I interviewed a hiring manager recently. She had just made a hiring decision for a new manager, but the race was pretty close. I asked her what was the deciding factor - why this guy over the other guy. Her answer may not surprise you. It comes down to three important words.
Body of Work.
Why Everyone Should Have A Blog
The guy she hired had a two-year-old blog that he regularly maintained. It exhibited his opinions, his speeches, his writing – in short, his body of work.
Note that the new manager’s blog didn’t get him discovered, or make him famous or rich. It simply showed his next boss what he was all about. It broke a tie. It made an impression on someone trying to get to know him better.
With over 160 million blogs on the internet, approximately one out of six people write a blog. About 10 percent of those people blog every single day. But after three months, 95 percent of blogs are abandoned.
If you want to learn about the process of blogging, then I highly recommend the Become a Blogger program. This article will focus just on the platform to choose. With the right platform, you are less likely to abandon your blog and more likely to document your body of work.
Over 80 percent of blogs run on WordPress. WordPress is an amazing platform; I use it myself. But it’s not the easiest platform to get started with. It requires some technical knowledge, constant updating, and strategies for dealing with spam and backup files.
For the beginning job search blogger looking to start a body of work, try out these easy alternative platforms.
Tumblr
There are over 66 million blogs on the Tumblr platform. In 2010 it grew so fast that they ran out of server space in about a week. Today, the world’s major brands take advantage of Tumblr’s reputation. Check out this year’s Olympics or the Adidas Originals brand.
Tumblr is flexible, which many designers and visual professionals really enjoy. If you are looking to get away from a simple linear flow of blog posts, there are customizations available to do that.
Apart from standard features, Tumblr also gives you a phone number, so you can call in your blog posts. Their mobile platform is stunning. And your search engine rankings will happen automatically.
Posterous Spaces
The theme you will find with Posterous is simplicity. Where Tumblr will allow you to complicate your blog endlessly, Posterous will give you fewer design options. Many people find this simplicity refreshing.
One of the key advantages to Posterous is their advanced e-mail to blog system. To help you maintain a consistent blog, you are given a unique e-mail address. Simply e-mail your post to Posterous and it will do an extremely nice job publishing your content, including pictures and files.
Blog.com
Blog.com is the largest WordPress-centric blogging platform outside of wordpress.com. There are a number of advantages to using this platform, including the freedom to upload video without having to pay an upgrade fee. You’ll find the themes at Blog.com more traditional blog-looking themes, along with premium themes you can purchase.
If you want a traditional-looking blog without the hassle of plugins and upgrades, Blog.com is a good option.
Weebly.com
If you are looking for more than just a blog – say you want to have an online resume, video resume or static portfolio – then Weebly is a great platform for you. Of all of these blogging options, Weebly has the most flexibility. It was developed to allow non-technical folks a chance to build and design websites of any sort.
Choosing A Blog Platform
Choosing between these platforms will not be an easy task. However, keep in mind that they are all designed to help you quickly and easily publish content. So when making a determination on which one to use, I would suggest signing up for all four. Then see which designs you like better, and which user interface you like better. And then stick to that one.
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Are you terrified of screwing up a job interview? Does the thought of writing a cover letter horrify you? Are you scared to network with others? What do you even say, anyway? If you're struggling to overcome your job search fears, this live event is for you.
We get it. Looking for work can be scary, especially if you’ve been at it for a long time and haven’t gotten any results.
Understanding which fears are getting in the way and how to overcome them will make all the difference. Sometimes you might not be aware of which obstacle is getting in the way of your goals. If you want to overcome these fears once and for all, we invite you to join us!
In this training, you’ll learn how to:
Utilize strategies for coping with your job search fears
Be confident in your job search—from writing your resume to networking
Face your fears and move forward
Join our CEO, J.T. O'Donnell, and Director of Training Development & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this live event on Wednesday, October 5th at 12 pm ET.
CAN'T ATTEND LIVE? That's okay. You'll have access to the recording and the workbook after the session!
True or false? Recruiters don't read cover letters.
Most people may think this is true, but guess what? They're wrong!
Recruiters do, in fact, read the good cover letters.
So, what does that tell us? If most people don't hear back from recruiters, and recruiters only read good cover letters, that means a majority of cover letters aren't written well and, therefore, don't stand out to them.
That may be hard to hear, but it's the truth.
CRITICAL Cover Letter Mistakes
Often, there's WAY too much "blah, blah, blah" and "brag, brag, brag" going on in a cover letter. If you write a cover letter that only focuses on how great you are, recruiters are going to toss it.
Why? Because it's exactly like all the other cover letters they've read.
Think about it. Why should they think you're incredible when they've read hundreds of other cover letters saying other people are incredible, too?
If you want to stand out in the hiring process, you MUST have an attention-grabbing cover letter. This an important tool to have, and one that shouldn't be glossed over. In some cases, your cover letter can hold more power than your resume. That's huge, right?
Getting Personal On Your Cover Letter
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Because the cover letter holds so much power, you need to know how to write one that stands out from the rest. One way to do that is to show a personal connection with the employer.
