Big interview mistakes are obvious—being late, dressing inappropriately, bad language, and so on. There are plenty of more subtle mistakes that can also keep you from getting the offer. Make sure you aren’t making any of these:
Related: 5 Questions You Should Be Asking In Your Job Interviews
Today, I have two BIG questions for you that could change the course of your career.
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.
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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Today I am going to debunk a common misconception on effective resume writing: the resume magic that will solve your keyword problems for passing Applicant Tracking Systems (“ATS") once and for all.
Related: Does Your Resume Get Along With Your Personal Brand?
Recently, one of my clients forwarded to me about 15 job postings he was interested in. While this alone might already seem a bit lavish (I generally only request two to three job postings for my writing process), the client asked me to include “all the relevant keywords" from these job postings into his resume. Neither would I have been able to do this, nor did I feel like doing this. Why? Because it would not have served the purpose of my client: getting job interviews.
Time and again, I encounter job seekers that have good prior or current work experience, pretty sharp resumes, and a convincing cover letters, but still struggle to get interviews.
Related: Is Your Personal Brand Wrong?
In situations like this, I like to suggest having a closer look at their personal brand. Personal brand? What do I mean by this exactly, and might this “personal brand thingy" also apply to your situation? Personal branding is a complex subject, and in my opinion there is no one good definition that sums it up entirely. In my opinion, the bottom line and smallest denominator one can understand under the term personal branding is one's reputation and legitimacy. And that is exactly the part that does not add up for some job seekers.
“Public speaker, author and presenter."
A frequently discussed resume question between resume writers, recruiters, and applicants is the question of the influence of Applicant Tracking Systems (“ATS") on the appropriate length of a resume.
Resume: Why You Shouldn't Write A 'One-Size-Fits-All' Resume
Back in ancient history (anyone remember the 90s?), the vast majority of resumes were submitted on paper via snail mail and/or fax. Pre-screening of resumes those days was performed by a real human being that physically touched, handled, and actually “scanned" the documents with his/her eyes. That meant a lot of work for HR. Just imagine having to sift through 200 or 300 applications. The rule of thumb in those days for job hunters was thus to not “aggravate" or “bother" the pre-screening human being with overly long resumes that might have meant a quick toss to the “no" pile. As a consequence, job hunters were advised to limit their resumes to one or two pages.
The most precious piece of real estate in your entire resume is the top of the first page. At the cursory glance, this is the area that is going to get the most attention. And there are some things you can do to make that most of that – or get your resume tossed in the “not interested” pile.
Related: Boring Old Resume Objective Vs. Branding Statement
Here's a quick checklist of things NOT to do when crafting the opening statement of your resume:
One of the best ways to showcase your career brand in your resume is to include a power statement. Strong brand-driven statements abound on well-written resumes and can be found in your career summary, position descriptions, and your achievements, but the most visible power statement on a resume is your tagline.
It's a one-line encapsulation of your career ROI or a key achievement. Written with lean keyword-infused language a power statement showcases the impact your candidacy has had on your current or past employers or highlights critical attributes of your career brand. For example, here's a power statement that quickly hones in on the candidate's value:
Catalyzed $3B+ in Online Revenue while Generating 5X Shareholder Value in Industry-Leading Start-Up
KEY CREDENTIALS: Harvard MBA | MIT BS in IT | PMI PMP Certification
Transformation Leader Who Repairs Troubled Customer Care Operations + Fuels Next-Level Performance
Expert turnaround driver who improves customer experience, increases service delivery, and resolves client concerns. Demanding but fair people developer who excels at building teams that deliver the right level of service while scaling delivery based on business needs. Experienced in leading technology conversions that set the stage for key M&A, IPO, and rebranding initiatives.
Supported Acquisitions for Sunbelt and Markon Ranging Up to $650M in Value
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE + LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS:
CASH FLOW MAXIMIZATION: Increased average speed of answer 18% and cut escalations 33%. Ensured consistently superior service during peak call periods through demand forecasting.
POST-ACQUISITION INTEGRATIONS: Consolidated the acquisitions of 12 franchises through on-time, on-budget project leadership of system conversions for TechSmith Systems.
EMPLOYEE RETENTION:Lower call center turnover from 34% to 6%, cultivating peak-performing teams.
