Ownership Of Your Career

4 Ways To Take Ownership Of Your Career

Are you sick and tired of depending on other people for your career success? Good! The only person in charge of your success is you.

If you’re feeling trapped by a job you hate, a bad boss, insulting pay, or all of the above, it’s time you take ownership of your career. But where do you start?

Here are three things you can do to start taking control of your career today:

Take Inventory Of Your Skill Sets

What are you known for? What are your best skills? What accomplishments are you most proud of? What are your best qualities?

Take some time to list your best skill sets, and how you use those skill sets to add value to a company. Think of all the quantifiable examples of the times your skills have helped previous employers and other examples of your skill sets standing out from everyone else’s.

Organizing all of this information will help you build your personal brand and organize how you want to market yourself as a business-of-one to employers.

Start Being Proactive In Your Career

A young professional has a career conversation with her boss

If you want to take ownership of your career, you need to stop being reactive and start being proactive. Reactive activities include but aren’t limited to the following: waiting for your boss to give you a promotion, waiting for recruiters to reach out to you with new opportunities, or waiting for employers to email you back about your resume.

Notice that all of these “job search activities” started with the word “waiting.” Newsflash: Waiting doesn’t get results. Taking action does.

Instead, set up a meeting with your boss to discuss advancement opportunities or make a bucket list of companies that you want to work at, and then reach out to employees at those companies to connect, and maybe even set up informational interviews.

It’s also important to submit your cover letter and resume to an actual person when applying for a job, and following up with that hiring staff.

Build Your Professional Network

Man on phone and laptop builds his professional network

The old saying, “It’s who you know,” has never rung more true. Get by with a little help from your career friends! Focus your efforts on building your professional network. Meet new people within your industry and bucket list companies. Start conversations and build relationships with them.

Even if you’re not ready to find a new job or change careers yet, having these people in the wings as references, mentors, and professional contacts will help you tremendously. They can provide tips and insight, act as a sounding board for ideas, and even hook you up with a job. Just make sure you help them out in return!

Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Young happy professional stands out in the job market by stepping out of her comfort zone

Part of your new, proactive approach is to step out of your comfort zone. Many people hold themselves back solely because they are afraid of what people might think. But remember, nothing will change if you don’t!

Make an effort to put yourself out there and meet new people. Set up informational interviews with like-minded professionals, strike up a conversation with someone at a conference, and attend in-person or virtual networking events.

If you’re ready to achieve career success, take ownership of your career today by following the tips above. What is your business-of-one capable of?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Use Informational Interviews To Land Your Dream Job

How To Use Informational Interviews To Land Your Dream Job

When there’s a company you really want to work for and you’ve applied and applied and you don’t get any results, the first thing I ask is how many informational interviews have you done with people who work at this company?

Informational interviews are not job interviews. They are interviews where you are asking that person for guidance or coaching by saying things like…

  • Can you tell me how you got your job?
  • What do you think it took to stand out?
  • What do you think it takes to be successful at the company?
  • What would you advise me to do to better prepare myself for job interviews?

You’re not asking them to refer you to the hiring manager or help you get the job. You’re asking them to coach you on being the best version of yourself so that you can be a standout candidate to get the job yourself.

Informational Interviewing Tips

At the end of each informational interview, say, “This was really helpful. Could you introduce me or recommend one person at this company that you think I could also learn a lot from?” What happens is the person always recommends one person, and that’s how you get your next informational interview. And you do that over and over and over again.

Now why is this important? Well, they are going to start to give you all the information you need to help you understand what you have to do to stand out and get hired. Also, you’re building up your networking connections so that when a recruiter comes across your LinkedIn profile and sees that you’re connected to all these people, it increases the chances that you’ll actually get a job interview.

Plus, when you’re in the job interview, you can say, “I’ve had the pleasure of talking with so-and-so who works at your company, and they shared (blank),” or “I talked to so-and-so and they told me (blank).” This shows that you are connected to these people and you’ve listened to what they’ve said, and this can be one of the best ways to get a job with a company you love.

