Life and work hold a symbiotic existence in many cultures of the world. One cannot provide a stable, enjoyable life without work yet work can often lead to stress which prevents oneself from truly enjoying what life has to offer.
3 Tips For Succeeding In Life And Work
There is a delicate balance between life and work. Each individual will find their own place in this world but there are a few fundamental choices we can make to gain the most from each and every action we take when it comes to our work and lifestyle; doing such items listed in this post will help you succeed no matter which direction life takes you.
1. Dare To Take Risks
Risks are an integral part of gaining bigger rewards and stem from two main viewpoints:
Passion
Logic
Those that seek to pursuetheir passions keep the mindset of "do what you love, love what you do;" this mentality keeps the individual focused on working on projects which may not necessarily show immediate promise in reward but, instead, are entirely fulfilling in the grand scheme of things. A passion project may branch into a very successful venture or it may fizzle out of existence but it's the act of pursuing one's passion that presents the swing of risk and reward which may very well be worthwhile to the individual.
Alternatively, there are those that take calculated risks based on logic which incorporates the person's knowledge and expertise in identifying a need in the market or when to shift in their career. These types of individuals take time to research and come to terms with the challenges ahead but apply their knowledge and expertise to accurately align their momentum toward obtaining higher goals and, thus, bigger rewards for their logical risks.
These two viewpoints can combine through the entrepreneurial spirit. Pursuing a passionate project based on logical decisions is one such example and happens to be the foundation of most entrepreneurs.
In all, succeeding in both life and work is rewarded to those that lead the charge in disrupting the ebb and flow of business and social culture.
2. Make Everything Exceptional
We frequently hear the phrase "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression," which is a mode of thinking which can change your entire outlook on life and business.
Our ability to earn trust and network with others opens the doors of opportunity in the work environment when we create a powerful, first-time connection with our associates and business leaders. One's ability to deliver exceptional value in the work environment will create a vertical path of growth within a company or create the option of venturing outward into one's entrepreneurial goals. The people we bond with will be the same individuals who support our goals in work, which is why it's absolutely essentials that each and every interaction with a business-type individual have some form of exceptional value trade.
Likewise, life, too, benefits from our choice in going above and beyond.
The idea of "paying it forward" helps us create a bond with one another which cannot be broken. Lending aid when a person is down, guidance when they're lost, friendship when needed, and support when they're excelling is what brings us together. Repeatedly providing value to our friends, family, and acquaintances will not only bring reward to their lives but ours as well.
It may not happen today, tomorrow, or years to come but those moments of excellence will come back to reward such actions, twofold.
3. Find The Work/Life Balance
Becoming engulfed in work can lead to a moment of disparity many years later when one realizes their life has passed without many life experiences.
Work, whether it's just a job, a full career, or entrepreneurial project, is extremely rewarding in the sense that it creates comfort in our existence; it provides the roof over our heads and food on our tables. Likewise, recognition for our work and competition in the workplace are two incredibly motivating factors that get us out of the bed each morning.
However, too much work can lead to a breaking point in our lives especially in our relationships.
It's vital to find a work/life balance; there must be a stopping point where work turns off and life begins. Work should come second to spending time with friends and family as these moments with close ones cannot be reclaimed once past. Work must get done but it's equally important to take the moments to enjoy life because this balance in work/life is what makes oneself a successful human being.
Now you know some tips for succeeding in life and work!
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.