Is a summary necessary on a resume? The short answer is: Absolutely not!
“No paragraph should ever lead your resume!" warns J.T. O'Donnell, LinkedIn Influencer and founder of Work It DAILY. “It does not get read." This is especially true if you plan to write an “objective" statement about yourself such as: “I'm a high-achieving top performer with outstanding and incredible skills…"
This is a huge no-no, according to J.T. “I get the same answers all the time from recruiters—they don't like [summary statements]," she says. “In fact, it's like double nails on a chalkboard to a recruiter to see [them]."
Studies show that you have six seconds to make an impression with your resume. According to J.T., recruiters will scan your resume in a Z-pattern (left to right across the top fold, down across the page, and over). In those six seconds, they have to decide if they're going to keep reading. So, what are they going to be drawn to on a resume?
“I cringe when I see people waste valuable space in the top fold of their resume with this big, long summary paragraph," says J.T. “Do not do it!"
Instead of struggling to write your resume, learn how to properly format it for success. This includes changing your top fold from a summary or objective statement to an experience summary, which is a list of 6-8 hard or transferable skills needed for the specific job you're applying for. Also, don't forget to quantify your work experience so your resume stands out from the competition!
If you want to learn more about how to do this, we can help.
In a crowded labor market, how can you make your candidacy stand out? In short, by being yourself. The more you can make your resume uniquely reflective of your talents, gifts, and experiences, the more it will reflect “Brand You.” Here are 10 ways you can reinforce your brand on your resume:
Recruited to turn around the performance of a sales team ranked 24 of 24 nationally. Fueled dramatic rises in sales, account retention, market penetration, new client acquisition, while rebuilding team from the ground up.
The year was 2009. I was an overly confident (and incredibly ignorant) young man… And I was on a mission to kickstart my career and make a lot of money.
Related: How 20 Seconds Of Insane Courage Got Me My Dream Job
The results of my quest are both hilarious and embarrassing... And while I learned an incredibly valuable lesson from this experience, I nonetheless wasted an entire year of my life. I was burned out, had used up all my savings, was living with my parents, AND was completely miserable. So, what happened? And how can you avoid an equally horrific fate?
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert.
What really makes a great resume for today's job market? The use of a branding statement, a tag line or two, relevant keywords/key phrases, and a situation/action/results writing style can actually increase the return of your resume.
Related: The Worst Resume Advice I’ve EVER Heard
Let's review why each are increasingly important for job seekers competing in today's highly competitive job market. Including these can take your resume from good to great, and ultimately help you get the job you deserve.
Personal branding is hot - very hot! Once paralleled with top business professionals such as Bill Gates, Donald Trump, and let's not forget Oprah, personal branding strategies are now applied to job seekers. Branding is not made up of one thing, but of many. According to Wikipedia.org, personal branding "is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable."
Can branding techniques be used for job search purposes? Absolutely. Start by using a branding statement within your resume. Typically a one or two-liner, a branding statement could be an umbrella statement relative to the broadness and depth of you.
To develop a branding statement, take your 15-second elevator pitch and rework it to include key points relevant to talent recruiters. For those who don't have an elevator pitch, write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) about your professional career and value. Then, boil the paragraph down to a couple of sentences. Lastly, fine-tune the statement until it contains the exact wording that helps sell you to the hiring community.
If a branding statement was a book title, a tagline would be the subtitle.
Tag lines are terrific, enabling those who review your resume to immediately see your value... all from a mere skim. Oh sure, resume management systems are certainly ruling the roost when it comes to resumes these days, but real people are actually out there reviewing soft and hard copy resumes, so definitely write your resume for those pesky RMS systems, and don't forget about the human beings, too.
Taking a variety of forms, tag lines can be a group of keywords or a sentence fragment. The first example tagline below (Award-Winning Designs - Community Project Lead - Travel Internationally) was perfect for this client. She was targeting a high-end, executive role for a major community development company with project interests on a national and international level. Certainly, we could have included this information within the intro statement, or elsewhere, but a more strategic placement adds visual interest and introduces a bit more white space to attract readers' eyes.My favorite use of tag lines is to include a quick "content snapshot" where you would otherwise see blank space. For example, readers would learn this individual is a turnaround expert by simply reading the resume; but honestly, who reads an entire resume these days?Taglines are another way for readers to quickly learn more about you and what you have to offer, putting you one step closer to being called for an interview.
