Anyone who's ever been unemployed (or looked for a job while employed) knows how stressful and exhausting the job search process can be. So, during your job search, should you feel guilty for taking some time for yourself?
The short answer: No. Of course not.
If we're not spending every waking moment applying for jobs, sometimes it's easy to feel guilty—like we're not doing EVERYTHING we can to land our next job. This strategy of applying for as many jobs as possible and hoping for the best actually doesn't help anyone get a job faster. In other words, choosing quantity over quality. This is the wrong mindset to have, and it does more harm than good.
The job search process is about working smarter, not harder.
Think about a normal work day. It's pretty balanced, right? You get up, go to work, come home, and still have hours left in the day to do whatever you want. Your job isn't the only thing you have going on in your life. That's why it's called work-life balance. To sum it up...
Your job isn't your whole life. So, your job search shouldn't be either.
Here are some ways you can take time for yourself as you look for a new job (because you deserve it!):
When you're unemployed, here at Work It DAILY we like to say this is an opportunity for you to get in the best shape of your life.
Taking care of yourself is important and regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and mental health. It's a great way to relieve stress and it may even help you sleep better.
Take advantage of the free time you have after applying for jobs and get moving! Chances are, you'll walk into your next interview with more confidence and an extra spring in your step.
Nothing helps us detach from our busy lives like reading a good book.
Quiet those racing thoughts by reading—any genre will do! Reading may help you learn something new, gain new perspectives, and help with empathy (all things that will benefit you at your next job).
Although you may dread networking, think of it as a necessary evil. Sure, it sucks having to step outside your comfort zone and you'd rather be doing other things. But nothing can produce positive career results quite like networking. There's no substitute for it.
If you're between jobs, you should devote some of your time to networking. You'll meet new people in your industry and connect with those who have similar interests and career goals. If it doesn't help you get your next job, it may help you get a job down the line.
Sometimes all we need when we're feeling down is a visit with our family and friends. They've supported you through tougher times, and they'll support you through this transition too.
When you're starting to doubt yourself, they will remind you of your strengths and accomplishments. They'll give you that confidence boost you need. At the very least, you'll have quality time with the people you love—time you don't always have when you're working every day.
One of the best ways you can spend your time during the job search process is by learning a new skill.
Whether it's getting certified or taking a class, this skill should be applicable to your new job. You can add it to your resume, and it shows employers you've been doing something productive for your career, even when you weren't employed.
If you try these five things (or just one!), you'll transition to your next job with ease—and it won't feel like you're just waiting out the clock. Be proactive and take ownership of your career like never before! You may be looking for a job, but don't let that stop you from living your best life.
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
If you are over 40, have a big skill set, and are struggling to get hired, you've come to the right place. I work with thousands of people who have big skill sets and can't get hired. What's going on? What can you do to stand out in the hiring process and land a job?
When you're networking and interviewing as a seasoned professional, you're probably giving employers the wrong impression because you're sitting there telling them all your skills, all the things you can do for them, and making it sound like you're a Jack or Jill of all trades. And while you think that's what they want to hear because you're thinking, "I'm the best bang for the buck," that's not what they're hearing. What they're hearing is that you're narcissistic. You're a know-it-all. You're going to be difficult to work with, and you're probably going to leave for more money anyway.
You want to listen twice as much as you talk in your interviews. The way you do that is by asking great questions.
Examples:
How does this job support your work?
What about your work is keeping you up at night?
What would I need to do in this job to make your life easier?
You really want to get at their pain point and how the job supports them. But you're also sending a message, and that message is, "I get it. I'm the service provider. You're the customer, You're the leader. And I'm going to make sure that you're happy." That's the mindset they need to hear.
2. Make it clear that it's an equitable partnership.
By "equitable partnership" I mean you need to point out all the things they have to offer that you really want because you don't want them worrying that you might leave. You need to talk about the skills you'll be able to develop there, the knowledge you'll gain, and the opportunities you'll have that you won't have anywhere else. You need to hype them up and say, "You have so much to offer me here. This is the place I want to be. You are at top of my bucket list. This is the place I want to spend years at." And you've got to make them see that as well.
Between asking great questions so you're not overselling yourself and also making employers realize that they're exactly what you want, that's how you're going to get the results that you're looking for. Those are my best tips for job seekers over 40. Give them a try.
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
Reading books is one of the best ways to learn something new and improve your communication skills. But the benefits don't stop there. Most of the benefits of reading books can help you succeed at work and in your personal life. If you're a professional who hasn't picked up a book in a while, or you're an avid reader with a career who's looking for more book recommendations, you're in luck.
We recently asked our executives what books they think every professional should read this year.
Here are their responses...
