I made an interesting discovery recently that has the power to significantly change your life and career… IF you remember to use it.
It's one of those paradoxical things where you have to do the opposite of what you instinctively want to do in order to get the result you desire.
See, most of us are programmed to simply work harder when we want something really badly (like our dream job)...
But here's the thing:
When we feel stuck or frustrated because we're doing everything we can to achieve our goal, but we just can't seem to make it happen…
The truth about what's happening is that we're holding onto a belief. It's either a “lie" that we were told works (and it actually doesn't).
OR it's a belief about why we can't get it.
Either way, the solution is simple: Identify it, and let it go.
Sounds simple…but it's much harder in practice.
Fortunately, awareness is the most difficult part. So in this article, I'm going to share with you the three biggest myths holding you back from getting your dream job, and how to conquer them.
Let's dive right in with:
Myth #1: I Can't Do It...
I'm going to cut to the chase here because I'm pretty passionate about this one…
Lack of confidence and belief in ourselves is the most damaging and prolific sickness in the world. Every single person, including myself, suffers from it and it literally ruins our lives and holds the world back.
Do you know that it took me at least three years longer than it should have to start my first business?
Why? Because I was a coward. I thought I needed more education, more experience BEFORE I could succeed at what I really wanted…
So I would research people, and watch videos, and tell people that one day I was going to follow my passions and do what I loved.
And I wish I had someone there to slap me in the face and tell me: “Ryan, this is B.S. You need to stop giving into that fear..."
You need to just start. Start somewhere, anywhere.
Imagine that you've already achieved your goals - and that a future you is looking back at you telling you “there's nothing you need to worry about. It's going to take you three tries before you breakthrough and get it right, but you'll get there. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll arrive".
More and more companies like Google are announcing that they don't even look at grades anymore. They care about who you are and the value you can provide.
So whatever your experience or education level - NOW, more than ever is your time to shine. Don't let this myth hold you back.
Myth #2: I'll Never Find My “Dream Job"...
Ok here's the problem with this one - people think about their Dream Job as a one time occurrence that they were born to do.
So they wind up falling into one of three groups.
The 1st group looks at this mountain of their expectations that their dream job should be - and it's soooo big and terrifying that they say “Too big. Can't do it".
The 2nd group climbs half the mountain and finds a nice little lake with a cozy cabin waiting there for them. So they make basecamp, build a fire, and settle in... no matter how nasty the weather gets… and they forget about what's waiting for them at the top.
The 3rd group climbs the mountain, sees that there's a range of more mountains in front of them, and says “this is AWESOME! I wonder what else I can achieve..."
Make the choice NOW to be a part of that 3rd group on your journey to find your dream job. Because it truly is about the journey, and not the destination.
I believe that we're put here to grow and evolve into the best person that we can be. And that's what this journey is about - you just have to get started, and keep making progress.
Myth #3: Traditional Job Seeking Strategies Still Work
Ok so here's the deal: only 1% of traditional resumes lead to a job offer.
And 70% or more of people are disengaged and bored out of their minds at work…
So clearly the old school approach just doesn't work.
If you want to get the attention of an amazing company and get your dream job, then you've gotta do something different.
Like Einstein said, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We can't keep following the outdated job seeking approaches they teach in school because they've been proven to NOT work.
So if you'd like a little help with using modern job seeking strategies to get the attention of an amazing company and land your dream job.....
Then feel free to head over here and watch the free video I put together alongside the founder of the GameChangers 500 (list of the world's top For Benefit companies; renowned for empowering & engaging their employees).
He's my friend and business partner, and the strategies we share in this video are the same ones that helped me get my dream job years ago.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a Work It Daily-approved expert.
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.