Want to know an insider's secret to identifying ideal keywords and key phrases for your resume? Print those ideal job ads and get out a highlighter. Highlight job tasks, concentrating on nouns/actions. Then, cross-reference the highlighted keywords against your resume. Is there an important keyword (skill) missing from the resume? Does the resume need a bit more tweaking to accommodate more relevant keywords and key phrases? Sometimes a job description is filled with poppy-cosh, and by focusing primarily on those specific skills (keywords), you're somewhat getting rid of the "content fat," enabling you to see what's ultimately important to the hiring company.
A SAR writing style introduces achievements into a resume, adding numbers and percentages to add visual breaks in text for readers' eyes... it's that simple. Hiring managers and recruiters love achievements within a resume because each represents an action and result on the part of the candidate.
Introduce more achievements into your resume by focusing on your specific job area, department, or the company as a whole. Think about situations you faced during your tenure, how you responded, and the results from each action. Did you increase sales? Save the company money? Cut dependency on a specific resource? If you weren't in a lead/management role, maybe you assisted a team with achieving a sales goal or securing that million-dollar client.
Some actions seem small, but in the end, may have resulted in a big impact. For example:
Provided extensive team support during the development and integration of a new incentive program offered to the SE sales team; program added $3.2 million in new sales and was later introduced to other US-based territories.
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.
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.
As a kid, I remember thinking teachers had great jobs because they got to take summers off. I didn't quite grasp the challenges of the position nor did I understand that, unlike their students, teachers do not spend the summer at sleep-away camp or catching up on video games.
I still think that teachers have great jobs, although for entirely different reasons. They get to play a meaningful role in the lives of their students, they solve new problems every day, and they are constantly challenged and constantly learning.
Spending your summer teaching abroad can be a wonderful change of pace from the U.S. education system. These jobs also give you the opportunity to travel and experience a foreign culture with new students.
Abbey Road is one great organization that offers abroad summer teaching jobs. Qualifications include experience working with teenagers, experience of work, study, or travel in your destination country, fluency in the local language, passion and professionalism, and a college degree. Responsibilities include teaching classes, supervising students, and being on-call up to six days a week.
Compensation includes airfare, room and board, and a weekly allowance for incidental expenses.
Working at a summer camp involves many of the same skills and responsibilities as teaching but in a more laid-back and enjoyable environment. As a teacher, you should qualify for more than just a position as a counselor, so look for a job that involves some administrative or supervisory responsibilities to earn a higher wage.
Qualifications generally include prior experience working with youth, as well as evidence of competency in any additional area of responsibility (e.g., administrative, teaching subject). You should expect to supervise campers, lead group activities and be on-call at night.
Pay generally ranges from $175 to $400 weekly, with provided room and board.
By taking advantage of your contacts with colleagues, students, and parents, you should have no trouble finding tutoring opportunities if you want them.
In addition to tutoring students in the subjects you teach, it may be worth considering tutoring in other areas. If you scored well on a graduate school admissions test when applying for your Master of Education, for example, you might be able to earn $50 to $100 an hour tutoring graduate school applicants.
Of course, you always have the option of taking a summer position in the education field. Summer school jobs are usually comparable to your school-year job, but the shorter hours will allow you some time to enjoy the spoils of summer.
It also gives you the opportunity to engage students and reignite their interest in learning by teaching the students at their own pace, which can be incredibly rewarding.
English teachers have more than adequate writing abilities for many freelance jobs. Many STEM teachers will have the necessary skills for work in web design, computer science, or online education fields. Working from home and making your own hours may also feel like a treat after nine months of rising early to commute to a crowded classroom!
It is hard to generalize about freelance work because you will likely end up working for multiple employers and negotiating your own deadlines and wages. A good bottom line for negotiating is not to accept any job that would pay less than you make as a teacher for the same time commitment.
The Institute of Reading Development provides literacy programs that seek to instill a lifelong love of reading in students. Unlike most literacy programs, the institute not only provides classes for children but also trains parents on how to nurture and support their children's literacy development.
Responsibilities include preparing lesson plans, teaching children and parents, reporting student data, and more. Qualifications include a love of reading, leadership, warmth, professionalism, intelligence, and communication skills.