So, how exactly do you do that?
You can explain how you learned that what they do is special. Showing them that you personally connect with their brand will make you memorable.
Another thing you can do is tell them what it was like the first time you used their product or service. That also shows recruiters that you understand the company and that you believe in what they do.
Lastly, you can tell them about an overall life experience that helps you feel connected to their tribe. This shows that your values and beliefs align with theirs.
The big fact here is that the more personal the cover letter, the better! When you have a cover letter that really has recruiters at "hello," you know you have their heart AND their mind engaged.
Creating That Crucial Connection
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The reason you want to get personal in your cover letter is because you want to create an emotional connection with a recruiter. Once you establish that connection, you're not just a piece of paper anymore.
This is what we at Work It Daily call a disruptive cover letter. Why? Because it disrupts the reader and gets them to snap out of autopilot mode and really think about who you are as a candidate.
The First Step When Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter
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The first thing you need to do is watch a quick video tutorial on how to write this kind of cover letter. You're going to want to see specific examples so that you know how you should be writing them.
Step 2: Fill Out A Simple Template
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You'll have a template that tells you where the beginning, middle, and end of your cover letter are, and what content should be where. This gives you a great foundation for how to fill out a cover letter properly.
Step 3: Submit That Cover Letter For Review
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Once you're done with your amazing cover letter, have someone review it.
It's always good to have a second set of eyes on this, especially someone who understands cover letters, recruiters, and the hiring process. This person should be checking grammar, spelling, etc.
So, when all is said and done, how long should it take you to craft a disruptive cover letter? The average time is between one and two hours. That may seem like a lot of time, but think of it this way: once you've built a cover letter you know will grab a recruiter's attention, you'll be able to use that cover letter format for other job opportunities. You'll just have to tweak the content in your disruptive cover letter here and there to match the company and job you're applying to.
Does The Disruptive Cover Letter REALLY Work?
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Here at Work It Daily, we know these disruptive cover letters work. We've seen hundreds of our clients write KILLER cover letters and get calls for their dream jobs!
So, wouldn't learning how to write your own disruptive cover letter be good for your career? If so, how much would it be worth?
All of us at Work It Daily personally believe that it's priceless.
Owning your career change or job search process is a powerful thing, and we believe you can take control of that process and do incredible things.
Need more help writing a disruptive cover letter recruiters will love?
Let's face it: job search can be challenging, and staying motivated during a frustrating job search can seem impossible sometimes. However, it's critical that you stay positive. Otherwise, you risk falling into a downward spiral, which will only make things worse.
So, how can you get past your job search struggles?
Here are some tips for staying motivated during a frustrating job search:
1. Find Things You Can Get Excited About
What gets you excited? Think about your hobbies and interests. What do you do for fun in your life? Make sure you dedicate at least one day a week to doing what you love. This will help you get your mind off of the negative and focus on the things you enjoy.
Looking for a job shouldn't take up all of your time. By customizing your resume for each position you apply for and writing disruptive cover letters, you won't need to spend hours a day sending your job applications to a dozen different employers. Two or three will do.
For a strategic job search, quality is always better than quantity. It also means you'll stay motivated, won't get burnt out, and still have time to do the things you love to do. Balance is key!
2. Surround Yourself With People Who Inspire You
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When you're feeling down in the dumps, it's important to surround yourself with positivity. Make an effort to meet up with positive influences in your life—your family, friends, significant other, and mentors. These people will help you stay on track.
Also, surround yourself with your "virtual mentors," people who inspire you from afar. Whether they're celebrities, successful business people, or authors, keep them "nearby." Read their books or showcase their inspirational quotes. A little inspiration can go a long way.
3. Help Others
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Helping makes us feel good! If you're feeling bad about yourself, see how you can help someone else. Volunteer. Pay it forward. Give back somehow. This will recharge you and get you in a good mood.
Another way to help others is to provide value to your professional network, whether on LinkedIn or in person. Share articles, videos, or podcasts you find inspirational, informative, and insightful. Offer to help your connections in any way you can. Chances are, they will be more than happy to return the favor, and may refer you to an open position at their company.
Never help anyone with the expectation of receiving something in return, though! If helping others keeps you motivated and makes you feel grateful for what you do have, don't stop doing it while looking for a job.
4. Get Some Exercise
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You've got to expel that negative energy! Make sure you take time to exercise daily. Take a walk. Go for a run. Do yoga. Lift weights. Just get GOING! Exercising equal endorphins and endorphins make you happy.
Not having structure can make your life seem unstable. Create a plan for your week on Sunday nights. Have a schedule and stick to it. If you like to-do lists, write one of those too.
You'll feel accomplished at the end of the week when you look back and see everything you got done while making time for yourself and prioritizing your career as well as your physical and mental well-being.
Staying motivated during a frustrating job search isn't easy. We hope these tips will help you find the motivation to not only land your next job but also improve your career.
When everything feels overwhelming, just remember to work it daily! Small, consistent actions can make a big difference. Good luck out there.