By Carly Laubenstein
I was lost and in the middle of my college career when I first met Tom Asacker. I was overwhelmed and stressed trying to figure out where I wanted to go in life. There was something about him that fired me up inside. He truly provoked my passions and advised me to relax, go with my intuition, and always keep it real. Much like all of us at Careerealism.com, he believes personal branding is incredibly essential in the success of perusing your dreams.
When it comes to branding, Tom cuts out the fat and helps companies redefine their marketing skills to adapt to the new customer-economy. Tom encourages his clients to make your brand human, tell stories and make it come alive. From his energizing speeches to his humorous no-bull books, Tom Asacker is an enlightening man full of ideas to get you where you want to be in this complex and rapidly changing world.
Here’s what he had to share…
1. What did you study in college, and then, knowing what you know now, do you wish you had studied something different? If so, what would it be and why?
I went to college to refine my skills as a fine artist. I pictured myself (pun intended) a modern day Cézanne. However, during my sophomore year I changed my major to Economics. For the life of me, I can’t remember what particular influences motivated that change. Perhaps it was my father asking how I was going to pay back my college loans as a starving artist.
Do I wish I had studied something else? I’ve never really thought about it. But since you’re asking. Every decision I’ve ever made has, in some mysterious way, brought me to where I am today. So I’d be reluctant to go back and mess with my particularly strange and crooked path. Plus, those were simply four years of the past 35 years for me. I’ve been studying every day since I left school. It’s something that I do; like eating, sleeping, exercising, etc. If something interests me, I study it.
2. Tell us your career journey post-graduation through now in less than 200 words. Then tell us: If there was one thing you could do differently in that journey, what would it be?
My first job was as a corporate performer as part of a children’s national retail marketing program. I flew out to NYC on graduation day to study stage magic with a world renowned group, and later travelled to various venues retail openings, hospitals, ballparks, etc. and performed for children. That gig lasted a little more than a year, so then I had to get serious. I took a position with an electronics manufacturer and eventually landed a job with a division of G.E. About five years into that job, I spearheaded a corporate ERP implementation and eventually participated in a management buyout of the business unit from G.E.
I left that position to join a startup medical device company as an owner and President, helped grow the business to unparalleled levels of sales and profitability, was awarded various patents, won design awards, attained recognition by Inc. Magazine, M.I.T., Y.E.O., etc. I eventually had a “vision collision” with the passive investor/owners, so I left, wrote and published a small business parable, and formed my own consulting firm.
Fast forward a dozen years: I’ve written four more books, I’m an independent brand advisor to some of the world’s most well-respected firms, I’ve started a few more businesses (which never took off) and I’m a sought after speaker by corporate, association, and university audiences around the world. As my father used to tell his friends, “Not bad for a kid who started his career as a clown.”
If there was one thing I could have done differently, what would it be? I would have worried a hell of a lot less.
3. Name 1-2 things you’ve learned to date about career that you think young professionals (ages 18-40) would want to know.
First, why did you define young as 18 – 40? “Young” is not a statement of time; it’s a statement of mind. I know people who are old at 30, and others who are fun, vibrant, creative and passionate at 85.
That being said, the most important thing I’ve learned is what folks like Goethe have been trying to tell us all along: “What is important in life is life, and not the result of life.” Don’t delay living, and being a passionate, connected part of other’s lives, until you get yourself set and secure. You’ll never get there. You’ll never figure it all out. It’s an illusion. There is no grand insight to point you in the right direction. The right direction is the one that uniquely engages you. Follow your bliss and let change provide your insights.
And finally, lighten up. No one gets out of here alive, nor can you escape pain and suffering. So enjoy the moment. Laugh often and loudly, especially at yourself. Live life with a childlike sense of wonder, caring, and honesty. And be grateful. Because to be living in this particular place and during this amazing time makes you one of the luckiest people in the history of mankind.
Tom Asacker writes, teaches, and speaks about radically new practices and ideas for marketplace success in chaotic times. He is the author of A Little Less Conversation and A Clear Eye for Branding, groundbreaking books that redefine business for the new, customer-controlled economy. Tom's first book, Sandbox Wisdom, a heartwarming story about a CEO's search for meaning and success in the world of business and work, was a business bestseller in the U.S., and was published internationally to rave reviews. He has a BA in Economics from The University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School. Visit www.acleareye.com to learn more.By Carly Laubenstein
I was lost and in the middle of my college career when I first met Tom Asacker. I was overwhelmed and stressed trying to figure out where I wanted to go in life. There was something about him that fired me up inside. He truly provoked my passions and advised me to relax, go with my intuition, and always keep it real. Much like all of us at Careerealism.com, he believes personal branding is incredibly essential in the success of perusing your dreams.