Compensation ranges from $500 to $700 a week.
Tired of working in a classroom? Get a job working to conserve the environment by building mountain bike trails, building bridges, and/or leading a crew of youth environmental conservationists!
You must be positive, articulate, hard-working, comfortable getting your hands dirty, and physically fit. Responsibilities include supervising youth, construction, and, in some cases, being on call at night.
Pay ranges from $260 to $575 a week
However you end up spending your summer, you should aim for a position that will give you a break from the particular stresses of the school year. As much as any teacher loves his or her job, the work can sometimes feel exhausting. A summer job should be a position that offers challenges and rewards of its own so that you can return to teaching refreshed and invigorated.
Need help finding a summer job?
This article was written by Senior Social Media Outreach Coordinator Sarah Fudin on behalf of Work-It-DAILY-approved Partner, 2U—an education-technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as USC to deliver their Online Masters in Education and MSW programs.
Imagine getting your post-secondary degree and being presented with a multitude of job offers… within the next week!
Related: 4 C’s To Career Success
You’re overwhelmed and excited at the same time; the world is your oyster! There’s no trace of fear, no worrying about paying your loans or making your way in the world. You have guaranteed your success in life, and you’re going to be great. Doesn’t that sound nice? Well, years ago when people with college degrees were the BIG fish in a small pond, that may have been a graduating student’s reality. But for those of us in the first stage of our career TODAY, we know this is just a dream. Because today, having a college degree is the norm. It’s the new standard for entry-level jobs, and (if you’re lucky) you’ll be able to pay all your bills each month with your first job out of college. Nowadays, things are different. There’s more competition than ever, and the best companies out there can take their pick from an ocean full of qualified, normal sized fish.
“Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively”(Eleanor Roosevelt)
No matter what you do in life, as long as you lead with a positive mindset and energy you will attract career success. It all begins between our ears!
Being a successful sales professional is one of the most demanding, and rewarding of all careers. Before you pick up a phone, walk into a customer’s office or interact at all with the public, make sure to get your head on straight. Be ready to put your best impression forward. Remember there is only one chance for a first impression, so make it a bold, authentic one! That first impression could be your last or just the beginning of what you hope will be a mutually beneficial, long-term relationship.
Having the right mindset each and every day is absolutely one of the most important commitments you make to yourself. It is all about getting focused, grounded and poised to face whatever the day has in store for you and learning to be armed for the uncertainty and the unexpected. Each one of us needs to build this into our everyday lives, in our own personal way.
Here are five things you can do to nurture your positive energy, help you get focused, disciplined and set up your daily mindset.
1. Set aside quiet time to be focused and organized. Just 30 minutes early in the day can fuel your mind and spirit with motivation. It can have a huge impact on the rest of the day.Rotate motivational or inspirational content around so it is fresh and has a more profound impact on you every day. Seek out books, websites, newsletters, inspiring people and other media from alternative sources.
2. Keep things in perspective. Focus on your goals and initiatives. Seek out alternative sources for news and information. There are so many examples of people or businesses finding positive opportunities in challenging times and representing the solution, not the problem.
3. Manage your time, tasks and interruptions. Practice time blocking. Build your daily and weekly schedule in advance. Assign periods for your activities. Stay on schedule to accomplish what you need to do through your day. Be flexible. When things change, go with the flow.
4. Stay in touch regularly with those that are important to you and always make you feel valued and special. Pick up the phone; call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Dash off a quick e-mail or note to someone and let them know you are thinking of them. Keeping your "positive people" active daily can be powerful for your future success and your positive well-being. Don’t isolate, congregate.
5. Have fun, practice laughter and develop your sense of humor. Enjoy your workspace and co-workers. Plan a family day. Take the dog to the dog park. Organize a game night with friends.
What are some of the things you do to set up your mindset daily?
Trading your job as a lawyer for one in marketing? It may sound crazy, but given the current economy, you may need to apply for positions that are outside of your range of experience. But how do you secure gainful employment in this way? Below are five tips on applying for a job outside your usual field - who knows, maybe you will find your true calling in the process!
1. Round up your skills.
Future Force Personnel Services, a staffing firm, recommends that you start by taking inventory of your past experiences, strengths and skills. Do not just glance at your past job titles and decide that they are not relevant.
