“You’re just being lazy!” my friend exclaimed.
“Yes. But I’m also being smart," I replied.
Actually, I wish the conversation was that simple and friendly.
Related: Career Management: Are YOU Lazy?
What had started out as me expressing my desire to live a simple, enjoyable life on my own terms - and find a smart way to work from wherever I wanted, on my own hours, doing something I loved (while making good money)... had turned into a full on verbal battle.
It turns out that some “friends” don’t like talking about your dreams when they’re stuck in a crappy job they hate.
I’m not sure where that old friend is today, but I know where I am.
And I know that I couldn’t be more grateful for following my ‘laziness.' It was one of the smartest things I’ve done, and it led me to my dream job.
Which brings me to the purpose of this article. Stick with me, because I’m going to give you the three steps to my lazy job seeker’s formula, as well as a free resource that’ll get you started on your search for your dream job.
The Lazy Job Seeker’s Guide To Getting A Dream Job
So, let’s dive right into the three steps of the lazy job seeker's guide to getting a dream job...
1. What Do You Really Want To Do?
Naturally, the first step towards getting your dream job is figuring out exactly what it is - in as much detail as possible.
This is usually the hardest part for people - but imagine it as being the intersection of your values (what you want out of life), strengths (what you’re best at), and inspiration (what are you passionate about?).
For example - I value the freedom to work my own hours from anywhere in the world. Empathy is a strong suit for me, and I love psychology, human behavior, and marketing… so, after LOTS of reflection, and trying and failing - I gravitated towards digital marketing.
And what I’ve found on my journey is that the sooner you can figure out exactly what you want - down to the last detail - the sooner you’ll get it.
So, what do you really want to do?
2. How Do You Get The Attention Of The Best Companies In Your Field?
Now that you’re through the hardest part, the rest is a breeze (somewhat).
Here’s how I look at it:
You want to thoroughly research your field and find the best company out there.
Research that company thoroughly and make sure they align with everything you laid out in the first step of this guide.
Knowing who they are, what they value, and what they’re looking for, create a custom proposal with an irresistible offer they won’t be able to refuse.
After all, once you’ve figured out exactly what you want to do and the company you want to work for - why would you leave things to chance and send in a boring, traditional resume?
What you want to do is get creative. Depending on your field and the company, that could mean a variety of things, but people have done anything from creating YouTube cover letters to sending a hot air balloon with a proposal in it.
The bottom line is this: Have some fun, and find a way to stand out.
3. Where Do You Find The Best Companies?
Now, the next piece is to begin your search.
Most people will jump on the typical job sites and scan for positions that fit, but I encourage you to do something else...
Head over here and grab a free resource guide revealing 14 very special job sites.
These sites only contain listings with purpose-driven companies.
See, there’s one piece I’ve left out so far. And that final key is to find a purpose-driven job with a purpose-driven company.
That means that what you do makes a difference in the world, and the company you work for makes a difference as well as a profit.
You’ll find some of the most inspiring companies in the world on these sites - so I encourage you to go check them out and start your job search there.
Because if you’re given the choice between doing something that makes a real difference in the world vs. working a normal, boring job that only serves to profit some corporation that’s doing more harm than good…
Then, why wouldn’t you choose the purpose-driven one?
So, follow these three steps of my lazy job seekers guide, and take the next steps forward to getting a purpose-driven job you love.
Happy job seeking!
This post was originally published on an earlier date.
Ryan Niessen is a keynote speaker and co-creator of The Gateway Method: a simple, proven way to gain inside access to the world’s best employers and get your dream job. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Facebook.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.