John Cox, Advertising & Marketing Executive
I’ll cheat a little bit and cite two books: Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt and Herding Tigers by Todd Henry. I finished the former in late 2022 and I am about halfway through the latter with plans to finish it by the end of January 2023.
Both, broadly speaking, are about leveling up to become a better team member and a better leader. In some instances, that means how to achieve better clarity in your work through more efficient use of your time, or, in other instances, it means better delegation in order to level up your team.
On the topic of delegation, one takeaway that really resonated with me was scoring delegation tasks 1-5 so that team members have absolute clarity on how much latitude they have with a particular task.
Both books have been a nice refresher at the start of a new year on how I might become a better leader for my team over the next 12 months.
John Cox has 20+ years of performance excellence in advertising and marketing, leveraging Google-certified skill sets in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and paid search strategy, web planning and conversion measurement, and creative direction and graphic design.
Ana Smith, Talent Architect & Global Learning Strategist
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In my particular case, I strongly would recommend Attention Span by Gloria Mark (2023).
There are many reasons why, yet there is one in particular: Currently, the currency that we have (does not matter how old or young or where you reside on the planet) is attention. Attention is the common currency that we all have across the board!
Attention Span by Gloria Mark is a groundbreaking book that reveals how technology affects our attention and how we can restore balance, happiness, and productivity in our lives. The author is a psychologist who has conducted decades of research on a) distraction and b) multitasking.
She debunks four (4) popular myths about our attention and technology, such as "why multitasking hurts rather than helps productivity." She offers practical strategies to follow our own rhythms of attentional peaks.
I think this book is super relevant and helpful for anyone who wants to improve their focus and well-being in the digital age.
Some of the key strategies that Gloria Mark suggests to improve your attention span are:
Identify your goals at the start of the day and write them down.
Imagine how you want your end of the day to be and answer two questions:
How do you want to feel?
What do you want to have accomplished?
Practice super-awareness of your actions, which means being aware of what you are doing and why you are doing it.
Consider the time of day when your attention peaks and plan your most important tasks accordingly.
Use mindless activities like playing simple games or browsing social media as a way to replenish your mental resources, but limit them to short breaks and avoid using them as a way to procrastinate.
Turn off notifications on your devices and check them only at designated times.
Create a physical and mental space for focused work by minimizing distractions, setting boundaries with others, and using cues like music or lighting to signal your intention.
Hope these are helpful!
Ana Smith helps people & organizations achieve their full talent potential by developing and co-creating people strategies and customized solutions, and turning them into impactful outcomes and collaborative relationships, using coaching as the "red thread."
Michael Willis, Sports Business Operations Executive
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The Art of Work by Jeff Goins
How do you find your true calling? Finding your true calling is a path. Not a plan. You have to remain flexible. There will be twists and turns. Just like a map, your path is a journey.
7 Common Steps in Finding Your True Calling:
Preparation Phase
1. Awareness - Listening 2. Apprenticeship – Let your mentors in 3. Practice – The pain in the journey
Action Phase
4. Discovery – Fiinding your "why" 5. Profession – This is not a hobby 6. Mastery – Refining your skills 7. Leaving a Legacy
In my work at the NFL, I have experienced a journey from the beginning. I started out working for a developmental grassroots project called NFL Europe. I learned how a team works and the team’s interaction with players, coaches, and other staff.
When that league ended after 12 years, I continued my journey working in Football Operations with the game officials. My previous role had prepared me for this role. I grew in this role by understanding my audience by becoming a liaison between the NFL and the Game Officials’ Union. I pride myself on calming relations between the two entities. I created trust and a better working relationship.
Michael Willis has 18+ years of experience working with accounting & sports organizations and has managed P&Ls of $10M - $125M+ with budgets of $3M-$50M+. He worked for the NFL for 22 1/2 years, mainly with the game officials working on the financial/accounting side of the business.
Mark Taylor, Product & Operations Executive
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Therapists Phil Stutz and Barry Michels have written two books: The Tools and Coming Alive.
If you’re looking for simple, concrete “business” ideas that can be easily translated into e.g., “having more effective meetings,” then these books are not for you.
"The Tools" themselves are highly empirical “runes” that you run when life gets in the way of you—or you get in the way of life. The authors are at pains to note that they don’t care if you don’t understand or agree with the techniques. Just do them on an ongoing, consistent basis.
As you read deeper and begin to implement, you find that they are a conduit to understanding how life really works. Phil in particular is Yoda-like in his insights.
For me, such insights are becoming bedrock foundations for an adult outlook on the world as well as a basis for sound life and business decisions.
Mark Taylor has 20+ years of risk, technology, and product management experience working in global and regional financial services firms in the UK and the U.S. He's managed teams of 40+, successfully addressed 100+ regulatory issues, and has saved companies $15M+.