Really comb through your previous duties to come up with a list of transferable skills. These can include responsibilities like training new staff, giving presentations, multitasking and organizing events. Write down all of the computer programs and technology with which you are familiar. Use your experiences with community groups, college clubs and travel to tout your interpersonal skills.
2. Start at the bottom and work your way up.
This is also known as swallowing your pride. Even if you were at the top of your last field, do not assume that you will immediately take on a leadership role. Remember, this is a new field in which you lack experience. Your willingness to start at a lower position will also show that you are cooperative and eager to learn more.
3. Sell yourself in your cover letter.
This is your big opportunity to share things that are not covered in your resume. Make it unique, showcasing your skills and traits that will make you the best candidate for the job. Make sure you know about the company to which you are applying, so that you can reference its mission and goals. Quintessential Careers, a career development website, offers a wealth of resources to help you write a cover letter that will get you noticed.
4. Tailor your resume.
Even if you have a polished resume, you will need to do some revising. Go through your past job experiences and rewrite the descriptions so that they better match the skills and accomplishments that the new companies are looking for. If you were a nurse and are applying to work in a bank, you should focus on your documentation, organizational and interpersonal skills. Make your past experiences work for the new position. Quintessential Careers also offers resume advice and samples.
5. Prepare for your interview.
Research your prospective company well in advance of your interview. Find out what the job entails and learn as much as you can about the position so that you are not caught off guard. Google the occupation, as well as common interview questions, so that you can mentally prepare your responses. Be ready to fall back on your strengths and experiences, and give specific examples in answering questions whenever possible. You may be well on your way to the job of your dreams -- or at least some quality interim experience!
This article was written by Melissa Woodson on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2tor – an education-technology company that partners with Washington University in St. Louis to offer a premier LLM degree.
In most cases, people don't realize their job is in jeopardy or that it's time to move on to something else. However, I understand that changing jobs can be scary, especially in the current economy. But at times, it's necessary because you can be happy and fulfilled one day, then laid off and depressed the next.
Nothing can be worse than holding on to a job that will give you a headache in the end. Here are three signs you should look for a new job.
The main reason why you seek employment is to get paid to be able to pay your bills and meet other basic needs. Moreover, you deserve to be rewarded for the work you do.
If you're underpaid, it will be hard for you to put extra effort to really excel. This is because, to most people, pay is the best motivator. If you're not motivated, you may fail to perform as required and you may end up being fired. Therefore, if you're not being paid or you're paid significantly less than you deserve, this can be a good reason for you to look for a better job that meets your needs.
You can talk to your boss about a raise first, but if they don't recognize the value of your skills, then it's about time you look for a new job.
When you do spectacular work on a given project, but no one appreciates or recognizes your effort, it's terribly discouraging. A good company should give you a pat on the back for a job well done.
Recognition is a very effective non-monetary motivator, but if no one recognizes your efforts, it's like being in a relationship that has no affection. If your boss refuses to acknowledge or commend your accomplishments, you're less likely to be promoted or given any opportunity to advance in your career. There are no signs of future growth—more reason for you to look for employment elsewhere.
There are companies out there that can value your contribution. Don't close your eyes and continue working for such an organization. Start looking for a new job.
If your company is losing money, its future (and yours) looks grim. It would probably be wise for you to open your eyes wider for new job opportunities. It doesn't matter how important or fulfilling your job is because the company may not be able to keep you in that position. You may find yourself jobless whether you like it or not.
In such a situation, the future is not guaranteed and you should play it safe. It's better for you to be proactive and start looking for a new job at the first sign of trouble in your beloved company.
Whatever the case may be, if you see such signs and feel it's about time you secure a job elsewhere, don't be discouraged by stories about the tough job market. Just dust off your resume and put together several applications to test the water. This may be the start of a new chapter in your life.
Your daily sanity and comfort at work depends on you. Start looking for a new job and don't ignore the signs!
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 means to describe your accomplishments in terms of numbers, dollars, and percentages. For instance…
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:
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.
Quitting. It's a huge decision. It's also something all of us have considered at least once. Are you thinking about quitting your job? Before you make any rash decisions, you need to ask yourself a few very important questions.
The last thing you want to do is regret a major life move like quitting your job.
So, here are five things you should consider before quitting your job.