Let me give you a real-life example. I actually coached a young woman on this. She was a senior in college, and she wanted to work for a very well-known sports company. And so we started this process. We got her her first informational interview, and then she got another one and another one and another one. She graduated from college, applied for jobs, and didn’t get any job offers. Then, out of the blue, while she was home, she got a call and it was from a manager at the sports company she’d never met. And this person said, “Hey, I’d like to interview you over the phone. I had a candidate lined up for a job and the candidate dropped out. I need somebody to start ASAP. So I sent a message out to all the managers saying, ‘I need somebody with these skills ASAP. Can you think of anyone?’ And three different managers messaged me back and recommended you. You clearly made an impression when you were talking to all these people. So I want to interview you.” And that’s how she got a job with them.

Informational interviewing is so effective when you’re trying to get into a dream employer. At Work It DAILY, we teach the framework for informational interviewing. It is an entire module that is part of our interview prep course. We take you through the interview process from the eyes of the hiring manager so that we can prepare you to do the right things before the interview, during the interview, after the interview, and throughout the whole process. And part of that is also knowing how to do informational interviewing.

If you would like access to our interview prep course, become a Work It DAILY member today. Sign up for our 7-day FREE trial and see how easy it is to get the results you want and deserve.

Good luck, and go get ’em!

10 Little Things That Make A Big Difference To Hiring Managers

10 Little Things That Make A Big Difference To Hiring Managers

As a former hiring manager in several consulting firms, I often wondered if candidates were cognizant of the impression they made on employers. Even small things, such as the frown displayed by an applicant upon arriving at an interview, or the worn-out jeans of an applicant in a roomful of suits, gave me pause as I worked to screen candidates.

Ironically, many of the problems I spotted could have easily been fixed by taking care of seemingly minor issues. In some cases, these corrections would have made the difference between hiring the job candidate and taking a pass on the applicant!

Here are 10 “little” things that make a big difference to hiring managers in the interview process:

1. Your Digital Identity

Man on laptop fixes his social media accounts while looking for a job

Yes, recruiters and hiring managers will be checking out your LinkedIn presence and verifying that your Facebook and Instagram activity is not violating their corporate policies. But have you stopped to think about your tweets or the content you’re creating on TikTok?

Even the most realistic employer will need to assess your liability as a potential new hire. Therefore, your online activity must be sufficiently toned down and presentable to a potential company—long before you enter the job market.

If you’ve kept up a website on your middle-of-the-night gaming habit or constantly tweet your distaste for political candidates, these items can offend hiring managers—and cause them to rethink bringing you in for an interview.

2. Your Honesty

Woman shakes hands with the hiring manager before a job interview

Struggling to hide employment gaps in your work history on your resume? Failing to mention that new job you just took (that isn’t working out)? White lies or sins of omission on your resume and in your interviews will come back to haunt you in more than one way.

If interviewers don’t catch lies during the resume screening process, there’s still a chance that your background check will reveal all. Even after you’re hired, your record of impeccable service won’t make up for less-than-forthright stories on your resume or LinkedIn profile.

Stories abound of high-profile executives, entertainment professionals, and sports coaches who attended college but didn’t graduate—and who paid the price for fudging these resume details years down the road.

3. Your Accessibility

Hiring manager talks to a job applicant during a video call/virtual interview

Are you open enough on LinkedIn that others can contact you? Or did you forget to make your email address (and possibly mobile number) visible to other users? Here are best practices for ensuring you’re more easily reached on LinkedIn:

  • From the “Edit Profile” menu, look under the box with your name and headline for “Edit Contact Info.” Here, you can fill in your email address and phone number.
  • Joining groups is also an important step in becoming accessible to employers. Sharing a group with another user means he or she can reach out to you for free (important to recruiters maximizing their LinkedIn budgets).

4. Your Job Search Follow-Up

Happy woman on laptop writes a message to a hiring manager

Sent in a resume, but failed to take any action beyond pressing the “Send” button? If you didn’t spend some time following up or identifying company insiders for further networking, your job search will take longer.

Doing some homework on the employer’s business needs and identifying key people for personal follow-up (through LinkedIn or an online search) shows them you’re truly interested in a career opportunity, and that you’ve given thought to solving their business problems.

Be sure to use formal channels when applying for a posted job. Then, reach out to your newly found contacts to reiterate your interest in joining the company. Better still, connect and network with employees at the companies on your interview bucket list well before you start your job search. That way, you’ll already have connections at those companies when it comes time for you to apply for a job.