When it comes to branding, Tom cuts out the fat and helps companies redefine their marketing skills to adapt to the new customer-economy. Tom encourages his clients to make your brand human, tell stories and make it come alive. From his energizing speeches to his humorous no-bull books, Tom Asacker is an enlightening man full of ideas to get you where you want to be in this complex and rapidly changing world.
Here’s what he had to share…
1. What did you study in college, and then, knowing what you know now, do you wish you had studied something different? If so, what would it be and why?
I went to college to refine my skills as a fine artist. I pictured myself (pun intended) a modern day Cézanne. However, during my sophomore year I changed my major to Economics. For the life of me, I can’t remember what particular influences motivated that change. Perhaps it was my father asking how I was going to pay back my college loans as a starving artist.
Do I wish I had studied something else? I’ve never really thought about it. But since you’re asking. Every decision I’ve ever made has, in some mysterious way, brought me to where I am today. So I’d be reluctant to go back and mess with my particularly strange and crooked path. Plus, those were simply four years of the past 35 years for me. I’ve been studying every day since I left school. It’s something that I do; like eating, sleeping, exercising, etc. If something interests me, I study it.
2. Tell us your career journey post-graduation through now in less than 200 words. Then tell us: If there was one thing you could do differently in that journey, what would it be?
My first job was as a corporate performer as part of a children’s national retail marketing program. I flew out to NYC on graduation day to study stage magic with a world renowned group, and later travelled to various venues retail openings, hospitals, ballparks, etc. and performed for children. That gig lasted a little more than a year, so then I had to get serious. I took a position with an electronics manufacturer and eventually landed a job with a division of G.E. About five years into that job, I spearheaded a corporate ERP implementation and eventually participated in a management buyout of the business unit from G.E.
I left that position to join a startup medical device company as an owner and President, helped grow the business to unparalleled levels of sales and profitability, was awarded various patents, won design awards, attained recognition by Inc. Magazine, M.I.T., Y.E.O., etc. I eventually had a “vision collision” with the passive investor/owners, so I left, wrote and published a small business parable, and formed my own consulting firm.
Fast forward a dozen years: I’ve written four more books, I’m an independent brand advisor to some of the world’s most well-respected firms, I’ve started a few more businesses (which never took off) and I’m a sought after speaker by corporate, association, and university audiences around the world. As my father used to tell his friends, “Not bad for a kid who started his career as a clown.”
If there was one thing I could have done differently, what would it be? I would have worried a hell of a lot less.
3. Name 1-2 things you’ve learned to date about career that you think young professionals (ages 18-40) would want to know.
First, why did you define young as 18 – 40? “Young” is not a statement of time; it’s a statement of mind. I know people who are old at 30, and others who are fun, vibrant, creative and passionate at 85.
That being said, the most important thing I’ve learned is what folks like Goethe have been trying to tell us all along: “What is important in life is life, and not the result of life.” Don’t delay living, and being a passionate, connected part of other’s lives, until you get yourself set and secure. You’ll never get there. You’ll never figure it all out. It’s an illusion. There is no grand insight to point you in the right direction. The right direction is the one that uniquely engages you. Follow your bliss and let change provide your insights.
And finally, lighten up. No one gets out of here alive, nor can you escape pain and suffering. So enjoy the moment. Laugh often and loudly, especially at yourself. Live life with a childlike sense of wonder, caring, and honesty. And be grateful. Because to be living in this particular place and during this amazing time makes you one of the luckiest people in the history of mankind.
Tom Asacker writes, teaches, and speaks about radically new practices and ideas for marketplace success in chaotic times. He is the author of A Little Less Conversation and A Clear Eye for Branding, groundbreaking books that redefine business for the new, customer-controlled economy. Tom's first book, Sandbox Wisdom, a heartwarming story about a CEO's search for meaning and success in the world of business and work, was a business bestseller in the U.S., and was published internationally to rave reviews. He has a BA in Economics from The University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School. Visit www.acleareye.com to learn more.
Bigstock
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
BigstockMake 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
BigstockAre 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.
Let's start with resumes!
Every resume should be tailored to the position in order for it to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. It may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually less work than submitting the same resume over and over again and never hearing back.
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
BigstockYour 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!
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.
Featured
