Your job search is like a full-time job. In fact, I’m sure many job seekers would argue that their job search takes up more time than a full-time job would.
Related:3 Ways To Network Over Summer Vacation
That being said, a vacation is almost certainly one of the farthest things from your mind while you’re searching for a new job. For some, it’s because of financial reasons. For others, sparing even one day to recharge seems out of the question.
What do you think: Should job seekers take a vacation?
I’m going to argue for both sides.
Why You Need A Vacation
Finding a new job is tough. It’s stressful and confusing. It drains your energy. A vacation - no matter how small - is a great way to recharge your batteries and get a fresh perspective on things. After all, everyone needs a break once in a while. Why not job seekers too?
If you’re considering taking a vacation, keep the following in mind:
Unplug, but keep your phone handy. You never know when an employer might give you a call for an interview. It might also be helpful to connect your email account to your phone for periodic inbox checks.
Complete job applications and next steps before taking off on a trip. That way, you won’t miss any application deadlines or look like an uninterested candidate.
Be realistic about the amount of time you can vacation. You probably can’t afford being unemployed for too long – so don’t squash your chances at landing a new job by jetting off for several weeks!
Keep finances in mind. Hopefully you’ve got a small nest egg put away to get you through your job search. Consider how realistic a vacation is at this point in your career, and plan accordingly.
Why You Should Sit Out On The Fun – For Now
On the flip side, many job seekers cannot afford to take the time off of their job search or don’t have the funds to take a trip—and that’s okay. There are other ways to take a break. Go out for a walk, head out to dinner with a friend, rent a movie, or participate in one of your favorite hobbies. Taking a few hours to relax can help you re-focus your job search efforts and bring back your sanity.
What do you think? As a job seeker, did you take a vacation? If not, how did you unwind in your spare time?
This post was originally published on an earlier date.
You hate your job. You find yourself complaining about it daily to your family and friends. Every Sunday night, you tell yourself that you're going to finally quit and find a new job because you just can't take it anymore. But you don't.
Instead, you go to work, come home, complain, and start the whole cycle over again. You're completely miserable in your current job, but you're absolutely terrified to find a new job. Why?
You're Afraid Of The Unknown
Yes, starting a new job can be scary. You have to adapt to a new work environment, make new work friends, and even learn some new skills—and you don't know if you'll even like it after everything's said and done. What if it turns out to be worse than your last job? What if they don't like you? What if you don't fit in? What if you don't perform on the level they expected? It's similar to starting at a new school where you don't know anyone, where anything is, or how your teachers are going to be.
The truth is, starting a new job can be intimidating. You're walking into a new situation and you're not sure what to expect. The best thing you can do is get to know the company as much as you can before accepting a job offer there. Learn it inside and out, make an effort to get to know people you'd be working with over LinkedIn or coffee, and ask questions that can give you insight on the company culture.
You're Not Confident In What You Have To Offer
Don't feel like you've got what it takes to make it anywhere else? Afraid to find a new job because you don't want to look like an incompetent employee? If you think you're lacking the skills to succeed elsewhere, take an inventory of your skill sets. Then, compare them to the skill sets that are required for the jobs you're considering.
What are you missing? Where do you need to ramp up your skills? Do you have additional skills that could lend themselves to the job? Make a list of the skills you have and the ones you need to develop.
You're Not Really Sure What You Have To Offer
You need to understand what you have to offer so you can market yourself effectively to employers.
Again, go in and take a look at your skill sets. Think about past accomplishments at work. What have you achieved? What are you proud of? What problem do you solve at your current company? Make sure you quantify your work experience on your resume so employers know what you have to offer and can see the value you provide as a business-of-one.
You Don't Know What You Want To Do Next
You want to find a new job, but you have no idea what you want to do. All you know is that you hate your current job and you want out. If you're having trouble figuring out what you want to do next, you need to take some time to explore.
Research different jobs, industries, and companies. Talk to people about their work, why they like it, hate it, and what excites them about it. Take some time to figure out what interests you and what projects energize you.
You're Afraid Of The Financial Repercussions
What if you don't get the benefits you have at your current job? What if you have to take a pay cut? What if it takes too long to find a new job and you run out of money? Research competitive salary rates using the Glassdoor Know Your Worth salary calculator before you look for a new job. Also, research the companies you're interested in to learn about what kinds of benefits they offer employees.