​5. The Tone Of Your Cover Letter Or LinkedIn Message

Hiring manager looks at a job candidate's resume during an interview

Cranking out LinkedIn messages or cover letters at top speed—with just a few adjustments here and there? Hiring managers can smell a “form letter” approach a mile away. Nothing says “I’m desperate and don’t care about your needs” more than a disjointed cover letter or a LinkedIn message that simply asks for a job.

No matter how you’re getting in touch with employers, take the time to write a brand-specific message of value to them—helping them discover who you are, what you offer, and why you’re interested in a position with their company. This means customizing each LinkedIn message and writing disruptive cover letters.

You may not be able to crank them out as fast, but you’ll be sacrificing quantity for quality. And, in the job search, quality is always better than quantity.

6. Your Demeanor When Arranging The Interview

Hiring manager interviews a job candidate

When setting up any kind of business meeting, there’s a certain amount of give and take required for coordination. No matter how in-demand your skills may be, you’ll be expected to acquiesce to interview timing and location parameters set by employers. That can mean dealing with less-than-helpful receptionists or HR personnel, all of whom will be taking notes on your reactions.

Your phone etiquette and email communications will be watched closely; a courteous and respectful tone will go miles in reinforcing your personal brand and potential as a job candidate.

7. Your Appraisal Of The Interviewer

Man feels uncomfortable during an interview with the hiring manager

Feeling put out by the fact that your interviewer appears younger, more inexperienced, or otherwise beneath you in the professional hierarchy? Be careful how you convey this disapproval. You may believe you’re hiding these feelings, but as one of those younger-looking interviewers, I often picked up on this tone very quickly!

Even if you decide mid-interview that you’re not interested in the company, remember to display a high degree of professionalism. You never know how well-connected your interviewer might be.

8. Your Discretion

Woman on laptop follows up with a hiring manager

Polarizing, hot-button subjects such as politics or religion should make their way out of your resume, LinkedIn profile, interview discussions, and side conversations.

No matter how neutral or popular you consider your stance to be on these topics, there’s bound to be someone who disagrees with you—and who votes against hiring you.

9. Your Post-Interview Actions

Man on laptop writes an email to a hiring manager

Yes, you should be sending a thank-you note to employers after your interviews! Whether a short, handwritten card, LinkedIn message, email, or even hard-copy letter, a thank-you note gives employers the impression that you’re a gracious and appreciative job candidate.

A post-interview note can also be used to address lingering questions, counter potential objections (“Regarding our discussion on your new Western region, I can assure you that I’m accustomed to handling accounts in person for maximum effect—and therefore open to travel”), or mention a fond memory you have of the experience (a conversation, for example) to highlight a connection you made with the individuals at the company.

Be sure to address your notes to each person you’ve encountered in the interview process (or at least mention their names in the note), especially if you’ve met with a panel or group.

10. The Frequency Of Your Messages

Just because social media lets you send messages faster than ever doesn’t mean you should pester employers. Following up once or twice after applying for a job should suffice to let them know you’re still interested in the position. The same is true of the post-interview period.

Hiring managers have companies to run and customers to serve in addition to the process of choosing you. They may also have other candidates to consider. Staying on an employer’s radar is important, but so is professional discretion. Aim for somewhere in between silent and stalker in your follow-up activities.

There are numerous ways employers can be put off by your job search practices or approach. Ensure you’re taking steps to satisfy their need for information and put your best professional foot forward.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

4 Ways To Take Ownership Of Your Career

6 Tips To Make Your Resume Better Than The Rest

Recruiters look at dozens of resumes a day. If they see something they don’t like, your resume could wind up in the “no” pile in just seconds.

Here are a few tips you should follow to make your resume better than the rest, standing out from all that competition!

1. Make Sure Your Resume Is Error-Free

We know that sounds like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised by the number of resumes that have a spacing issue, a punctuation error, or even a misspelling. The problem is that you have looked at your resume so many times, your brain knows what it is supposed to say, but in reality, it says something else.

Get several people to proofread your resume, and have them read it for different purposes. One person should read for grammar, for example, and another should read for punctuation and spelling. You cannot afford to send a resume to employers with mistakes. Any superficial error can severely hurt your chances of getting a call for that job.

