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.
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.
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