It's important to understand what your priorities and must-haves are in your new job. The last thing you want to do is accept a job knowing that it won't meet your needs because it will just result in you looking for a new job in a few months. However, understand that you might not necessarily make the same paycheck as your current job. Research so you know what to expect.
If you're terrified to find a new job, you're not alone. We hope that by identifying these fears and following the tips above, you'll have the confidence and courage to look for your next job. Remember: you'll never know what you can do until you try!
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
The thought of conducting a job search right now is probably very intimidating for most professionals—and a little frightening. While there are many things that could be scaring you about your job search, you can't let those fears impact your career, especially when you can easily overcome them with the right tools, tips, and strategies.
If the phrase "looking for a job" strikes fear into your heart, don't worry. Here's how to overcome your job search fears this fall, just in time for Halloween!
Fear #1: Employers Won't Call You Back
You're putting so much time and effort into your job search, but what if employers never call you back? This is a common fear for many professionals, and for good reason. A lot of job seekers do spend hours a day applying for jobs only to never hear back from employers. There are a few reasons why this might be happening: your resume didn't make it past the ATS, your cover letter didn't stand out to hiring managers, and/or you didn't adequately market your skills and experience to employers or demonstrate your value as a business-of-one.
Network your way into the company so you can bypass the online application process altogether
Fear #2: You'll Bomb The Job Interview
This is a fear that probably keeps you up at night. You've finally found a job you like and land an interview with the company. But, what if you bomb the job interview? What if you ruin your chances of getting a job offer? Confidence is key in a job interview, and you can't be confident without proper interview preparation.
Ask a trusted friend or colleague to conduct a mock interview
Fear #3: You'll Accept The Wrong Job Offer
If you've been looking for a job for a while, you might feel desperate. This puts you in a vulnerable spot, but you should avoid settling for a job if you can. On the flipside, you might have multiple job offers and need to decide which one is right for you. Do you feel empowered to make the right decision?
How To Overcome This Fear:
Create an interview bucket list to ensure you're applying to companies you actually want to work for
Ask questions in your job interviews so you have enough information about the position
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 the 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
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 product or service? Do you feel connected to their mission? Can you relate to their 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
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
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 that you get super clear on what you want to do next. 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.
Thankfully, our course, "How To Get Hired By An Incredible Company," can help you select roles that are in alignment with your skills and interests!
You can gain UNLIMITED access to this course PLUS all of Work It Daily's other premium courses for only $9.99/month (cancel at anytime).
Don't miss out on our FLASH SALE going on 9/27-9/29 where you can get our Basic Subscription for only $7.99/month! Use code "BASIC799" at checkout.
Are you ready to land the job of your dreams (and leave the job of your nightmares)?
While it's good to have regular friends, everyone needs a best friend. You know, that person you can go to whenever you need help, a confidence boost, or just a laugh. The same concept applies to the workplace.
While it's great to have trusted colleagues, it's especially nice to have one person in particular to confide in—a work buddy.
How To Make Friends At Work
Sometimes if you're a new employee just starting with a company, you'll be assigned a work buddy to familiarize yourself with the job and work environment. There's nothing wrong with this. It could be that your supervisor has a particular person they want you paired with based on job responsibilities who could help you ease into and adapt to your new role.
If you're assigned a work buddy, that's one less thing you have to worry about. But if you're not assigned a buddy, look at it as an opportunity.
Some of the best friendships are the ones that are formed organically. Be open to getting to know all of your co-workers. Be friendly. Ask questions about their jobs and lives. Try to make a connection.
The Benefits Of Having A Work Buddy
Having a work buddy is a great way to help you assimilate into the company culture and quickly fit in with other co-workers. An office buddy not only has knowledge about job requirements and expectations, but he or she can also provide information about the work styles and personalities of co-workers, and give a rundown of any office politics.
Beyond the office landscape, having a workplace buddy helps to improve confidence. It's nice to have someone who can share advice and make you laugh.
All jobs can be stressful at times, so being able to face work challenges with the help of a buddy reduces stress, too.
How To Build A Bond With Your Work Buddy
When it comes to building a relationship with your colleagues, it shouldn't always be about work.
Check in with your work buddy from time to time about how things are going in their lives. Grab lunch, attend happy hour, or plan some other fun activity once a month.
Trust goes beyond the workplace, so it's important to work on the relationship like any other friendship.