What the heck is the two-year rule, and why does it matter? Well, typically, it takes a few months to train and get comfortable in a position. However, most people aren't just automatically great at their jobs. They need to take some time to hone their new skills and provide value to the company before they can market those new skills toward another job.
Developing new skills or building on current ones usually happens sometime during your first or second year at a job. Spending less than two years at a job could hurt your career and give employers the impression that you're a job hopper. But if the situation is dire, staying could be worse.
It's important to ask the following questions to better determine if quitting your job is the right career move for you.
Have you built up enough experience so you can effectively market yourself for another role? You may need to stay a little longer so you can build that credibility and hone those skills. That way, you'll have a better shot of getting that job you really want.
On your resume, the best way to get a hiring manager's attention (and get your resume past the ATS) is to quantify your skills and accomplishments. So, ask yourself, "Can I quantify my work experience on my resume? Or have I not accomplished enough in my current role?"
If not, it's probably best for you to stay a bit longer at your job before quitting. Finish up that big project, or try to get as much experience as you can before the quarter ends.
Are you feeling like things are getting a little out of control? Are you just burned out? If that's the case, you want to try to "reclaim" the job, as J.T. O'Donnell, founder and CEO of Work It DAILY, says. Look for assistance, tools, and resources so you can take more control over your job and tasks.
If being "overworked" is part of the workplace culture at your job, then it could be time to quit, especially if it's negatively affecting your mental health and you've tried to make changes but you still feel burned out at work. Just make sure you ask about workplace culture in your future job interviews so you don't accept a job offer at another company with the same overworking atmosphere.
"Sometimes, we get bored," says O'Donnell. "We know the job like the back of our hand, it's easy, and we're looking for more of a challenge. So, you should be stepping up to the plate and asking for those responsibilities." Instead of quitting your job, it might be a good time to leverage the skills you've learned.
Before asking for a promotion, try asking your manager if there's anything you can take off their plate. Not only will this show initiative and make it easier for you to ask for a raise or promotion in the future, but it could help protect you from getting laid off.
If your company is laying off employees, your manager might be more likely to vouch for you to the higher-ups because if you're gone, your manager will have to go back to doing everything you took off their plate (and they don't want that).
Are you blaming work when it's really something going on in other areas of your life? Things like relationship issues or other challenges can cause extra stress. If you're blaming your job for that extra stress, quitting is probably not your best option because that stress is just going to carry over to the next job.
It's better to resolve the issues that are happening outside of work before you leave your job—if you decide that's still the right career move.
"If you choose to quit a job, don't do it without having another job lined up first," says O'Donnell.
According to O'Donnell, the average job search takes about nine months. That's a long time to be without work. And if you're looking for a management or executive position, it could take much longer.
Think it through and make smart choices. If it's time to quit, you know what to do!
After asking yourself these five questions, you should have a good idea of whether you should quit your job or stay put. Once you quit your job, there's no going back. Make sure you think long and hard about the decision and be strategic about your exit. Your career will thank you!
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Picture this: Someone hands you a resume without saying anything, and a few seconds later, someone else hands you a resume, saying, “This person seems like just what we’re looking for and he is really interested in the job!” Which resume do you think you will favor? Naturally, you will favor the one with the great introduction. This is part of what a great cover letter does for you in your job search.
Related: 3 Tips For Writing A Successful Cover Letter
The entire goal of a cover letter is to get the employer to read your resume. Knowing that, it only makes sense to set your goal just a little higher to make them not only read your resume, but be excited to read it. A good cover letter will set a positive bias for you, boosting both your resume and your chances of getting the interview.
A great cover letter is worth the time and effort it takes to write it. Employers do read cover letters, and they do accept or reject candidates based on what they see. The cover letter is where the employer will get their very first impression of you as a candidate for the job.
Related: How To Write A Cover Letter That Will Get You Hired
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?
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.
Job interviews can be intimidating, especially if you're not prepared. There are a number of ways to prepare for a job interview, but one of the best ways to simulate the actual interview process is by doing a mock interview.
Mock interviews provide candidates with an opportunity to test out their job interview skills with someone who isn't evaluating them for an actual job.
If you're a college student, mock interviews may be offered through career services for students or recent alumni. If you're already in the professional world, a mock interview could be done with a trusted colleague, professional connection, or friend. Never do a mock interview with a family member.