2. Align Your Resume With The Description Of The Job You’re Applying For

Hiring manager asks about a job applicant's resume in an interview

Too often people think that their resume is a “one-and-done” proposition. Not so! You should customize your resume for every job each time you apply.

Match up keywords from the job description with keywords in your resume. Make sure that your achievements and successes indicate that you are an excellent candidate for the job you’re applying for. You need to tweak your resume for every single job posting. There are no exceptions.

3. Make Your Resume Sleek

Woman reviews a resume

Some people think the trick to a great resume is to stuff as many accomplishments into it as possible by using tiny font and stretching the margins to the limit. The result is a resume that is difficult to read and looks cluttered and clunky. Those resumes will wind up in the “no” pile because the hiring manager doesn’t care enough to search the document for truly relevant information. They also don’t have time to waste when there are dozens of other resumes to review.

Your resume should have a clean and contemporary look and feel. Use lots of white space and be as concise as possible. Also, use clean-looking fonts like Calibri or Arial.

4. Use Keywords Strategically

Woman on laptop works on her resume

Check the job description carefully for each position you’re applying for. Then, use keywords in your resume that match the keywords in the job description. Also, you may find it helpful to use free word cloud tools to identify the keywords that are used most frequently in the job description. Adding those keywords to your resume will make it easier for your resume to get past the ATS.

Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for individuals who are a good match for their job openings. Don’t make them guess whether or not you have the required skills or experience. Your resume should get them curious to know more about your qualifications. At the end of the day, the goal of your resume is to get the employer to call you. It won’t be the thing that gets you the job, but it will be what gets you an interview.

5. Describe Accomplishments, Not Responsibilities

Man on laptop looks for a job while writing his resume

Avoid using the word “responsible” in your resume. Instead, concentrate on specific and quantifiable accomplishments. For example, which sounds more impressive:

  • Responsible for manufacturing production with proven record of exceeding expectations.
  • Managed 5 different teams over the course of 10+ years resulting in $50 million in new sales along with a 30% reduction in waste.
If you said the second bullet point, you picked the right one. That’s what hiring managers are looking for on a resume.

6. Use “Power” Words

Hiring managers discuss a job candidate's resume during an interview

Demonstrate that you are a person of action. Rather than being “responsible for” something, use words like “advised,” “led,” “launched,” “executed,” “generated,” “planned,” “produced,” etc. These powerful resume words (and others like them) demonstrate your ability to perform on the job and your specific role in previous jobs. Strong action words validate your capabilities and specific duties you have performed.

Consider which is better:

  • Responsible for launch of a new product.
  • Initiated and led new product-launch that resulted in $20 million in revenue.
Don’t forget that your resume represents who you are and what you can do when you can’t be there in person to explain all of that to a recruiter or hiring manager. Your resume is just one of hundreds that fly into a company on any given day. You need to stand out from the crowd, and it is your responsibility to make that happen. By following the tips above, you’ll be sure to create a resume that’s better than the rest.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Why You Need Achievements On Your LinkedIn Profile

Why You Need Achievements On Your LinkedIn Profile

If you want to stand out from other job candidates, both your resume and LinkedIn profile need to have specific, tangible, quantifiable achievements.

We see so many resumes that are very “duty-oriented”—the candidate lists what they’ve done but doesn’t mention anything about what they’ve achieved.

Here are a few tips on how to write an achievement-based LinkedIn profile…

1. Highlight Your Main Skills In Your LinkedIn Summary (“About” Section)

Your resume and LinkedIn profile are your personal branding tools, and first impressions are important. Highlight your skills in your LinkedIn profile just as you would on your resume. People often say generic stuff like, “I worked in marketing,” but that doesn’t tell recruiters anything about what they’ve done.

What powerful words can you use to stand out? What specifically have you done that would be relevant to the jobs you’re applying for? Think about these questions as you list your hard skills at the end of your “About” section.

2. Include Accomplishments & Quantify Your Results With Numbers

Woman on laptop updates her LinkedIn profile with achievements

Recruiters want you to tell them why you’re the right fit for the job, so don’t be shy about emphasizing what your skills are and how they’d help the company.