Strengthening the friendship is also beneficial if you ever reach a point where you are no longer co-workers. You may want to keep this person as a personal friend or use them as a professional reference in the future. At the very least, you'll both be valuable connections for each other in your professional networks.
This is were those bonds formed at the workplace really come in handy.
Be Proactive About Fitting In At Work
Many companies have incorporated the buddy system into their onboarding process as a way to be more efficient in getting new employees familiar with the company.
If your company doesn't have such a system, be proactive about finding a buddy and make an effort to fit in with co-workers.
Fitting into the company's culture can be just as important as learning job responsibilities. One of the reasons why you were hired is because your employer thought you'd be a good cultural. Now, it's your job to prove them right. A work buddy can help.
At every company you end up working for, make sure you have a work buddy. Not only will they help you learn the ropes at your new job, but they'll also be a valuable friend and connection—someone you'll be able to count on as you grow in your career.
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
To get your customers to think of your brand first when they are ready to buy, the difference may come down to how you position your brand to them. Let's begin by outlining what brand positioning is, how to successfully position your brand, and provide you with a brand positioning example.
Brand Positioning - What Is It?
https://www.marketing91.com/brand-positioning/
Brand positioning is the process of positioning your brand in the mind of your customers based on your brand purpose and values that gives you a competitive advantage.
What do you think of when you hear "search engine"? Did Google or Yahoo come to mind? These products are positioned to dominate the category. What about a company that provides "overnight shipping"? FedEx owns the transportation category even though other companies provide overnight shipping.
A well-developed and implemented brand position provides a sustainable competitive advantage, communicates value to customers, is a vehicle to help manage brand consistency, and impacts the bottom line.
How To Create A Killer Brand Positioning
lisaperry
Your brand positioning statement is a strategic document that will help define the direction of your innovation, marketing, commercialization, and sales strategies. Here are four steps to consider when creating your brand positioning.
Evaluate Current Standing: Evaluate your current brand positioning. Is it working? Does it reach your target audience? Is it helping to achieve your business goals? If not, you may need to look at repositioning your brand.
Research Your Competitors: You can't stand out from the crowd if you don't know what the crowd is doing. More importantly, you don't want to have the same brand position as your competitors. Conduct a competitive analysis to evaluate your competitor's brand position by looking at their social media feeds, company websites, marketing & advertising materials, and customer service. Look for what your competitor's mission, vision, and value statements are, who they're targeting, what their messaging is, their unique selling proposition, and their positioning strategies. For more information on how to gather competitive research, check out my article.
Identify Your Target Audience: Understanding your target audience is critical as this information will define every strategy you execute. Your goal is to define your target audience into a simple statement: Our target market is (gender) aged (age range), who live in (place or type of place) and like to (activity). For more information on how to develop your target audience, check out my article.
Identify Your Differentiators:Just like everyone is unique and different, so is your brand. It's your job to find those characteristics and differentiators that will make your brand stand out from the competitive crowd. List all the things that your competitors do well. List all of the things you do well. List what your customers want. Now start comparing your most unique angles against your audience's needs. Are there any needs that haven't been filled? Is there anything that you provide that your competitors can't easily copy or reproduce? Check out my article on how to develop your unique differentiators.
Craft Brand Positioning Statement: Here is a template to follow when crafting your brand positioning statement.
Brand Positioning Example
https://www.gmfleet.com/suvs-crossovers
While competitors may have similar products or services to you, positioning your brand will provide that unique difference in how customers perceive you.
Let's look at General Motors. They offer a variety of SUVs to fit customers' specific needs. Specifically Yukon and Chevy Tahoe SUVs. These two vehicles have the same engine but different upgrades.
The Yukon SUV has positioned itself as the only premium truck manufacturer, and it considers itself a premium-level brand across its lineup of trucks and SUVs. U.S. News has ranked GMC's Yukon as #2 in the large SUV category.
In contrast, the Chevy Tahoe has positioned itself as a multi-purpose family vehicle with the versatility to tow a trailer, go off-road, or take the family on a road trip. U.S. News has ranked the Chevrolet Tahoe #4 in the large SUV category.
To note, there were two #2 rankings by U.S. News (both by General Motors) so technically, the Chevy Tahoe came in at #3. Needless to say, their brand positioning seems to be working well.
The good news is that you don't have to stand out to everyone, you just have to stand out to the people you serve. Do you know the position you want to take in the market? Start building your brand leadership today. You've got this!