Here are some of the major benefits of a mock interview.
If you're not sure how to answer typical job interview questions, mock interviews provide a great opportunity for you to "test drive" your answers. The person conducting the mock job interview can give you feedback on whether or not your responses are suitable.
Whoever is conducting the mock job interview can point out your strengths and weaknesses as the interview process goes along, which gives you time to address the weaknesses and build on your strengths. By having confidence in your skills, you will perform better during the actual job interview.
No one is the perfect candidate, so mock interviews help you clarify responses to certain questions and help you work on areas where you may have weaknesses. In an actual job interview, you don't usually get feedback about your interviewing abilities, so a mock interview is a perfect opportunity to find out why you may be having some difficulty in landing your dream job.
Many companies use behavioral interview questions. If you're not familiar with this type of interviewing, it may be advantageous to give it a practice run in a mock interview.
Practice makes perfect! Even the best athletes struggle without practice, so you should never assume that you could just wing a job interview unprepared.
Take advantage of mock interviewing opportunities even if you think your skills are at a very high level. There are things that we can all improve upon when it comes to making a great impression on a prospective employer.
While mock interviews are an important part of preparing for an actual job interview, there are many other ways to practice when you're alone. This includes writing down and answering as many potential interview questions as you can think of and practicing your answers over and over again. When practicing alone, it also helps to visualize as much of the interview process as possible.
Mock interviews are an essential part of interview prep. Do a mock interview with a trusted colleague before your next job interview and reap the benefits above!
There are several things you can’t control when you're on the job search, especially today. Jobs are limited, the way you look for jobs has changed, and you never truly know why employer X decided to hire candidate Y instead of you. However, beating yourself up about why you couldn’t get the job isn’t going to get you anywhere. In fact, it will make the process a lot harder, and the chances of ever finding employment will continue to dwindle.
Related: 5 Yoga Practices That Make You More Productive
There was an article on Mashable that talked about how one’s attitude can really make a difference when it comes to attracting employers. It advises job seekers to come up with positive phrases about themselves to not just give them the confidence they need when things get frustrating, but also to show hiring managers a person who doesn’t carry any baggage, someone who is confident and positive even in the dimmest of situations. But how do we get there? How can we get out of our depressed state when all we can think about are things like: How am I going to afford rent next month? How am I supposed to feed my kids? Will I be able to afford gas next week? The key is to get into the right mindset. Before we can start thinking positively about ourselves, we have to take a deep breath, relax, and meditate. According to HelpGuide.org—a non-profit dedicated to combating anxiety, stress, depression, among other things—suggests “bringing your nervous system back into balance” in order to fight “overwhelming stress.” Here are some of the sites suggestions on how to do just that:
Writing your resume is hard! As if being unemployed wasn’t enough of a morale-buster, you’re now pressured to put the best version of yourself on paper. An experienced writer balks at this task! But I’ll let you in on a secret: you already have more than you think you do.
Related: Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words
Here are some quick ways to take whatever you’ve got (blank screen, job description, old resume, first draft) and transform in with a 10-minute power punch! The hiring manager has already given you a blatant ‘edge’ over your competition, but so few applicants take advantage of it! The posting you read online contains a secret giveaway of what the employer considers an ideal candidate. Your ten-minute task is to make yourself fit that bill. With this 10-minute transformation, you can give your resume a power punch!
The following is an excerpt from the white paper "10 Forms of Predatory Management".
While there are many forms of management, it is often mistakenly assumed to be a position of leadership. A management position usually establishes the handling, direction and/or the control of company resources. These resources can include personnel in their given departments, duties, and skills. This may typically be in the form of ‘command and control’ but is not always the case. Whereas true leadership opportunities offer employees the chance to shine and be their best, while simultaneously providing a vision for the future. In short, management is not always leadership.
Now predatory management, unlike the typical management role in the business world, is the sense of power over others and their fates to the point of exploitation, greed, or destroying others for one's own pleasure or gain. Predatory management can come in differing forms like bullying, or mobbing when others become involved against another employee. However, predatory management is usually subtle and evasive than the typical bullying scenario. The difference is it can affect not only one's health, but also one's career. Whether short-term or long-term, the affects can be frustrating and even devastating. Here are the 10 forms of predatory management:
Opportunities and promotions are given out only to the selected few as proof of the available opportunities; while select “others” often receive the stick. Those who have “fallen out of favor” with the predators are sometimes given undesired “opportunities.”
