One of this summer’s hottest concert series is by two 80’s boy bands. Yes, The New Kids on the Block (NKTOB) and the Backstreet Boys (BSB) are hitting the road and selling out places like Chicago. Now, if these guys can come back with a vengeance, then so can anyone out there who is feeling like their career is in the toilet. Just follow these three simple lessons to get back on top and claim your fame:
Lesson 1: Get over the past and focus on your future. You can’t go back to the glory days, but you can create new ones. Recognize the potential you have to offer current audiences (a.k.a. hiring managers). Of course you’ve changed over the years – that’s a good thing. Focus on how you’ve gotten better with age.
Lesson 2: Know who needs you. Not everyone is rushing to buy tickets to this concert – and that’s okay. These two boy bands know a certain audience wants to see them again. So, they’ve built their entire marketing strategy around attracting them. Why try to get the heavy metal enthusiasts to pay attention to your old-school pop? Instead, these boy bands looked at what their biggest fans wanted and said, “We’ll deliver.” The same applies to you. Stop trying to get every employer’s attention. Instead, focus on employers that value and respect what you offer. The result is far more rewarding and positive.
Lesson 3: Update your look. There’s no way anyone would take this concert series seriously if the boys tried to wear the outfits they wore back in the 80’s. I guarantee the dance moves won’t be the same either (just not as flexible as they used to be!). While they are keeping the music true to what their fans know and love, they realize that part of showing they’ve got staying power is knowing they need to look great for their age! Sadly, far too many job seekers get stuck in their own time warp. They stick with professional attire that worked for them when their career was working for them. It’s time to throw out the 10+ year old suit and get some fashion sense. If necessary, work with a stylist to make sure your look says, “I’m with it,” from head to toe.
To sum it up, any career bounce back like this is done with some honest self-evaluation and strategic planning. It’s not rocket science, it is just common sense. The hardest part is not letting our egos get in the way. Yet, if we can embrace the potential of the comeback, we can let go of what isn’t working and focus on what can help us move forward. And, if that doesn’t work, simply go listen to these bands biggest hits: Step by Step, Hangin Tough, and We’ve Got it Goin’ On (the titles alone say it all).
Now, what lessons did I miss? Share below any additional career takeaways we can glean from these 80’s boy bands’ big comeback.
J.T. O’Donnell is the founder of CAREEREALISM.com and CEO of CareerHMO.com, a web-based career development company.
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The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
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Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
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In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
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You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
- How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
- The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
- How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
- The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.
- And, a lot more hacks for job search success!
Let us show you the secrets to getting a new, better-paying job you actually love. Sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp today.
Are you ready to land the job of your dreams (and leave the job of your nightmares)?
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