Quantify your results as best you can. Use examples that include numbers. if you’ve saved time or money—by how much? List your accomplishments as bullet points. If something can’t be quantified (like job responsibilities), it won’t impress recruiters and employers. Therefore, don’t waste space on your LinkedIn profile by including them.

3. Prove That You’re A Self-Starter

Man on laptop updates his LinkedIn profile with achievements

What is it that you’ve initiated in your job? Did you start any new projects or come up with new ideas? Highlighting projects you’ve set out to achieve on your own is a great way to show that you’re someone who takes initiative, without always being told what to do.

Of course, you should quantify as much information about these projects as possible. This will catch the eye of recruiters and act as a great conversation starter with your network.

Writing an achievement-based LinkedIn profile is a great way to highlight why you’re a good fit for the job. You’ll stand out to recruiters as a qualified job candidate, one who could achieve great things at the company.

Need more help with your job search?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

4 Ways To Take Ownership Of Your Career

3 Reasons To Quit Pursuing Career Happiness

This may be controversial, but as a 20-year career coaching veteran, I think one of the biggest mistakes people are making post-pandemic is they are overly focused on trying to pursue career happiness when in reality you should be focused on building career resilience.

Career Happiness Is Elusive. Building Career Resilience Will Give You Career Satisfaction.

There are three reasons why career happiness is very difficult to achieve. First, career happiness is a state of mind. So if you’re sitting here and wondering, “How can I just be happier in my career today?” you can’t. Instead, certain things need to happen that are going to make you stronger and more resilient, feel more in control, and give you more satisfaction.

Career satisfaction will make you feel happy.

The second reason you should quit trying to pursue career happiness is that it constantly evolves. It’s like a moving target. The moment that you start to feel happy, the situation will change, or your circumstances will change. So it’s not a one-and-done sort of thing. Many people struggle with the concept of “happiness,” and say something like, “I was happy here and now I’m not. I’ll never be able to achieve this.” That’s not true at all. Happiness is a constantly moving state.

The third reason you don’t want to focus on career happiness is that it’s different for every person. I coach people every day who tell me they tried something that worked for someone else, but they didn’t get the same results, and now they feel bad about it—about themselves, their situation, etc. You can’t compare someone else’s success, someone else’s perceived happiness, with your own ideas of success and happiness.

Career happiness just isn’t the right thing to pursue for all three of these reasons.

So, what do you do instead? You focus on building up your career resilience. Why do you do that? Because the stronger you get, the more in control you will feel, and the more satisfied you will be with your career—and that will make you feel happy.

How To Build Career Resilience

Happy man at his dream job

There are three things you need to build career resilience. First is the environment. You need to surround yourself with a community of people who are all focusing on career resilience as well. What happens is you end up learning from these people. In fact, they show you things you didn’t know you needed to know. But also, candidly, you look around the room and you go, “These people aren’t any better than me. I can do this.” And that’s going to give you motivation, which many people lack.

The second thing you’re going to need is coaching. You’re going to need people who have done this, who have hacks, who have tips, who have tricks, who are keeping up with the latest techniques, who can understand your particular situation and get you the advice you need. Think about all the people in your life you use when you can’t get results on your own. They’re essentially coaches. That’s what you need right now to get you to the next level. If you think about it, coaching isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s the path to greatness, especially in things like sports. And this is no different. You’re playing a sport here in your career.

The third thing that you’re going to need is knowledge. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is the one thing nobody can take away from you. Employers can never take away your knowledge. That’s your power. That’s your value. That’s your worth when it comes to work.

When you gain new insights, when you learn new things, it is going to make you much smarter. You’re going to make more informed decisions, and you’re going to take yourself from being an employee who feels like they don’t have any power to an employee who realizes they’re a business-of-one, and you want to be a partner with that employer. They’re not any better than you. You want to partner up, and you want the mutual trust and respect that you deserve. But that only comes when you build up that resiliency.

I like to call people who build career resiliency “Workplace Renegades” because they get off the hamster treadmill, think for themselves, and learn how to take ownership of their carer using the right environment, the right community, the right education, the right courses and knowledge, and then the right coaching, the right support.

If you would like some help building resiliency in your career, become a Work It DAILY member today. Sign up for our 7-day FREE trial and see how easy it is to get the results you want and deserve.

Good luck, and go get ’em!