Like the Venus flytrap, it's very much like having an ‘open-door' policy for any unlucky victim willing to step into.
Management seeks advice as a means of validating their thoughts or beliefs. When this doesn’t happen, the employee is trapped into asking what management truly wants instead.
Warm-blooded cogs are there to serve management. Should any problem arise, the solution is to attack the source rather than the issue.
While technically, it is not considered “punishment” but rather a legal dark gray area. This is also the “work around” policy to extract revenge.
A stance taken that feeds upon itself in the form of protecting one's position or status. This form of management is short-sighted in not training future leaders or managers for their eventual replacement.
For those who fall out of favor with the predatory management hierarchy – that doesn’t mean these individuals are slackers or incapable. The opposite may very well be true instead. It is a means to control or to squash any hope for advancement or promotion.
The shuffle is a tactic used by predatory management by placing who they want, where they want, regardless of the persons needs, desires or skills. It is much like playing a crooked game of cards – you know the house is always going to end up winning.
Pawns are sacrificed for the good of the predators. This sometimes becomes a game of cat and mouse, this can go on until the employee succumbs, gives up and/or quits.
While these games are being played in the predatory environment, others are observing this practice – watching, listening … and learning, learning in a manner to continue this toxic environment. This is the true legacy that is left behind.
About the author: Scott has an MBA in Information Security from Keller Graduate School of Management and is currently employed within a local government agency. His professional experience ranges from Private Sector Corporate to Federal Government agencies. He can be found at /in/scottcgriffin.
There's no such thing as an ATS-friendly resume. I'm going to dispel that myth right now. I do not want you wasting your time on scams that tell you they're going to make your resume ATS-friendly or that you're going to get past the ATS with their technique.
There are over a hundred different applicant tracking systems (ATS) and they all parse your resume in a different way. So the idea that any single resume can game the system for all 100 of these applicant tracking platforms is just not true. More importantly, so many people are using tools like ChatGPT to create fake resumes that companies are now trying to figure out who's a real human with real qualifications or someone who used fake systems to game the system. The technology is coming for them to be able to figure that out.
In fact, I think text-based resumes are going to die. We've hit a tipping point where they're going to die because so many people are trying to game the system with their resume to get it through an ATS. That whole concept is going to collapse on itself. I am talking to recruiters and companies who are pivoting toward something called evidence-based hiring. They're already doing it. Evidence-based hiring is when companies require you to prove to them (through evidence like quantified work experience, video resumes, etc.) that you know what you're talking about because they can't trust a resume or a text-based profile anymore.
Please don't waste your money on this idea of gaming the system to get you through to the hiring manager because even if you get through, if you then get a call and you can't back up what you're saying on this resume, they can tell, and then you're going to be blacklisted and banned from getting hired at the company.
Right now, though, employers still want text-based resumes. So, what do you do instead of trying to make your resume ATS-friendly?
You need a skimmable resume. A skimmable resume is a resume with a simplified layout that quickly lets a recruiter skim through (in six seconds or less!) and see that you meet the basic requirements for the job that they were told to look for in a candidate.
The reason you build a six-second resume and make it skimmable is that when they see you're qualified, they will also think, "I need more information. There's not enough information on this resume. I should schedule an interview with this job candidate to learn more about their qualifications."
You want to think of your resume as teaser copy. You don't want to tell them everything you've ever done. You don't want to have an epic novel resume. By doing those two things, you actually make it easier for them to screen you out of the hiring process.
A simple, skimmable resume with just the facts can get employers to call you. Also if you want to beat the competition for the positions you're applying for, instead of sending your resume through an ATS, you should try a strategy called back-channeling where you send this skimmable resume directly to the recruiter or the hiring manager so it actually gets looked at and you get more job interviews.
If you want to learn how to do that for free, sign up for a Work It DAILY membership today. Let's get you the job you want and deserve.
As success-minded people, you and I are always looking for the fastest, easiest ways to accelerate our careers and achieve more success.
Related: 3 Steps To Move Ahead In Your Career
And that’s what I want to give you here... These 10 little things are the GameChangers... the little things you can do now that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.