Because here’s the deal:
Sure… it may be a tough job market. The bills may be stressing you out. You may have sent out resume after resume, and you’re feeling exhausted from the job search.
However, accepting the first job that comes your way - even if you KNOW you’ll hate it - does you no good in the long run.
In fact, accepting that job essentially puts you back to Square One.
Most people take the “old school” approach to job seeking - and the simple truth of the matter is that it doesn’t make you more money and it doesn’t make you happier.
What I want to share with you in this article is the “new school” way of finding and getting a job you love. It’s faster, easier, and actually helps you create a positive change in your career and life.
Here it is in three simple steps:
Step 1: Find Your “Big Problem”
What big problem drives you absolutely crazy in this world?
Is it that the education system is ridiculously expensive and leaves you hilariously unprepared for the real world?
Are you driven to protect the environment?
Or maybe you’re endlessly solving technology problems...
Whatever it is… starting with a “big problem” that drives you nuts is the secret key to finding out where you belong.
Because hidden in that problem is your purpose in this life. It’s your calling to contribute to the world. And when you serve others in alignment with your purpose, you LOVE what you do… and you can make a great income doing it.
Step 2: Find The Organization Solving Your “Big Problem”
Imagine how happy and fulfilled you would feel if you could contribute to solving the problem that drives you more crazy than anything!
You’d wake up excited to go to work, and actually WANT to talk about your work with friends and family.
There will most likely be at least a few different companies out there doing a great job of solving your “big problem” in a variety of ways. So, I suggest getting on Google and starting a spreadsheet of every company you can find that peaks your interest and is solving your problem.
You can also check out this dream job resource guide with 14 top websites specializing in showcasing “purpose-driven” companies that are doing good in the world while being profitable.
Once you get a list of at least 10, try to narrow it down to your top 3-5.
This is now your “dream job list”. And it’s time to get their attention.
Step 3: Use A “New School” Approach To Get The Job
Aside from getting people jobs they hate, the “old school” approach is also becoming less and less effective - and especially with the most inspiring “purpose-driven” companies out there.
The best companies to work for are ONLY hiring people who fit their culture value-wise. They want people who are passionate about their mission, and who want to contribute their strengths and time to something worthwhile.
That’s why Step #1 was to define your “big problem”. Because now you’re a fit value-wise already. So you just have to prove that you can contribute.
So put together a unique cover letter and resume that showcases WHY you’re so passionate about what they do, and HOW you can add serious value to their organization.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box as well. YouTube videos, simple websites, and even FedEx envelopes or packages delivered to their office can be a great way to hook their attention and convince them to give you a shot.
The “old school” resume approach leads to a job offer just 1% of the time. However, when you use this “new school” approach of focusing in on the top companies you REALLY want to work for - and then think creatively about how to get their attention and get the job…
You’ll have a lot better luck.
For more free tips on how to find and get your dream job as soon as possible, check out this short video I put together alongside the founder of The GameChangers 500 (a list of the world’s top “purpose-driven” companies.)
Ryan Niessen is a keynote speaker and co-creator of The Gateway Method: a simple, proven way to gain inside access to the world’s best employers and get your dream job. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Facebook.
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.