What if the real reason you can't find a job you love isn't because it's hard to do or because “you just can't find anything better"?
Related:3 Ways To Break Free Of Your Boring, Torturous Job
What if it's just about how you were taught to “play the game" of your career?
Think back to those times in your life where you conquered major challenges. Maybe it was finding love, winning something in sports, or doing something academically.
How did you do it?
Odds are, you tried and failed a bunch of times. But with guidance from mentors, persistence, and the right insight into how to “win the game" - you did it.
Well, with 70% of people unhappy in the workplace and only 1% of traditional resumes leading to a job offer, I think it's safe to say that we haven't been taught properly how to “win the game."
The good news is that there's a whole new breed of companies out there called “For-Benefit" companies, which exist to make a profit AND a difference - and are renowned for empowering and engaging their employees.
They've created a whole new game with a whole new set of rules… making them what many people would consider to be the bestemployers out there.
3 Job Search Secrets The Best Employers Wish You Knew
So, in this article, I'm going to give you a few of the biggest secrets these types of companies wish you knew. Plus, I'll tell you where to find them, and how to get their attention.
Secret #1: Have A “Burning Desire"
Your career takes up a lot of a time. We all know this, yet somehow it's culturally acceptable to “get through the work week" and say things like “at least it pays the bills."
Don't get me wrong, we all have to put in the hard work and pay the bills while searching for something more...
But far too many people get caught up in the day-to-day grind and forget about that passion they had as a child. When they could do anything, and life was exciting and fun and vibrant.
So here's your first secret: The best companies out there… the ones that are going to challenge you, engage you, inspire you, and reward you…
Want people who have a burning desire to contribute to their mission.
I'm not talking about your average job, and I'm not talking about your average life.
This advice is for people who know they can be, do, and have more in their career… and are actively searching for a company and mission that ignites their passion and fuels their soul.
The best companies out there - like the ones on the GameChangers 500 list of the world's top For-Benefit organizations - want people with that burning desire.
And frankly, (on the flip side) why would YOU want to continue on working long term doing something that you're not passionate about?
Secret #2: A Customized Job Seeking Approach Trumps Traditional
We've established that the best companies out there want people with a burning desire to work with them.
Naturally, you can then assume that a traditional job application will NOT get their attention. There's no passion, desire, or uniqueness in it.
What these organizations want is something authentic, customized, and engaging that grabs their attention and shows them why they need you on their team.
So find 3-5 organizations that you have a “burning desire" to work with, and put your brains and creativity into thinking about how to get their attention and get the job.
Maybe that means attending a conference or an event they're at and making a point of meeting them at a networking party.
Or sending a package to their office with a gift and creative presentation on why they should hire you.
Perhaps, it means creating a simple website entirely devoted to getting their attention.
The whole point is to think outside of the box, and do things differently. That's how you can get their attention and get the job.
Secret #3: Understand Your Value Proposition
The best companies out there are in business to make a profit AND a difference.
That means that your value proposition - or what you do for them - is to help them make more money and make more of an impact in the world.
So, a great way to get their attention is to address this right from the beginning when you make contact with them. Draw on your past experience and forecast how you can help them better serve their customers and the world…
And when you talk to them in this way, they'll know you get the big picture… which boosts your value and attractiveness significantly.
For more free tips and tricks on finding the best companies, getting their attention, and getting the job, check out this free video I put together alongside the founder of the GameChangers 500 (list of the world's top For-Benefit companies).
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.