Imagine your life as a montage in a movie. You flow through a series of clips starting in college - where you’re studying hard, connecting with new people, and growing up. You graduate, and get your first “real” job. It’s everything you wanted and more, and you sail off into the sunset of happiness and wealth with all your dreams coming true...
Related:The Ugly Truth About Getting Your Dream Job
Or do you?
I’m about to share the truth about your journey to your dream job, and how you can make it as smooth, enjoyable, and rewarding as possible. But first, know this:
It’s Not That Easy
Though a lot of us have fantasized about some version of a storybook ending, the actual journey is a bit more exciting. And by exciting, I mean challenging.
In fact, if you’re a movie buff, then you can gain some real insight into what your journey to your dream job will look by watching...
The Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter
The Matrix
Or almost any other blockbuster movie.
Why? Because they’re based around a formula called “The Hero’s Journey."
It’s a famous and mysterious formula created in the mid 1900’s by a man name Joseph Campbell. He derived it from classic myths created all over the world. And today, many famous stories have the “Hero’s Journey” woven throughout them.
Now, let’s set something straight. This formula is popular because it’s the natural structure of the best stories since the beginning of human history. And stories take this natural form because they’re modeled after real people chasing real dreams.
Your Great Advantage...
So, I’m going to give you a basic understanding of the “Hero’s Journey" because it’s the same formula that applies to you getting your dream job. And by knowing it, you’ll be better prepared to face any challenge that comes your way. Making your journey as painless and rewarding as possible.
Here’s The “Hero’s Journey”
Imagine you’re Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. You’re just living your life in the Shire, doing your Hobbit thing… When all of sudden, everything changes.
A powerful ring is handed over to you, and you embark on a grand journey where you’re tested. You face your toughest inner demons and worldly challenges. And get a lot of help from mentors along the way. Finally, you succeed in your goal, become a hero, and are made better through your experience.
This is a simplified version of the formula, but it sounds a lot like what it’ll take to get your dream job, doesn’t it?
We’re all driven by the goal. We want a meaningful, fun, and exciting job. One that makes a difference, plays to our strengths, and gives us the lifestyle we want. And in order to get there, we all have to go through this process.
So, the question is, how do you know you’re starting the “Hero’s Journey”? And...
How Can You Make Your Journey As Easy As Possible?
Well, there are many ways your journey can begin. Many people these days are handed the same ring Frodo was when you graduate college. You’ve got your degree, and it’s time to make your way in the world. Make a difference. Achieve your dreams. That’s how it was for me, and I bet it’ll be the same for you.
Now, this is important.
The fastest way to complete your journey and get your dream job is to model successful people before you. They have proven blueprint for success, and you can make your path much less painful by following it.
I got my blueprint from my mentor and friend, Andrew Hewitt - founder of the GameChangers 500. It’s a list similar to the Fortune 500, but made up of companies like Google and TOMS shoes, who make a profit as well as a difference.
His wisdom helped me break into an industry I’d been struggling to get into for years. And now, I’m helping him share that same wisdom with others about to embark on their journey.
We’ve put together a free video here giving you his best tips on how to rock your “Hero’s Journey” and get your dream job with a company like those on the GameChangers 500.
I wish you the best of luck on your own “Hero’s Journey," and can’t wait to see what kind of hero you become.
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.
It’s a famous and mysterious formula created in the mid 1900’s by a man name Joseph Campbell. He derived it from classic myths created all over the world. And today, many famous stories have the “Hero’s Journey” woven throughout them.
Now, let’s set something straight. This formula is popular because it’s the natural structure of the best stories since the beginning of human history. And stories take this natural form because they’re modeled after real people chasing real dreams.
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