You might be surprised to learn why I really love what I do. Is it the writing? No - although I really enjoy writing and I’m quite good at it, so I’ve been told. Is it the people? No - although I love my clients; they are so interesting to learn about! Is it the freedom and flexibility of working for myself? No - although that is a very close second. So, what is it about being a resume writer and coach that is so great? It’s the teaching. I love educating people on how to get their next job. Whaaa? Yes. Teaching job search concepts to a struggling job seeker and seeing the light bulb go off above their head is exhilarating to me. Hearing them report back with positive results is the best. I love it so much, I would do it for free, were I independently wealthy. I do, a little bit, at my weekly Toastmasters meeting. I frequently give speeches about job search, LinkedIn, and resumes. But, on a day-to-day basis, I often have to stop myself from spending too much time giving away free advice. My kids like to have clothes on their back and food in their bellies. Most professionals are like me. They are working crazy hours, have families, and are trying to take care of their health, all at the same time. They have to think carefully about what they say “yes” to. When someone asks for a coffee date for an informational interview, the person they are asking isn't always inspired to give up their time. So, how can you increase the likelihood that a contact will say yes to an informational interview when there are only so many hours in the day? Think about the question your contact is most likely asking, “What’s in it for me?” Take these two scenarios that just happened to me, for example: The first is by far the easiest for me to handle. I received an e-mail from someone, asking for advice about setting up a resume business. She wants to work from home. Her questions are organized and easily answerable in about five minutes of my time. The second is definitely more time-consuming. After my last Toastmasters meeting, a couple asked me if I could go to coffee with them. They are new to the United States and the man is having trouble finding work. Which am I more eager to say yes to? I don’t usually have time for coffee dates (not because I’m the such an important person, but because my kids keep me hopping when I’m not working), but I agree to it. Why? Because they specifically want to treat me to Yemeni coffee. And I love coffee! I had mentioned that in the speech I had given that evening. So, how can you make sure you answer the question of what’s in it for your connections? (They may not be as easy as I am to please.) Here are some tips:
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)?