John Hoffman, Creative Producer
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Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has significantly influenced my career as an experiential marketer, creative producer, and storyteller. This classic book has resonated with me on two crucial levels:
1) I find immense satisfaction in the challenges of my work. As a foundational text in positive psychology, Flow explores the concept of "optimal experience" or "flow," emphasizing the happiness that comes from fully immersing oneself in an activity and pushing oneself to the limits.
2) This idea is especially relevant to my work, where I create immersive experiences that bring people into the moment and leave a lasting impact. These moments that captivate and engage consumers help build deep-seated brand loyalty. Flow has been instrumental in teaching me how to recognize and create those "optimal experiences" in my life and the lives of my client's customers.
Let's chat if you seek richer experiences and deeper connections in experiential marketing!
John Hoffman has 15+ years of leadership experience creating and producing video content, branded entertainment, PR stunts, and experiential and live events. At his core, he's a storyteller who has mastered the creative map and can scale logistical mountains.
Lynn Holland, VP Sales & Business Development
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I’m a curious, self-improvement, continuous learning/growing junkie so I LOVE books and am usually working my way through three or four meaty books at one time.
I guard these precious hours to feed my soul and challenge myself to drown out distractions, strive smarter, and catapult my business outcomes as I help SaaS companies get to market and create a modern buyer experience that sells.
If kin to your priorities, this is a recap of two reads that I recommend:
Sell the Way You Buy: A Modern Approach to Sales That Actually Works – David Priemer
Learn how buyers are often unaware of what they want and need, and the mechanisms they use to make decisions.
You’ll also gain scientifically supported methods to understand the customer, identify their needs, and move them toward the right solution for them while avoiding the behaviors that make most people hate salespeople. You’ll find yourself in the customer’s shoes as you ask questions, listen, tell your brand story, and communicate to truly connect with your ICP.
Jump: Dare to Do What Scares You in Business and Life – Kim Perrell
Are you hungry for a new career, ready to start a business, or eager to rewrite your current script in life?
If your next move isn’t a step but a jump, a leap into the unknown, this book will give guidance and shortcuts to make life-changing decisions with actionable steps to make a change, overcome doubts, and draw deep on your courage to take calculated risks that will pay off.
Lynn Holland is a business development executive with 18+ years of experience taking operational, IoT & retail technologies, products, & consumer engagement to market with a focus in petroleum & convenience retail.
Percy Leon, Digital Media Content Executive
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If you’re looking to accelerate your career success, Atomic Habits by James Clear is one of the best books out there. It’s an incredible read that can help you develop better habits and stay on track with your goals no matter what stage in life or career you are in.
Atomic Habits covers topics such as how to build a system that reinforces positive habits and how to break bad ones, which will help you become more successful in your professional life.
Atomic Habits has helped me organize and prioritize. Forgetting about goals and instead developing systems, creating your own identity, and making small changes leads to better habits and a much more productive day.
This is why I feel Atomic Habits is the perfect roadmap for building habits that stick and can be applied long term. It provides practical advice on how to develop self-discipline, stay motivated, and make lasting changes to your lifestyle.
Percy Leon is a digital media content producer specializing in educational technology and entertainment. He is interested in web3, metaverse, and the use of virtual reality for storytelling.
Lisa Perry, Global Marketing Executive
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As a brand marketing executive, I immerse myself in brand marketing books. But, recently, I've ventured off course. The reason is that in 2023, the single word that defines my professional focus is "abundance." Abundance in professional wealth and success. Specifically on making an additional $100,000 this year. Crazy, right? I didn't know how this would be possible until I read the book You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero.
This book helps you create a more abundant life to master the mindset of wealth. In addition, the book provides practical tips, exercises, and real-life examples to help you overcome limiting beliefs and take action toward your financial goals. Here are six things I've learned:
Get Clear On Your Financial Goals: Set your financial goals and clarify why you want money, what you intend to spend it on, and how great it will feel once you finally have it.
Be Willing To Change: If you want to make more money, you must be willing to make changes, even if it pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Be Grateful For Everything: There is a positive way to look at everything, but it takes work. You can even be grateful for things you don't have by picturing what they will look like and letting yourself feel it.
Tack Decisive Action: Create a plan and break it down into small steps, but be flexible and open to new opportunities.
Invest In Things That Help You Grow Financially: You must spend money to make money. I'm investing in promoting my book, How To Develop A Brand Strategy: A Step-By-Step Guide. Be sure not to let the fear of spending keep you from your financial goal.
You Can Do Anything: Be patient and stay focused because you can do anything.
This quote from Jen Sincero sums up the book for me: "Everyone arrives on this planet with unique desires, gifts, and talents, and as you journey through life, your job is to discover what yours are, to nurture them and bloom them into the most authentic, gleeful, and badassiest version of yourself.”
Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.
